Escolar Documentos
Profissional Documentos
Cultura Documentos
Civil Engineers
Geotechnical Engineering 155
April 2002 Issue 2
Pages 119131
Paper 12285
Received 16/02/2001
Accepted 04/02/2002
Keywords:
failures/geotechnical engineering/
retaining walls
Abdul-Hamid Soubra
University of Nantes, IUP
Genie Civil et Infrastructures,
France
Borut Macuh
University of Maribor,
Faculty of Civil Engineering,
Slovenia
cohesion
elementary length along the slip surface BC
rate of energy dissipation
intermediate non-dimensional functions
earth pressure coefficients due to soil weight,
vertical surcharge loading and cohesion
active earth pressure coefficients
passive earth pressure coefficients
active and passive earth pressure coefficients
due to a surcharge loading normal to the
ground surface
intermediate non-dimensional functions
wall length
length of AB
active and passive forces respectively
adhesive force
vertical surcharge loading
surcharge loading normal to the ground
surface
initial and final radius of the log-spiral slip
surface
velocity at the velocity discontinuity
weight of the soil mass ABC
rate of work of an external force
inclination of the Rankine earth pressure
slope of the backfill
unit weight of the soil
0 , 1
1. INTRODUCTION
The problem of active and passive earth pressures acting
against rigid retaining structures has been extensively studied
1
in the literature since Coulomb. Most of the existing methods
are based on either the limit equilibrium method, the slip line
method or the limit analysis method.
Recently, a variational analysis has been applied to the passive
2
earth pressure problem by Soubra et al. Their approach is
based on a limit equilibrium method, and the solution provides
a log-spiral failure surface. For their failure wedge, the moment
equilibrium equation can be used for the calculation of the
passive earth pressures without specifying the normal stress
distribution along the log-spiral slip surface. It should be
emphasised that their method, employed in this paper, can be
categorised also as an upper-bound in the framework of limit
analysis where a rotational rigid body movement is considered.
This variational limit equilibrium method may be easily
extended to the active earth pressure problem, and the same
conclusions remain valid in this case:
(a) A log-spiral failure surface may be obtained from a
variational maximisation procedure.
(b) The moment equilibrium equation, which is equivalent to
the energy balance equation in the framework of the
upper-bound method of limit analysis, may be used for
computation of the active earth pressures.
The aim of this paper is to show that the upper-bound method
in limit analysis for a rotational log-spiral failure mechanism
gives rapid and good predictions for both active and passive
earth pressures. It is also demonstrated that the present method
can be easily implemented on a PC by defining spreadsheet
Soubra Macuh
119
1
r1
r
r0
>0
>0
Pad
r = r0e( 0)tan
Pa
C
(a)
Fig. 1. Log-spiral failure mechanisms: (a) M1 for active; (b) M2 for passive earth pressure analyses
120
Soubra Macuh
r1
0
1
>0
r
r0
>0
Pad
Pp
r = r0e( 0)tan
C
(b)
Fig. 1. (continued )
W_ soil r 30 ( f 1 f 2 f 3 )
3
W_ ( Pa or
P p ), Pad
Pa,p r0 f 4
cr 20 f 5
W_ q qr 20 f 6
X
[ W_ ]ext W_ soil W_ ( Pa or
P p ), Pad
W_ q
Soubra Macuh
121
D_ cV cos
12
K ac,pc
1 f7 f5
l
f4
r0
D_ BC cr 20 f 7
K aq0,pq0
13
where f 7 is a non-dimensional function, which is given in
Appendix 1.
2.3. Energy balance equation
By equating the total rate of work of external forces (equation
(4)) to the total rate of energy dissipation (equation (6)), we
have
r 30 ( f 1 f 2 f 3 ) Pa,p r0 f 4 cr 20 f 5 qr 20 f 6 cr 20 f 7
Pa K a
l2
K aq ql K ac cl
2
P p K p
l2
K pq ql K pc cl
2
11
122
2
( f 1 f 2 f 3)
K a K p 2
f4
l
r0
K aq K pq
1 f6
l f4
r0
10
1 f8
l f4
r0
415
14
tan
sin( 2)sin
1 sin
cos( 2)
Soubra Macuh
and
100
sin
15
sin
sin
90
Present solution
Krisel and Absi
80
/ = 1
70
60
Kp
/ = 1/2
40
4 2
2
16
50
30
/ = 0
20
K p
18
cos( )sin
[1 sin
cos( 2)]
cos sin( )
K pc
45
Present solution
Krisel and Absi
40
/ = 1
35
/ = 1/2
30
25
20
/ = 0
15
10
5
0
40
30
20
10
10
20
30
40
1
K pq0
cos
tan
50
Kpq
17
10
458 and =
1.
