A Pseudodynamic Approach of Seismic Active Pressure on Retaining Walls Based on a Curved Rupture Surface

Abstract

Reasonable determination of the magnitude and distribution of dynamic earth pressure is one of the major challenges in the seismic design of retaining walls. Based on the principles of pseudodynamic method, the present study assumed that the critical rupture surface of backfill soil was a composite curved surface which was in combination with a logarithmic spiral and straight line. The equations for the calculation of seismic total active thrusts on retaining walls were derived using limit equilibrium theory, and earth pressure distribution was obtained by differentiating total active thrusts. The effects of initial phase, amplification factor, and soil friction angle on the distribution of seismic active earth pressure have also been discussed. Compared to pseudostatic and pseudodynamic methods for the determination of planar failure surface forms, the proposed method receives a bit lower value of seismic active earth pressures.

Influence of Friction Angles on Earth Pressures in Dry Granular Flow Dynamics and Soil Mechanics

“…Yan et al [22] determined the distribution of earth pressure by differentiating the influences of the total active force's starting phase, amplification factor, and soil friction angle on the distribution. Levesque et al [14] demonstrated that the accuracy of the Marston approach for estimating horizontal earth pressure would be improved by using K-values that are acquired as a function of back fill geotechnical parameters and also excavation geometry.…”

Characterizing the Effects of Friction Angles on Earth Pressures in the Flow of Granular Mass along Down-slope and Cross-slope in a Rough Incline

“…The numerical simulation makes clear about the significance of adopting a distinct earth pressure coefficient value (𝐾) for the flux's direction of convergence and divergence. Yan et al (2020) determined the distribution of earth pressure by contrasting the impacts of the total active force on the beginning phase, the amplification factor, and the angle of soil friction. The limit equilibrium analysis method is also demonstrated in this study for determining the non-linear distribution of the active earth pressure on stiff retaining walls with constrained backfills (Fig.…”

“…1). This study presented the idea that soil deflection plays a more significant role with the narrower width of the backfill and the inclination angle of the triangular failure wedge is connected to the value of the internal friction angle of the solids (Yan et al, 2020). Based on laboratory studies or analytical and numerical models, different researchers proposed various values for the earth pressure coefficient (𝐾).…”