Active Earth Pressure of Narrow Backfill on Inverted T-Type Retaining Walls under Translation Mode

Abstract

It is well known that there are multiple sliding surfaces behind inverted T-type retaining walls and that reflective sliding surfaces may develop in narrow backfill. Combined with numerical analysis, this paper establishes a mathematical model for the stress rotation trajectory considering multiple sliding surfaces. This paper proposes a theoretical solution for the active earth pressure in narrow backfill on inverted T-type retaining walls under translation mode using the horizontal layer differentiation method. The theoretical solution accurately considers the redistribution of stresses and is suitable for complex working conditions and various soil properties. Parametric analysis reveals the effects of backfill geometries, soil properties, and soil–wall interface friction angles on earth pressure. A quantitative equation was presented for the critical condition of narrow and semi-infinite backfills.