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Vertical Earth Pressure

Vertical Earth Pressure

Vertical Earth Pressure

(OP)
Friends,

I work for a precaster and design underground structures.  I have an enclosed structure that is buried 45~50 deep from the top of the structure.  I am determining the loads and was wondering if I could be a little less conservative than taking the unit weight of the soil x the depth with respect to this load.

Is there any literature that someone can point me to.  

Thanks

LNT

RE: Vertical Earth Pressure

In a word NO.  If anything the structure may see more load than the unit weight of soil x the depth.  This is due to load arching onto the structure which is likely stiffer than the surrounding soil.

RE: Vertical Earth Pressure

Maybe if you use Geofoam or some other lightweight fill. Otherwise, I wouldn't risk it.

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RE: Vertical Earth Pressure

What might this be? A pipe? a buried vault?

RE: Vertical Earth Pressure

To reiterate what GeoPaveTraffic said  "NO!".  You might actually have more load than unit weight of soil x depth.  You might have a surcharge of the structure, plus adjacent structures.

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