Estimation of Passive Earth Pressure against Rigid Retaining Wall Considering Arching Effect in Cohesive-Frictional Backfill under Translation Mode

Abstract

In this study, a novel analytical approach is proposed to calculate the passive earth pressure against a rigid retaining wall subjected to the translation mode. Effects of arching in cohesive backfill soils as well as friction mobilized along the wall–soil interface are considered. Analytical expressions of the earth pressure, passive resistance, and its height of application on the backface of the retaining wall were derived based on static equilibrium of forces under passive conditions acting on the failure wedge. A parametric study was undertaken to assess effects of internal friction angle of backfill, wall–soil interface friction angle, surcharge pressure, cohesion, unit weight, and inclination angle of the slip surface on the active earth pressure as well as on the slip-surface angle. The results of the proposed method were then verified against the existing test data as well as the predictions by Coulomb theory and Rankine theory. The results show that the proposed method yields satisfactory results.