Muros de Contencin

UMG Arquitectura
2017
 Lateral Earth Pressures and Retaining Structures

Three basic earth pressure conditions to consider

1. At-rest conditions zero lateral strain

Ph K o ' v
w h e re K o 1 s in

e.g. 3 0 K o 0 . 5

v'

Ph=Kov

2. Active earth pressure conditions-

extensional lateral strains

Pa K a v 2 c
'
ka

w h e re k a ta n
2
45 / 2
30 K a ( 30 ) 0.333 1 /3

3. Passive earth pressure conditions-

compressive lateral strains

Pp K p ' v 2 c Kp
30 K p ( 30 ) 3 . 0
w h e re K p ta n 45 / 2
2
For retaining wall backfill, coarse-grained soils are invariably used

Good drainage qualities prevents buildup of water behind wall

No time-dependent behavior cohesive soils are

subject to creep and stress relaxation

For c = 0 soils, all earth pressures are proportional to depth

KaH2 KoH2 KpH2

H/3

KaH KoH KpH

Active At-rest Passive
 Example 1
Calculate the overturning moment about the base of the wall shown below

K a ta n ( 4 5 / 2 )
2
Dense Sand
C=0 2H/3 0 .2 2
= 40
0 . 2 2 1 3 0 2 0
2

r = 130 pcf 1
2
K arH
2

2
5 . 7 k / ft
H/3 6.7 ft k ft
M ( 6 . 7 ft )( 5 . 7 k / ft ) 3 8 . 3 ft

Example 2
Calculate the lateral thrust which can be resisted by the wall shown below

400 psf
400 Loose Sand
8 feet C=0
= 30 H
P r = 100 pcf
4 feet 1600
K p ta n ( 4 5 / 2 ) 3 . 0
2
Kpq KpH
P K pqH K prH
1 2
2

3 4 0 0 p s f 1 2 ' 3 1 0 0 p c f 1 2 f t
2
1
2

36 k / ft
 Example 3
Calculate the total lateral force acting on the wall show below.

Loose sand G sr w 2 .7 6 2 .4 p c f
Assume dry
5 feet e = 0.6 rd 1 0 5p c f
1 e 1 .6
G s 1 2 .7 1 6 2 .4
r sub 66 pcf
= 30 1 e 1 .6
10 feet
Assume saturated

Vertical Stress Lateral Stress

0
(5)(105) = 525 psf 525/3 = 175 psf

525 +(10')(66)
15 (10')(62.4)
=1,185psf 1185/3 =395 psf =624 psf

1 7 5 5 1 7 5 3 9 5 1 0 6 2 4 1 0
T o ta l F o rc e
2 2 2
6 . 4 k / ft
 Typical cantilever retaining wall

W
Pa

Pp

9 step procedure listed in txt (Section 37.11):

1. Find Pa and its point of reaction

2. Find Pp and its point of reaction
3. Find total vertical force and its point of reaction
6. Check FS against overturning about toe of wall
(Note that this is only meaningful If it represents a realistic failure mechanism
Probably only for walls founded on rock.
7. Check footing against bearing failure (eccentrically loaded footing).
9. Calculate FS against sliding