For the K p coefficient, the present upper-bound solutions
27
are smaller (that is, better) than those of Soubra. The
improvement (that is, the reduction relative to Soubras upperbound solution) is 27% when
458, =
1, =
1 and
158. For the K pq coefficient, it should be mentioned that
27
the values obtained by Soubra are identical to those given by
29
Kerisel and Absi and correspond to the exact solutions for a
Soubra Macuh
123
70
800
/ = 1
Present solution
Krisel and Absi
60
700
600
50
Kp
Kp
= 15
500
40
30
Present solution
Soubra
/ = 1/2
400
=0
300
20
200
/ = 0
10
100
45
200
40
35
= 15
Present solution
Krisel and Absi
/ = 1
Present solution
Soubra
= 15
150
30
/ = 1/2
Kpq
Kpq
25
=0
100
20
15
= 15
/ = 0
50
10
5
30
20
10
10
20
30
0
45
40
19
K ac
1
K aq0
cos
tan
15
30
45
08
12
10
Present solution
Krisel and Absi
07
06
Kaq
08
05
06
04
03
Ka
04
0
45
02
Kaq
02
01
0
35 25
15
15
25
35
45
and that the calculation of K aq0 and K ac gives exactly the same
critical geometry.
124
15
30
Ka
0
40
29
Soubra Macuh
05
04
Present solution
Krisel and Absi
04
03
Kaq
Ka
Kaq
03
02
Ka
02
01
0
20
01
0
10
10
20
The present results are smaller than those of Kerisel and Absi.
For the K a coefficient, the maximum difference does not
exceed 3% when < 158; however, for 208 a significant
difference is observed. After careful examination of the values
proposed by Kerisel and Absi for similar configurations (see for
instance their values for =
0:66 or 0), it seems that their
K a value for
458, =
1, 08 and 208 is not
correct. For the K aq coefficient the underestimation does not
exceed 8%.
The preceding comparisons allow one to conclude that, for
practical configurations (
< 408, =
< 1, =
> 1=3 and
08), there is good agreement with the currently used results
of Kerisel and Absi for both K a and K aq . The maximum
difference does not exceed 3%.
4. IMPLEMENTATION
OF USER-DEFINED
FUNCTIONS IN VISUAL
BASIC FOR
APPLICATIONS, AND
THE USE OF SOLVER
To implement the functions
defining the passive earth
pressure coefficients and to
run the Solver optimisation
tool of Microsoft Excel, one
has to follow the following
steps (for the active case, use
the appropriate equations
given in Appendix 1):
(a) Create the user-defined
functions shown in
Appendix 2. This is done
in Microsoft Excel 97 by
first clicking Tools/
Macro/Visual Basic Editor
and then clicking Insert/
Soubra Macuh
125
5. DESIGN TABLES
Tables 1 and 2 present the coefficients K p , K pq , K pc , K a , K aq
and K ac obtained from the computer programs for practical use
in geotechnical engineering. These values are given for
APPENDIX 1
The non-dimensional functions f 1 , f 2 , . . . , f 8 are given as
follows, using the lower sign for the passive case:
3
e 3(1 0 )tan
(3 tan
sin 1 cos 1 )
7
6
5
4 3 tan
sin 0 cos 0
f1
3(9 tan 2
1)
2
20
f2
21
22
23
< 2=3, =
< 1=3 and 08), the maximum difference
does not exceed 5% for K p and 7% for K pq .
(b) For the active case, the present solutions of K a and K aq
allow one to conclude that for practical configurations
(
< 408, =
< 1, =
> 1=3 and 08), there is good
agreement with the currently used results of Kerisel and
Absi. The maximum difference does not exceed 3%.
