Wall in cohesive soil

The active pressure

pa at any depth z may be expressed as

pa v K A 2c K A

Where

v = vertical pressure, z
Z = depth form the surface of the backfill
The passive pressure

pp

at any depth y below the dredge line may be expressed as

p p v K P 2c K P

z
The soil is supposed to be in tension up to a depth of 0 and the pressure on the wall is
zero in this zone. The net pressure distribution on the wall is shown by the shaded
triangle.
At the dredge line (at point A)
(a) The active pressure pa acting towards the left is

pa HK A 2c K A
When 0 pa H 2c H qu
q
Where u = unconfined compressive strength of the clay soil
(b) The passive pressure acting towards the right at the dredge line is
p p qu
since 0
The resultant of the passive an active pressures at the dredge line is
p p pa qu ( H qu ) 2qu H p
The resultant of the passive and active pressures at any depth y below the dredge
line is
p y qu
Passive pressure p
p H y qu
Active pressure, a
The resultant pressure is
p p pa p y qu H y qu 2qu H
p 2qu H

2q H at all depths.
It indicates that resultant pressure remains constant at u
If the passive pressure is developed on the backfill side at the bottom of the pile
(point B), then
p p H D qu
acting towards the left
pa D qu
acting toward the right
The resultant is
p p pa H D qu D qu H 2qu p '
p ' H 2qu
For static equilibrium, the sum of all the horizontal forces must be equal zero, that
is,
1
Pa 2qu H D 2qu 2qu h 0
2
Simplifying,
Pa 2qu h 2qu D HD 0 , therefore,
D 2qu H Pa
h
2qu
Also, for equilibrium, the sum of the moments at any point should be zero. Taking
moments about the base,
(2qu H ) D 2
h2
Pa y D 2qu
0
6
2
Substituting for h and simplifying,
C1 D 2 C2 D C3 0

Where,
C1 2qu H
C2 2 Pa
C3

Pa 6qu y Pa

qu H

Maximum bending moment

The maximum bending moment may occur within the depth (D-h) below the
dredge line. Let this depth be yo below the dredge line for zero shear. We may
write,
Pa p y0 0
P
y0 a
p
Or
The expression for maximum bending moment is,

M max Pa y0 y

p y0 2
2

Where p 2qu H
The section modulus of the sheet pile may now be calculated as before.
DESIGN
In carrying out the design, the following points should be considered:
A qs=10kN/m2 surcharge must be applied behind the wall.
The excavation pitch will be drainaged during excavation, we will consider the
case with water table at great depth.
The surcharge pressure can be considered as a layer of depth s
10kN / m2
s
0.7 m
14.6kN / m3

10% of the wall height is 0.5m, so the design height will be 6+0.7=6.7m
The pressure distribution is assumed as shown in figure.
2
For 0 pa ( H ) 2c ( H ) qu (6.7 14.6) 20.5 77.32kN / m

qu 20.5

1.404m
14.6
1
1
Pa pa H z0 77.32 6.7 1.404 204.743kN / m
2
2
of wall
z0

p 2qu H 2 20.5 14.6 6.7 14.6kN / m 2

p ' H 2qu 4.8 5.5 2 20.5 67.4kN / m 2

1
1
H z0 5.5 4.271 0.40967m
3
3
For the determination of h, equate the summation of all horizontal forces to zero,
thus
1
Pa pD p p ' h 0
2
1
3.626 14.6 D 14.6 67.4 h 0
2
14.6 D 3.626
h
41
Therefore,
For the determination of D, taking moments of all the forces about the base of the
wall, we have
D2
h h
Pa D y p
p p' 0
2
2 3
D2
h2
3.626 D 0.40697 14.6
14.6 67.4 0
2
6
Or
Substituting for h and simplifying, we have
5.567 D 2 2.765D 1.5829 0 or
14.6D2 - 7.252D - 4.176 = 0 (by using equation for C)
Solving D = 0.838m; increasing D by 40%, we have D = 1.4 x ( 0.838 ) =
1.1732m
Maximum bending moment
y

M max Pa y0 y
y0

p y0 2
2

Pa 3.626

0.2484
14.6
p
m

y 0.40967 m

M max 3.626 0.2484 0.40967

14.6 0.2484 2
1.9357 kNm / m
2
of wall