Lateral Earth Pressure

The magnitude of lateral earth pressure depends on:

1. Shear strength characteristics of soil

2. Lateral strain condition

3. Pore water pressure

4. State of Equilibrium of soil

5. Wall and ground surface shape

Previous conditions depends mainly on:

a) Drainage conditions

b) Interaction between soil and wall

Soil state of Equilibrium

The state of Equilibrium of soil can be divided into two states :

a) State of Elastic Equilibrium
When a small change in stress produces a corresponding small change
in strain.

b) State of Plastic Equilibrium

When irreversible strain takes place at a constant stress.

The strain state relating to earth pressure calculation fall into three categories:

a) At Rest State:
 It is the case when state of elastic Equilibrium with no lateral
displacement occurs (Figure 1 ).
b) Active state:
It is the case when plastic equilibrium with lateral expansion takes place
(wall moves outward from the soil). ( Figure 2 ).
c) Passive state:

Plastic equilibrium with lateral contraction takes place (wall moves toward the
soil). ( Figure 2 )

Figure 1

Figure 2
(1) Earth Pressure at rest (ko condition )

lateral strain , εh = 0
 ko = coefficient of lateral earth presser at rest.

ko depends on :

 Soil type ( sand, silt, clay)

 Loading –Unloading history

 Relative density of soil

For normally consolidated soil (N.C.) and sand

For over consolidated soil (O.C.)

where OCR is the over consolidated ratio

and in general

where is Poisson ratio

In this case ,the mohre circle is below the shear envelope of this
soil (Figure 3).
 Figure 3

(2) Active Earth pressure (Rankine’s Active state )

Rankine’s theory neglects friction

between soil and wall .

when the wall moves outward from the

soil , the lateral earth pressure starts to

 be reduced until it reaches its ,
minimum Figure 3

value ,

where ,

where , ka = coefficient of active earth pressure. (Figure 3)

And in this case , the failure plane makes ( 45 – Ø/2 ) with the direction of the major

principal plane ( usually horizontal axes ) .

(3) Rankin Passive State

If the wall moved toward the soil , the passive condition will take place.

The passive pressure will increase until it reaches its maximum value of:
and in this case , the failure place makes ( 45 + Ø/2 ) with the direction of the major principal plane.

Earth pressure Distribution for Sand

In general, the active earth pressure distribution in sand will be:

Figure (4)
where γ = soil unit weight

H = wall height

However the distribution and value of passive earth pressure in sand

is, Figure(5)
 Figure 5

(b) For clay

The value of active earth pressure is (Figure 6)

Figure(6)
 where , c = soil cohesion

The passive pressure values are (Figure 7)

Figure(7)

Effect of Ground Water Table

a) Static water table

For static water table the water pressure should be treated

separately from soil lateral pressure as shown in Figure(8)

 Figure(8)

where γsub = submerged unit weight of soil

= γsat - γw

b) Moving Water Table

In this case , the flow net and equipotential lines should be

drawn for the wall , Then the pore pressure against the wall can

be determined, ( Figure 9)
 Figure (9 )

Effect of Stratified Soil

As an example of stratified soil shown in(Figure10)

(Figure 10)
Effect of Sloping Ground Surface

In this case the active coefficient of lateral earth pressure is

and the resultant in this case will be parallel to the ground surface,

(Figure 11)

Coulomb's Theory for Rough Walls

Figure(12)
 δ = angle of wall friction

for concrete wall

and

and

Strutted Trench sheeting

Figure(13)
The location of struts affects the values and distributions of lateral earth
pressures

Figure(14)