Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Lateral Stresses on Retaining Wall Supporting Sandy Soil Under Dynamic Footing Loads

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Geotechnical and Geological Engineering Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Earth-retaining structures comprise an important subject in civil engineering researches, especially under dynamic loads. For the analysis and design of retaining walls in soils exposed to dynamic loads, accurate estimation of dynamic earth pressures and its point of application is very important. In this paper, the lateral stress distribution over the depth of the retaining wall on loose and dense sand under dynamic load on both active and passive sides was experimentally studied. A laboratory model of retaining wall supporting sandy soil was prepared. A footing was placed behind the wall and subjected to a dynamic load of harmonic half sine shape. It was found that the values of the active lateral stress decreased by increasing the sand relative density from 30 to 70% with keeping the other variables constant in all tests. On the other hand, in the passive side, the values increased by increasing the relative density from 30 to 70%. In both active and passive sides, all pressures collected revealed a nonlinear distribution with depth. In the active side, the position of the point of application is at height 0.56H (H is the wall height) and 0.54H for 30 and 70% relative density, while in the passive side, the elevations are 0.21H and 0.24H above the base of the wall for the both densities.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14
Fig. 15
Fig. 16
Fig. 17
Fig. 18
Fig. 19
Fig. 20
Fig. 21

Similar content being viewed by others

Data Availability

Enquiries about data availability should be directed to the authors.

References

  • Al-Juari KAK, Fattah MY, Khattaba SIA, Al-Shamam MK (2019) Experimental and numerical modeling of moving retaining wall in expansive soil. Geomech Geoeng 16:116–132. https://doi.org/10.1080/17486025.2019.1645363

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Al-Juari KAK, Fattah MY, Khattab SIA, Al-Shamam MK (2020) Simulation of behaviour of swelling soil supported by a retaining wall. Proc Inst Civ Eng Struct Build 175(4):293–302. https://doi.org/10.1680/jstbu.19.00152

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Al-khafaji RS, Al-Obaydi MA, Al-Saffar QN (2023) Effect of surcharge load location on the behavior of cantilever retaining wall. J Mech Behav Mater. https://doi.org/10.1515/jmbm-2022-0247

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) (2006) Standard test methods for specific gravity of soil solids by water pycnometer. ASTM International, West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania

    Google Scholar 

  • American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) (2006) Standard test method for particle-size analysis of soils. ASTM International, West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania

    Google Scholar 

  • American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) (2006) Standard test method for maximum index density and unit weight of soils using a vibratory table. ASTM International, West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania

    Google Scholar 

  • American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) (2006) Standard test method for minimum index density and unit weight of soils and calculation of relative density. ASTM International, West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania

    Google Scholar 

  • American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) (2006) Standard practice for classification of soils for engineering purposes (united soil classification system). ASTM International, West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania

    Google Scholar 

  • Awoleye EOA (1993) Ballast type-ballast life predictions. Derby, British Rail Research LR CES 122

  • Balachowski L (2006) Scale effect in shaft friction from the direct shear interface tests. Arch Civ Mech Eng 4(3):13–28

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Choudhury D, Nimbalkar SS (2006) Pseudo-dynamic approach of seismic active earth pressure behind retaining wall. Geotech Geol Eng 24:1103–1113

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fathipour H, Siahmazgi AS, Payan M, Chenari RJ (2020) Evaluation of the lateral earth pressure in unsaturated soils with finite element limit analysis using second-order cone programming. Comput Geotech 125:103587. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compgeo.2020.103587

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Garnier J (2002) Properties of soil samples used in centrifuge models. International conference physical modeling in geotechnics. Routledge, pp 5–19

    Google Scholar 

  • Higdon A, Ohlsen E, Stiles WB, Weese JA, Riley WF (1976) Mechanics of materials, 3rd edn. Wiley, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Huang CC (2000) Investigations of the damaged soil retaining structures during the chi-chi earthquake. J Chin Inst Eng 23(4):417–428

  • Ichihara M, Matsuzawa H (1973) Earth pressure during earthquake. Soils Found 13:75–86

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ishibashi I, Fang YS (1987) Dynamic earth pressures with different wall movement modes. Soils Found 27(4):11–22

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kreyszig E (2010) Advanced engineering mathematics. Wiley

    Google Scholar 

  • Krishna J, Prakash S, Nandkumran P (1974) Dynamic earth pressure distribution behind flexible retaining walls. Indian Geotech Soc J 4(3):207–224

    Google Scholar 

  • Lo Grasso AS, Maugeri M Motta E (2004) Experimental results on earth pressures on rigid wall under seismic condition, 13th World 136 Conference on Earthquake Engineering, Vancouver, B.C, Canada. No. pp. 1808.

