Finite Element–Based Coefficient of Lateral Earth Pressure for Cohesionless Soil

Abstract

In addition to various factors, the magnitude of lateral earth pressure depends on the direction and amount of the wall rotation. The current literature presents several expressions to calculate lateral earth pressure that captures the soil geometry and load characteristics. However, to the best of the author’s knowledge, there is no practical expression in the literature, in which the amount of wall rotation is incorporated. In this study, using the results of finite element (FE) models, one formula for the coefficient of active and four formulas for passive earth pressure will be presented. In each of the four passive pressure formulas, a different perspective will be adopted. Especially in two of the passive earth pressure formulas, the amount of wall rotation and soil modulus will be included as input parameters. For validation purposes, a physical retaining wall test will be modeled in the FE program and, subsequently, the test and model results will be compared.