EFP on retaining wall
EFP on retaining wall
(OP)
For example, a wall of 12' high retaning a soil of same height, but a limited width, say 6'.
the question is:
what is the EFP on the wall? Is it different than the one for a wall retaining a 100' wide soil?
wall 12' high-->|xxxxxxx|<--wall 12' high
^
soil 6' wide
the question is:
what is the EFP on the wall? Is it different than the one for a wall retaining a 100' wide soil?
wall 12' high-->|xxxxxxx|<--wall 12' high
^
soil 6' wide






RE: EFP on retaining wall
are the EFP's different on retaining walls which support 6' wide soil and 100' wide one?
RE: EFP on retaining wall
RE: EFP on retaining wall
RE: EFP on retaining wall
RE: EFP on retaining wall
RE: EFP on retaining wall
Say the equivalent fluid pressure is 65 psf/ft for a natural soil.
Q1: What is the equivalent fluid pressure from a 1' wide soil, which is retained on both sides by the walls?
Q2: What is the equivalent fluid pressure from a 6' wide soil, which is retained on both sides by the walls?
Q3: What is the equivalent fluid pressure from a 100' wide soil, which is retained on both sides by the walls?
RE: EFP on retaining wall
RE: EFP on retaining wall
RE: EFP on retaining wall
There is a journal article: "Earth Pressure on Retaining Walls Near Rock Faces"
Sam Frydman and Israel Keissar, Journal of Geotechnical Engineering, ASCE, June 1987, Vol 113, No. 6
That discusses a similiar issue and concludes that you can use smaller active pressures in these situations for well drained soils because the full soil wedge can't be activated.
RE: EFP on retaining wall
so if the equivalent fluid pressures are the same, the forces the wall will retain are the same, no matter what the volume of the soil is?
In other words, 1" soil will put same amount of force on wall as 100' soil?
Maybe I did not say clearly, by saying "1" or "100'" wide soil, I mean the section width.
RE: EFP on retaining wall
RE: EFP on retaining wall
WillsV is correct. I remember years ago I had similar discussion with one of my senior associate, the conclusion was that the "Wedge Method" was the proper way to go to determine the soil pressure for such case. I believe US Corps of Engineers has guildlines on retaining walls containing shallow soil body behind the walls. You may want to check it out.
RE: EFP on retaining wall
RE: EFP on retaining wall
The pressure is the same at equal elevations for differing widths of walls. The pressure may be lower if less than sufficient soil is behind wall for the failure plane to intersect the surface.
RE: EFP on retaining wall
RE: EFP on retaining wall