What is passive wedge?
What is passive wedge?
(OP)
We have two inclinometers on the same line of defense, both of which have been sheared. However, it appears that the shear plane is not in the same elevation considering they are quite close to each other. One eng mentioned that this could be possible if one of the inclinometers is installed in the passive wedge.
Can someone explain the concept of passive wedge in soil?
Thanks,
Can someone explain the concept of passive wedge in soil?
Thanks,





RE: What is passive wedge?
RE: What is passive wedge?
The "passive" bit, refers to the soil i.e. the soil is not moving (i.e. is passive) the wall is being displaced into the soil. That I don't understand from what you describe, unless the inclinometers are downhill of the wall. Uphill of the wall would typical be an active wedge, if only gravity loading is relevant.
RE: What is passive wedge?
If you want to understand the location of the passive wedge, you can draw it out yourself (knowing friction angle) by taking the lowest elevation of the structure that's applying laterial pressure and casting a line that's set at the angle of 45-phi/2 as measured from the horizontal.
Then again to account for wall friction, you may want to consider a log-spiral passive zone. Then again, you may have some unique boundary condition that will require some alternate method to assess the passive wedge.
f-d
¡papá gordo ain't no madre flaca!
RE: What is passive wedge?
RE: What is passive wedge?