Active Earth Pressure Calculation for a Translational Retaining Wall Considering the Influence of Basement Inverse Slope

Abstract

The current active earth pressure calculation theory cannot take into account the influence of the foundation inverse slope. For the translational mode retaining wall in this paper, taking cohesive backfill as the research object, the clay within the crack depth range is equivalent to uniform overload, using the upper limit theory, establishing the energy conservation equation of the velocity field and force, and the analytical formula of the tensile crack depth and the slip surface of the cohesive backfill being obtained. By taking into account the soil arching effect, setting up the static equilibrium equation by horizontal layer analysis, deriving the active earth pressure calculation expression of cohesive backfill, it is possible to consider the influence of the basement inverse slope. In the case of cohesionless backfill, the formula can be reduced to the theoretical solution. By comparing the calculated results with the experimental values and relevant theories, this can verify the applicability of the formula. The result of research shows that, with the increase of the basement inverse slope angle, the development of the tensile crack will be promoted, the dip angle of the slip surface changes little, and the resultant force and overturning moment will decrease, which is conducive to the antisliding stability and antioverturning stability of the wall, reducing the project cost. The active earth pressure distribution of cohesionless backfill is independent of whether there is an inverse slope in the basement. The theoretical formula obtained in this paper can be used as reference for the design of the retaining wall.