  • Matsuo H (1941) Experimental study on the distribution of earth pressures acting on a vertical wall during earthquakes. J Jpn Soc Civ Eng 27(2):1941

    Google Scholar 

  • Matsuzawa H, Hazarika H (1996) Wall displacement modes dependent active earth pressure analyses using smeared shear band method with two bands. Computers and Geotechnics 19:193–219

  • Mandal T, Jadhav R, Tank J, Bhagat B, Deshmukh VB (2011) Behavior of retaining wall under static and dynamic active earth pressures. Int J Earth Sci Eng 4(6):107–112. ISSN 0974-5904

  • Mikola RG, Canadia G, Sitar N (2016) Seismic earth pressures on retaining structures and basement walls in cohesionless soils. J Geot. Geoenviron. Eng. American Society of Civil Engineering 142(10): 04016047

  • Mononobe N (1929) Earthquake-proof construction of masonry dams. Proc World Eng Conf 9:274–280

    Google Scholar 

  • Mylonakis G, Kloukinas P, Papantonopoulos C (2007) An alternative to the Mononobe-Okabe equations for seismic earth pressures. Soil Dyn Earthq Eng 27(10):957–969

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nandakumaran P, Joshi VH (1973) Static and dynamic active earth pressure behind retaining walls. Bull Indian Soc Earthq Technol 10(3)

  • Okabe S (1926) General theory of earth pressure. J Jpn Soc Civ Eng 12(1)

  • Ortiz LA, Scott RF, Lee J (1983) Dynamic centrifuge testing of a cantilever retaining wall. Earthq Eng Struct Dyn 11:251–268

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Parkin AK and Lunne T (1982) Boundary effects in the laboratory calibration of a cone penetrometer for sand. In: 2nd Symposium on penetration testing, Amsterdam, pp 761–768

  • Prakash S, Basavanna BM (1969) Earth pressure distribution behind retaining walls during earthquakes. In: Proceeding fourth world conference on earthquake engineering, Santiago, Chile

  • Qin C, Chian SC (2020). Pseudo-dynamic lateral earth pressures on rigid walls with varying cohesive-frictional backfill. Comput Geotech 119: 103289. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compgeo.2019.103289.

  • Salman FA, Fattah MY, Shirazi SM, Mahrez M (2011) Comparative study on earth pressure distribution behind retaining walls subjected to line loads. Sci Res Essays 6(11):2228–2244

    Google Scholar 

  • Seed HB, Whitman RV (1970) Design of earth retaining structures for dynamic loads. ASCE specialty conference, lateral stresses in the ground and design of earth retaining structures. Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, pp 103–147

    Google Scholar 

  • Sherif MA, Ishibashi I, Lee CD (1982) Earth pressures against rigid retaining walls. J Geotech Eng 108:679–695

    Google Scholar 

  • Sherif MA, Fang YS (1984a) Dynamic earth pressures on walls rotating about the top. Soils and Foundations, Japanese Society of Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering. 24(4):109–117

  • Sherif M, Fang Y (1984b) Dynamic earth pressures on rigid walls rotating about the base. Proceedings Eighth World Conference on Earthquake Engineering San Francisco 6:993–1000

  • Sherif MA, Fang YS (1994) Dynamic earth pressures on walls rotating about top. Soil Found 24(4):109–117

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Steedman RS Zeng X (1990) The influence of phase on the calculation of pseudo-static earth pressure on a retaining wall. Géotechnique 40:103–112. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.1990.40.1.103.

  • Wang J, Zhong W, Lin Z, Tang Y (2022) Dynamic response and geogrid strain analysis of GRS retaining wall. Appl Sci 12:9930. https://doi.org/10.3390/app12199930.MDPI

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Woodward PK, Griffiths DV (1992) Dynamic Active Earth Pressure analysis. In: Pande GN, Pietruszczak S (eds) Proceedings 4th international symposium on numerical models in geomechanics (NUMOG IV), Swansea, Balkema, vol 1. pp 403–410

  • Yang D, Lai F, Liu S (2022) Earth pressure in narrow cohesive-fictional soils behind retaining walls rotated about the top: an analytical approach. Comput Geotech 149:104849. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compgeo.2022.104849

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang JM, Shamoto Y, Tokimatsu K (1998) Seismic earth pressure theory for retaining walls under any lateral displacement. Soils Found 38(2):143–163

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Funding

The authors have not disclosed any funding.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Civil Engineering Department, University of Technology, Baghdad, Iraq

    Mohammed F. Aswad, Mohammed Y. Fattah & Reham E. Hamdi

Authors
  1. Mohammed F. Aswad
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Mohammed Y. Fattah
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Reham E. Hamdi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mohammed Y. Fattah.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Aswad, M.F., Fattah, M.Y. & Hamdi, R.E. Lateral Stresses on Retaining Wall Supporting Sandy Soil Under Dynamic Footing Loads. Geotech Geol Eng 41, 4725–4742 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10706-023-02542-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10706-023-02542-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation