Abstract
In the design procedure for a retaining wall, the pseudo-static method has been widely used and dynamic earth pressure is calculated by the Mononobe–Okabe method, which is an extension of Coulomb’s earth pressure theory computed by force equilibrium. However, there is no clear empirical basis for treating the seismic force as a static force, and recent experimental research has shown that the Mononobe–Okabe method is quite conservative, and there exists a discrepancy between the assumed conditions and real seismic behavior during an earthquake. Two dynamic centrifuge tests were designed and conducted to reexamine the Mononobe–Okabe method and to evaluate the seismic lateral earth pressure on an inverted T-shape flexible retaining wall with a dry medium sand backfill. Results from two sets of dynamic centrifuge experiments show that inertial force has a significant impact on the seismic behavior on the flexible retaining wall. The dynamic earth pressure at the time of maximum moment during the earthquake was not synchronized and almost zero. The relationship between the back-calculated dynamic earth pressure coefficient at the time of maximum dynamic wall moment and the peak ground acceleration obtained from the wall base peak ground acceleration indicates that the seismic earth pressure on flexible cantilever retaining walls can be neglected at accelerations below 0.4 g. These results suggest that a wall designed with a static factor of safety should be able to resist seismic loads up to 0.3–0.4 g.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Al Atik L, Sitar N (2010) Seismic earth pressures on cantilever retaining structures. J Geotech Geoenviron Eng 136(10):1324–1333. doi:10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0000351
Al Atik L, Sitar N (2008) Dynamic centrifuge study of seismically induced lateral earth pressures on retaining structures. In: Zeng D, Manzari MT, Hiltunen DR (eds) Geotechnical earthquake engineering and soil dynamics IV, Sacramento, California, United States, ASCE, pp 1–11. doi:10.1061/40975(318)149
Bolton MD, Steedman RS (1982) Centrifugal testing of microconcrete retaining walls subject to base shaking. In: Conference on soil dynamics and earthquake engineering. Rotterdam, The Netherlands, Balkema, pp 311–329
BSSC (2010) NEHRP Recommended provisions for seismic regulations for new buildings and other structures (FEMA 750) 2009 Edition, Part 1 -Provisions. BSSC, Washington, DC
CEN (2004) Eurocode 8: Design of structures for earthquake resistance. Part 5: foundations, retaining structures, Geotechnical Aspects. CEN, Brussels, EN 1998–5
Chopra AK (2007) Dynamics of structures, 3/E. Pearson Education India
Clough GW, Fragaszy R (1977) A study of earth loadings on floodway retaining structures in the 1971 San Fernando Valley earthquake. In: Proceedings of the sixth world conference on earthquake engineering, Meerut, India
Ebeling RM, Morrison EE (1993) The seismic design of waterfront retaining structures. vol Technical Report ITL-92- 11. U.S. Army
Gazetas G, Psarropoulos PN, Anastasopoulos I, Gerolymos N (2004) Seismic behaviour of flexible retaining systems subjected to short-duration moderately strong excitation. Soil Dyn Earthq Eng 24(7):537–550. doi:10.1016/j.soildyn.2004.02.005
Green RA, Olgun CG, Cameron WI (2008) Response and modeling of cantilever retaining walls subjected to seismic motions. Comput-Aided Civ Infrastructure Eng 23(4):309–322. doi:10.1111/j.1467-8667.2007.00538.x
ICC (2012) International Building Code. International Code Council, Washington
Jaky J (1944) The coefficient of earth pressure at rest. J Soc Hung Archit Eng 78(22):355–358
Jo SB, Ha JG, Choo YW, Kim DS (2013) Seismic behavior of flexible inverted T-shape retaining wall via dynamic centrifuge testing. In: 18th Southeast Asian geotechnical conference, Singapore
Kim NR, Kim DS (2010) A shear wave velocity tomography system for geotechnical centrifuge testing. Geotech Test J 33(6):1–11
Kim DS, Kim NR, Choo YW, Cho GC (2013a) A newly developed state-of-the-art geotechnical centrifuge in Korea. KSCE J Civ Eng 17(1):77–84. doi:10.1007/s12205-013-1350-5
Kim DS, Lee SH, Choo YW, Perdriat J (2013b) Self-balanced earthquake simulator on centrifuge and dynamic performance verification. KSCE J Civ Eng 17(4):651–661. doi:10.1007/s12205-013-1591-3
Koseki J, Tatsuoka F, Munaf Y, Tateyama M, Kojima K (1998) A modified procedure to evaluate active earth pressure at high seismic loads. Soils and Foundations (Special Issue on Geotechnical Aspects of the January 17, 1996 Hyogoken-Nambu Earthquake) pp 209–216
Lee SH, Choo YW, Kim DS (2013) Performance of an equivalent shear beam (ESB) model container for dynamic geotechnical centrifuge tests. Soil Dyn Earthq Eng 44:102–114. doi:10.1016/j.soildyn.2012.09.008/
Lew M, Simantob E, Hudson M (1995) Performance of shored earth retaining systems during the January 17, 1994, Northridge earthquake. In: Proceedings of the third international conference on recent advances in geotechnical earthquake engineering and soil dynamics. St Louis, Missouri
Mononobe N, Matsuo H (1929) On the determination of earth pressures during earthquakes. In: Proceedings world engineering congress, pp 179–187
Nakai T (1985) Finite element computations for active and passive earth pressure problems of retaining wall. Soils Found 25(3):98–112
Nakamura S (2006) Reexamination of mononobe-okabe theory of gravity retaining walls using centrifuge model tests. Soils Found 46(2):12
Okabe S (1926) General theory of earth pressure. J Jpn Soc Civ Eng 12(1):311
Ortiz LA (1982) Dynamic centrifuge testing of cantilever retaining walls. Dissertation, California Institute of Technology
Schofield AN (1980) Cambridge geotechnical centrifuge operations. Twentieth Rankine Lect Géotech 30(3):227–268
Seed HB, Whitman RV (1970) Design of earth retaining structures for dynamic loads. In: ASCE Specialty conference on lateral stresses in the ground and design of earth-retaining structures, Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NY, ASCE, pp 103–147
Steedman RS, Zeng X (1990) The influence of phase on the calculation of pseudo-static earth pressure on a retaining wall. Géotechnique 40(1):103–112. doi:10.1680/geot.1990.40.1.103
Youn JU, Choo YW, Kim DS (2008) Measurement of small-strain shear modulus Gmax of dry and saturated sands by bender element, resonant column, and torsional shear tests. Can Geotech J 45(10):1426–1438. doi:10.1139/T08-069
Acknowledgments
The experiments were carried out in KOCED Geo-Centrifuge Facility using KREONET. This research was supported by a grant (11 Technology Innovation D02) from Construction Technology Innovation Program funded by Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport of Korean government.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Jo, SB., Ha, JG., Yoo, M. et al. Seismic behavior of an inverted T-shape flexible retaining wall via dynamic centrifuge tests. Bull Earthquake Eng 12, 961–980 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10518-013-9558-9
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10518-013-9558-9