EXERCISE ON LATERAL PRESSURE

1. A smooth, unyielding wall retains a dense cohesionless soil with no lateral movement of soil (at rest condition assumed) as shown in figure. i) ii) Sketch a diagram of lateral earth pressure against the wall. Calculate the total lateral force acting on the wall.

Cohesionless soil = 18.39kN/m3 = 37

(ans : 29.52kN/m of wall)

2.

The retaining wall is shown in figure below. Calculate the total active earth pressure per foot/meter of wall and its point of application (by Rankine theory) for both cases. a)

= 110 lb/ft3 = 30 c=0

(ans : 16500lb/ft, 10ft from base) b) 15

= 17 kN/m3 = 30 c=0

9.1m

(ans : 267kN/m, 3.03m from base) 1

3.

Assuming that the wall shown in figure below is restrained from yielding, find the magnitude and location of the resultant lateral force per unit width of the wall for each of the cases given.

Sand Unit weight = Angle of internal friction = Cohesion = c Angle of wall friction =

Cases a b c d e f

H 10ft 12ft 18ft 3m 4.5m 5.5m

110lb/ft 98lb/ft
3

32 28 40
3 3

3 3

100lb/ft

17.6kN/m

36 42 37

19.95kN/m

17.8kN/m3

4.

Using the same figure as question no 3, determine the Rankine active force per unit length of the wall and the location of the force resultant. Cases a b c d H 15ft 18ft 4m 5m 105lb/ft 100lb/ft
3 3 3

30 32 36 40

18kN/m

17kN/m3

5.

Using the same figure as question no 3, determine the Rankine passive force per unit length of the wall and the location of the force resultant. Cases a b c d H 8ft 10ft 5m 4m 110lb/ft 105lb/ft
3 3 3 3

34 36 35 30

14kN/m 15kN/m

6.

A retaining wall is shown in figure below. For each of the problem, determine the Rankine active force per unit length of the wall, P a and the location of the resultant.

H1

Sand 1 1 c1 = 0

Sand 2 (saturated unit weight) 2 c2 = 0

Case a b c

H 10ft 20ft 6m

H1 5ft 6ft 3m

1 105lb/ft 110lb/ft
3 3

2 122lb/ft 126lb/ft
3 3

1 30 34 30

2 30 34 36

q 0 300lb/ft2 15kN/m2

15.5kN/m3

19kN/m3

7.

A retaining wall is shown in figure below. The height of the wall is 5m and the unit weight of the sand backfill is 18kN/m3. Using Coulombs equation, calculate the active force, P a on the wall for the following values of the angle of wall friction : a) b) = 18 = 24

=10

Sand Unit weight = = 36 c = 0 = wall friction

8.

A smooth vertical wall is 20ft high and retains a cohesionless soil with = 120lb/ft3 and = 28. The top of the soil is horizontal and level with the top of the wall. The soil surface carries a uniformity distributed load of 1000lb/ft2. Find the total active earth pressure on the wall per linear foot of wall and also the point of action of the total active earth pressure based on Rankine approach. q = 1000 lb/ft2

= 120lb/ft3 = 28

9.

A soil profile is retained by a retaining wall as shown in figure below. Based on the figure, determine the total active force acting on the wall and the point of application.

Description Layer 1 Layer 2 Layer 3

Case 1 2.5 5 4

Case 2 4 3 7

Case 3 3 5 3

kN/m3 17 18 20

30 20 15

c kN/m2 0 10 10

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