Passive Earth Pressure in Narrow Cohesive-Frictional Backfills

Chutian Li, Fengwen Lai, Jim Shiau, Suraparb Keawsawasvong, Hanhui Huang

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleScientificpeer-review

2 Citations (Scopus)
67 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

A narrow backfill zone is formed when retaining walls are built near existing stabilized structures (e.g., rock faces). In such circumstances, the classical passive earth pressure coefficient is no longer applicable, and a correction factor is required for the design. This paper aims to develop analytical solutions for estimating the passive earth pressure problem of narrow cohesive-frictional backfills behind retaining walls. The novel arched differential element method considers both effects of the horizontal shear stress in backfills and the soil arching, and it is employed to estimate the passive earth pressure distribution along with wall depth. The solutions are compared against those published experimental data, analytical approaches, and finite-element limit analysis solutions. The factors influencing the distribution of passive earth pressure are also undertaken using a series of parametric studies. To implement the derived solutions into a routine design, a modified practical design equation is presented following the standard Coulomb's solutions. This work provides a theoretical guideline for the initial design of retaining walls with narrow soils, and it should be of great interest to practitioners.

Original languageEnglish
Article number04022262
Number of pages11
JournalInternational Journal of Geomechanics
Volume23
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2023

Bibliographical note

Green Open Access added to TU Delft Institutional Repository 'You share, we take care!' - Taverne project https://www.openaccess.nl/en/you-share-we-take-care

Otherwise as indicated in the copyright section: the publisher is the copyright holder of this work and the author uses the Dutch legislation to make this work public.

Keywords

  • Arched differential element method
  • Cohesive-frictional materials
  • Narrow backfill
  • Passive earth pressure
  • Retaining structure
  • Soil arching effect

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