On the other hand, the present analysis improves the best
27
upper-bound solutions given in the literature by Soubra for
the K p coefficient. The improvement (that is, the reduction
relative to Soubras upper-bound solution) is 27% when
458, =
1, =
1 and 158. For the K pq
126
1 L
l
L
2 sin 0 2 sin cos
6 r0
r0
r0
f3
1 l
l
sin 0 2 sin 0 sin
6 r0
r0
8
1 l
>
>
cos( ) cos 0
cos
>
>
>
3 r0
>
>
>
1 l
>
>
>
sin
sin
(
)
sin
0
>
>
3 r0
>
<
for K
f4
1 l
>
>
cos(
)
cos
cos
>
0
>
>
2 r0
>
>
>
>
1 l
>
>
sin
sin(
)
sin
0
>
>
2 r0
>
:
for K q , K q0 and K c
f5
24
25
26
f6
l tan
sin( 0 )
r0 tan
L
l
1L
sin 0 sin
cos
r0
r0
2 r0
f7
1
(e 2(1 0 )tan
1)
2 tan
Soubra Macuh
20
25
30
35
40
Kp
Kpq
Kpc
=
1=3
=
1=2
2=3
1=3
=
1=2
2=3
1=3
=
1=2
2=3
0
1=3
1=2
2=3
0
1=3
1=2
2=3
0
1=3
1=2
2=3
0
1=3
1=2
2=3
0
1=3
1=2
2=3
204
171
155
139
246
194
171
147
300
220
187
155
369
250
203
162
460
283
220
167
239
194
173
151
307
232
197
165
403
277
225
179
544
335
257
193
762
410
295
208
257
207
183
158
341
254
213
175
465
314
250
194
659
395
296
215
981
509
353
238
275
221
194
166
376
277
231
188
534
356
280
213
795
467
344
243
1260
635
430
279
313
249
216
183
454
330
272
217
693
454
352
262
1130
653
470
322
2001
993
655
406
204
172
158
143
246
196
175
154
300
224
193
165
369
255
213
176
460
291
234
187
238
196
175
155
304
234
202
172
398
282
233
190
535
343
270
210
742
422
314
232
254
209
185
162
334
256
218
183
453
318
259
207
634
402
310
234
927
520
375
266
270
221
196
170
365
279
237
196
510
357
289
227
742
470
359
265
1140
639
455
312
300
246
218
187
424
326
275
226
628
444
358
276
982
631
479
347
1643
942
669
447
286
243
224
207
314
251
226
203
346
259
226
197
384
266
223
189
429
270
219
178
376
321
296
272
436
350
313
278
514
384
329
283
618
421
346
285
762
466
362
284
418
359
331
305
498
402
359
320
605
454
391
335
755
518
426
348
977
600
466
360
459
394
364
336
558
452
405
362
699
526
454
389
905
623
513
420
1226
756
588
454
531
457
423
391
674
547
491
439
888
671
580
499
1228
850
702
575
1802
1121
875
677
Soubra Macuh
127
128
Geotechnical Engineering 155 Issue 2
Ka
=
20
25
30
35
40
0
1=3
1=2
2=3
0
1=3
1=2
2=3
0
1=3
1=2
2=3
0
1=3
1=2
2=3
0
1=3
1=2
2=3
Kaq
Kac
1=3
=
1=2
2=3
1=3
=
1=2
2=3
1=3
=
1=2
2=3
0490
0537
0569
0611
0406
0451
0482
0523
0333
0374
0402
0441
0271
0306
0330
0365
0217
0246
0267
0296
0459
0507
0541
0586
0378
0423
0455
0499
0309
0350
0379
0420
0251
0286
0311
0347
0202
0231
0252
0282
0449
0497
0531
0577
0369
0415
0447
0492
0303
0343
0373
0415
0247
0282
0308
0345
0200
0229
0250
0282
0442
0490
0525
0572
0364
0410
0443
0489
0300
0341
0371
0414
0247
0282
0308
0347
0202
0231
0253
0286
0436
0485
0520
0570
0363
0410
0444
0493
0304
0347
0379
0425
0256
0293
0322
0364
0215
0248
0272
0310
0490
0541
0578
0628
0406
0456
0493
0546
0333
0379
0416
0469
0271
0312
0346
0398
0217
0253
0284
0332
0460
0511
0549
0602
0378
0427
0466
0521
0310
0355
0392
0446
0252
0292
0326
0378
0203
0237
0268
0316
0450
0501
0539
0593
0370
0419
0458
0514
0304
0349
0386
0442
0248
0288
0323
0376
0201
0235
0266
0316
0444
0494
0533
0588
0366
0415
0454
0511
0302
0347
0384
0441
0248
0288
0323
0378
0203
0238
0269
0320
0441
0491
0530
0586
0368
0417
0456
0515
0309
0354
0393
0453
0260
0302
0339
0397
0219
0256
0291
0347
1400
1511
1564
1616
1274
1387
1438
1487
1155
1262
1310
1353
1041
1140
1180
1216
0933
1019
1052
1079
1503
1609
1660
1708
1357
1463
1512
1558
1223
1324
1368
1408
1099
1191
1229
1262
0983
1064
1095
1120
1553
1658
1707
1755
1402
1507
1555
1601
1267
1367
1411
1450
1143
1235
1272
1304
1029
1109
1140
1164
1603
1708
1757
1805
1453
1558
1606
1651
1320
1421
1464
1503
1201
1293
1331
1363
1092
1174
1204
1229
1712
1819
1869
1917
1577
1685
1734
1779
1466
1571
1615
1656
1373
1471
1511
1544
1295
1385
1418
1445
Soubra Macuh
27
f8
L
l
1 L
sin( 0 ) sin( )
r0
r0
2 r0
29
l
e (1 0 )tan
cos(1 ) cos(0 )
r0
cos( )
where
28
e 3(1 0 )tan
(sin 1 cos 1 tan )
L
sin 0 cos 0 tan
r0
sin tan cos
APPENDIX 2
The user-defined functions for passive earth pressure
coefficients coded in Microsoft Excel Visual Basic are as
follows:
' Program for evaluation of Kpgama, Kpc and Kpq for rotational
' mechanism using log-spiral slip surface
Option Explicit ' All variables must be declared
' Definition of the global constants
Public Const Pi = 3.141592654
' Variables
Public Phi As Double ' internal friction angle of the soil
Public Delta As Double ' angle of friction between soil and wall
Public Lambda As Double ' inclination of the wall
Public Beta As Double ' inclination of the backfill
Public Sl_r0 As Double ' l/r0
Public CL_r0 As Double ' L/r0
' Unknown variables
Public Theta0 As Double ' first unknown angle (in radians)
Public Theta1 As Double ' second unknown angle (in radians)
' Defining the initial values
Sub Define()
Phi = Cells(5, 3).Value * Pi / 180# ' Values from the cells
Delta = Cells(6, 3).Value * Pi / 180#
Lambda = Cells(7, 3).Value * Pi / 180#
Beta = Cells(8, 3).Value * Pi / 180#
Theta0 = Cells(12, 3).Value
Theta1 = Cells(13, 3).Value
Sl_r0 = (-Exp((Theta1 - Theta0) * Tan(Phi)) * Cos(Theta1 - Beta) _
+ Cos(Theta0 - Beta)) / Cos(Beta - Lambda)
CL_r0 = (Exp((Theta1 - Theta0) * Tan(Phi)) _
* (Sin(Theta1) - Cos(Theta1) * Tan(Lambda)) - _
Sin(Theta0) + Cos(Theta0) * Tan(Lambda)) / _
(Sin(Beta) * Tan(Lambda) + Cos(Beta))
End Sub
'***********************************************
Function f_1() As Double
Dim C1#, C2#
C1 = Exp(3# * (Theta1 - Theta0) * Tan(Phi))
C2 = 3# * (9# * (Tan(Phi)) ^ 2 + 1)
f_1 = -(C1 * (3# * Tan(Phi) * Sin(Theta1) - Cos(Theta1)) - _
3# * Tan(Phi) * Sin(Theta0) + Cos(Theta0)) / C2
End Function
'***********************************************
Function f_2() As Double
Dim C1#, C2#
C1 = 2# * Sin(Theta0) - 2# * Sl_r0 * Sin(Lambda) + CL_r0 * Cos(Beta)
C2 = CL_r0 * Cos(Theta1 - Beta) * Exp((Theta1 - Theta0) * Tan(Phi))
f_2 = -(1# / 6#) * C1 * C2
End Function
'***********************************************
Function f_3() As Double
f_3 = -(1# / 6#) * Sl_r0 * Sin(Theta0 - Lambda) * _
(2# * Sin(Theta0) - Sl_r0 * Sin(Lambda))
End Function
'***********************************************
