LATERAL EARTH PRESSURE PARAMETERS

Cohesive Soil Cohesionless Soil

Condition
(Non-Expansive Clay) (Granular - Sand)
Assumed Backfill Characteristics
Approx Total Density 140 pcf 140 pcf
Approximate Friction Angle 15º - 20º 15 Ka, Ko, Kp Averages 20 30º - 35º 30 Ka, Ko, Kp Averages 35
Active Pressure Coefficient, Ka = (1-sinϕ) / (1+sinϕ) = 1/Kp 0.54 0.59 0.54 0.30
0.49 0.33 0.30 0.27
At-Rest Pressure Coefficient, Ko = (1-sinϕ) 0.70 0.74 0.70 0.66 0.46 0.50 0.46 0.43
Passive Pressure Coefficient, Kp = (1+sinϕ) / (1-sinϕ) = 1/Ka 1.87 1.70 1.87 2.04 3.35 3.00 3.35 3.69
Estimated Lateral Earth Pressures (Equivalent Fluid Pressures)
Active Drained 76 pcf Ka(γ) = 0.54(140) = 76 pcf 42 pcf Ka(γ) = 0.3(140) = 42 pcf
Active
Active Undrained 104 pcf Ka(γ - γw) + γw = 0.54(140 - 62.4) + 62.4 = 104 pcf 86 pcf Ka(γ - γw) + γw = 0.3(140 - 62.4) + 62.4 = 86 pcf
At-Rest Drained 98 pcf Ko(γ) = 0.7(140) = 98 pcf 65 pcf Ko(γ) = 0.46(140) = 65 pcf
At-Rest
At Rest Undrained 117 pcf Ko(γ - γw) + γw = 0.7(140 - 62.4) + 62.4 = 117 pcf 98 pcf Ko(γ - γw) + γw = 0.46(140 - 62.4) + 62.4 = 98 pcf
Passive Drained 262 pcf Kp(γ) = 1.87(140) = 262 pcf 468 pcf Kp(γ) = 3.35(140) = 468 pcf
Passive
Passive Undrained 145 pcf Kp(γ - γw) = 1.87(140 - 62.4) = 145 pcf 260 pcf Kp(γ - γw) = 3.35(140 - 62.4) = 260 pcf

R = (0.5)(Ko)(γ)(H ) = (0.5)(EFP)(H ) = psf / lineal foot of wall length

2 2

Cohesive Soil Cohesionless Soil

Condition
(Non-Expansive Clay) (Granular - Sand)
Assumed Backfill Characteristics
Approx Total Density 110 pcf 110 pcf
Approximate Friction Angle 15º - 20º 15 Ka, Ko, Kp Averages 20 30º - 35º 30 Ka, Ko, Kp Averages 35
Active Pressure Coefficient, Ka = (1-sinϕ) / (1+sinϕ) = 1/Kp 0.54 0.59 0.54 0.30
0.49 0.33 0.30 0.27
At-Rest Pressure Coefficient, Ko = (1-sinϕ) 0.70 0.74 0.70 0.66 0.46 0.50 0.46 0.43
Passive Pressure Coefficient, Kp = (1+sinϕ) / (1-sinϕ) = 1/Ka 1.87 1.70 1.87 2.04 3.35 3.00 3.35 3.69
Estimated Lateral Earth Pressures (Equivalent Fluid Pressures)
Active Drained 59 pcf Ka(γ) = 0.54(110) = 59 pcf 33 pcf Ka(γ) = 0.3(110) = 33 pcf
Active
Active Undrained 88 pcf Ka(γ - γw) + γw = 0.54(110 - 62.4) + 62.4 = 88 pcf 77 pcf Ka(γ - γw) + γw = 0.3(110 - 62.4) + 62.4 = 77 pcf
At-Rest Drained 77 pcf Ko(γ) = 0.7(110) = 77 pcf 51 pcf Ko(γ) = 0.46(110) = 51 pcf
At-Rest
At Rest Undrained 96 pcf Ko(γ - γw) + γw = 0.7(110 - 62.4) + 62.4 = 96 pcf 84 pcf Ko(γ - γw) + γw = 0.46(110 - 62.4) + 62.4 = 84 pcf
Passive Drained 206 pcf Kp(γ) = 1.87(110) = 206 pcf 368 pcf Kp(γ) = 3.35(110) = 368 pcf
Passive
Passive Undrained 89 pcf Kp(γ - γw) = 1.87(110 - 62.4) = 89 pcf 159 pcf Kp(γ - γw) = 3.35(110 - 62.4) = 159 pcf

140

Rankine At-Rest, Ko
130
Lateral Earth Pressure Parameters 140 pcf-Undrained

120

110 130 pcf-Undrained

Equivalent Fluid Pressures (pcf)

Undrained Conditions
100

120 pcf-Undrained
90

80
110 pcf-Undrained

70
Low to Moderately Expansive Clays ←→ Mixed Soils ←→ Clean Sands and Gravels

60 140 pcf-Drained

50

130 pcf-Drained
40 Assumes:
No safety factor
Ignores adhesion or friction between the wall and soil
30 Lateral pressure is limited to vertical walls
No surcharge Drained Conditions
Ignores cohesion shear strength 120 pcf-Drained

20 Failure (in the backfill) occurs as a sliding wedge along

an assumed failure plane defined by Ø
Lateral pressure varies linearly with depth and the
resultant pressure is located 1/3 of the height
10 110 pcf-Drained
above the base of the wall

0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45

Internal Friction Angle (degrees)

Lateral Earth Pressures - Table and Graphs.xlsx 9/11/2014