Function f_4_Kpg() As Double
Dim C1#, C2#
C1 = Cos(Delta - Lambda) * (Cos(Theta0) - Sl_r0 / 3# * Cos(Lambda))
C2 = Sin(Delta - Lambda) * (Sin(Theta0) - Sl_r0 / 3# * Sin(Lambda))
f_4_Kpg = C1 - C2
End Function
***********************************************
Geotechnical Engineering 155 Issue 2
Soubra Macuh
129
'***********************************************
Function f_4_Kpq_Kpc() As Double
Dim C1#, C2#
C1 = Cos(Delta - Lambda) * (Cos(Theta0) - Sl_r0 / 2# * Cos(Lambda))
C2 = Sin(Delta - Lambda) * (Sin(Theta0) - Sl_r0 / 2# * Sin(Lambda))
f_4_Kpq_Kpc = C1 - C2
End Function
'***********************************************
Function Kpg(c12#, c13#) As Double
Define ' Initialisation
Kpg = -(2# / Sl_r0 ^ 2#) * (f_1() - f_2() - f_3()) / f_4_Kpg()
End Function
'***********************************************
Function Kpc(c12#, c13#) As Double
Dim f_5#, f_7#
Define ' Initialisation
' f_5 and f_7: functions f5 and f7
f_5 = Sl_r0 * Tan(Delta) / Tan(Phi) * Sin(Lambda - Theta0)
f_7 = 1# / (2# * Tan(Phi)) * (Exp(2# * (Theta1 - Theta0) * _
Tan(Phi)) - 1)
Kpc = 1 / Sl_r0 * (f_7 - f_5) / f_4_Kpq_Kpc()
End Function
'***********************************************
Function Kpq(c12#, c13#) As Double
Dim f_6#
Define
' Initialisation
' f_6: function f6
f_6 = CL_r0 * (-Sin(Theta0) + Sl_r0 * Sin(Lambda) _
- 0.5 * CL_r0 * Cos(Beta))
Kpq = -1 / Sl_r0 * f_6 / f_4_Kpq_Kpc()
End Function
'***********************************************
Function Kpq0(c12#, c13#) As Double
Dim f_8#
Define ' Initialisation
' f_8: function f8
f_8 = CL_r0 * (Sin(Beta - Theta0) + Sl_r0 * Sin(Lambda - Beta) _
- 0.5 * CL_r0)
Kpq0 = -1 / Sl_r0 * f_8 / f_4_Kpq_Kpc()
End Function
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343382.
2. SOUBRA A.-H., KASTNER R. and BENMANSOUR A. Passive
earth pressures in the presence of hydraulic gradients.
Geotechnique, 1999, 49, No. 3, 319330.
3. CHEN W. F. Limit Analysis and Soil Plasticity. Elsevier,
Amsterdam, 1975.
4. TERZAGHI K. Theoretical Soil Mechanics. Wiley, New York,
1943.
5. JANBU N. Earth pressure and bearing capacity calculations
by generalised procedure of slices. Proceedings of the
Fourth International Conference, International Society of
Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering, 1957, 2,
207213.
6. ROWE P. W. Stress-dilatancy, earth pressures, and slopes.
Journal of the Soil Mechanics and Foundation Division,
ASCE, 1963, 89, No. SM3, 3761.
7. LEE J. K. and MOORE P. J. Stability Analysis: Application to
Slopes, Rigid and Flexible Retaining Structures. Selected
Topics in Soil Mechanics. Butterworth, London, 1968.
8. PACKSHAW S. Earth Pressure and Earth Resistance: A
130
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
Soubra Macuh
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
Please email, fax or post your discussion contributions to the secretary: email: mary.henderson@ice.org.uk; fax: 44 (0)20 7799 1325;
or post to Mary Henderson, Journals Department, Institution of Civil Engineers, 17 Great George Street, London SW1P 3AA.
Soubra Macuh
131