• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.247-258
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• 2019

Soil strength and failure surface geometry directly influence magnitudes of passive earth thrust acting on geotechnical retaining structures. Accordingly, it is expected that as long as the shape of the failure surface geometry and strength parameters of the backfill are known, magnitudes of computed passive earth thrusts should be highly accurate. Building on this premise, this study adopts conventional method of slices for calculating passive earth thrust and combines it with equations for estimating failure surface geometries based on in-situ stress state and density. Accuracy of the proposed method is checked using the results obtained from small-scale physical retaining wall model tests. In these model tests, backfill was prepared using either air pluviation or compaction and different backfill relative densities were used in each test. When the calculated passive earth thrust magnitudes were compared with the measured values, it was noticed that the results were highly compatible for the tests with pluviated backfills. On the other hand, calculated thrust magnitudes significantly underestimated the measured thrust magnitudes for those tests with compacted backfills. Based on this observation, a new approach for the calculation of passive earth pressures is developed. The proposed approach calculates the magnitude and considers the influence of locked-in stresses that are the by-products of the backfill preparation method in the computation of lateral earth forces. Finally, recommendations are given for any geotechnical application involving the compaction of granular bodies that are equally applicable to physical modelling studies and field construction problems.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.263-277
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• 2014

In the conventional design of retaining structures in a seismic zone, seismic inertia forces are commonly assumed to act upwards and towards the wall facing to cause a maximum active thrust or act upwards and towards the backfill to cause a minimum passive resistance. However, under certain circumstances this design approach might underestimate the dynamic active thrust or overestimate the dynamic passive resistance acting on a rigid retaining structure. In this study, a new analytical method for dynamic active and passive forces in c-${\phi}$ soils with an infinite slope was proposed based on the Rankine earth pressure theory and the Mohr-Coulomb yield criterion, to investigate the influence of seismic inertia force directions on the total active and passive forces. Four combinations of seismic acceleration with both vertical (upwards or downwards) and horizontal (towards the wall or backfill) directions, were considered. A series of dimensionless dynamic active and passive force charts were developed to evaluate the key influence factors, such as backfill inclination ${\beta}$, dimensionless cohesion $c/{\gamma}H$, friction angle ${\phi}$, horizontal and vertical seismic coefficients, $k _h$ and $k_v$. A comparative study shows that a combination of downward and towards-the-wall seismic inertia forces causes a maximum active thrust while a combination of upward and towards-the-wall seismic inertia forces causes a minimum passive resistance. This finding is recommended for use in the design of retaining structures in a seismic zone.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.193-202
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• 2023

In this paper, a dynamic centrifuge model test was conducted on a 24.8-meter-deep excavation consisting of a 20 m sand layer and 4.8 m bedrock, classified as S3 by Korean seismic design code KDS 17 10 00. A braced excavation wall supports the hole. From the results, the mechanism of seismically induced earth pressure was investigated, and their distribution and loading points were analyzed. During earthquake loadings, active seismic earth pressure decreases from the at-rest earth pressure since the backfill laterally expands at the movement of the wall toward the active direction. Yet, the passive seismic earth pressure increases from the at-rest earth pressure since the backfill pushes to the wall and laterally compresses at it, moving toward a passive direction and returning to the initial position. The seismic earth pressure distribution shows a half-diamond distribution in the dense sand and a uniform distribution in loose sand. The loading point of dynamic thrust corresponding with seismic earth pressure is at the center of the soil backfill. The dynamic thrust increased differently depending on the backfill's relative density and input motion type. Still, in general, the dynamic thrust increased rapidly when the maximum horizontal displacement of the wall exceeded 0.05 H%.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.425-433
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• 2019

In this study, a simple method of calculating the passive earth pressure coefficient, which is based on the limit equilibrium method, was proposed and the calculated earth pressure coefficients were compared with those of several researchers. The angle of the linear failure surface, which is combined with the logarithmic spiral arc, to the failure surfaces of the passive zone was derived and the whole passive thrust acting on the Rankine passive zone was considered in the proposed method instead of considering the horizontal component of passive thrust. The variations of the passive earth pressure coefficients of the proposed method showed the same tendency as that of the Coulomb's passive earth pressure coefficients with an inclined angle of backfill and internal friction angle. The magnitude of passive earth pressure coefficients of the proposed method were smaller than those of the Coulomb in almost all cases. A comparison of the passive earth pressure coefficients with the wall friction angle revealed the passive earth pressure coefficients of the proposed method to be smaller than those of the Coulomb and the differences between the two values increased with increasing internal friction angle and wall friction angle. A comparison of the passive earth pressure coefficients of the proposed method with those of the existing researchers for the considered internal friction angles of $25^{\circ}$, $30^{\circ}$, $35^{\circ}$, and $40^{\circ}$ and three wall friction angles revealed the maximum percentage differences for the Kerisel and Absi method, Soubra method, Lancellotta method, $Ant\tilde{a}o$ et al. method, Kame method, and Reddy et al. method to be 4.8%, 3.8%, 31.1%, 4.0%, 20.6%, and 12.8% respectively. The passive earth pressure coefficient and existing pressures were similar in all cases.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.675-688
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• 2017

The anchor block is a specially designed concrete member intended to withstand pullout or thrust forces from backfill material of an internally stabilized anchored earth retaining wall by passive resistance of soil in front of the block. This study presents small-scale laboratory experimental works to investigate the pullout capacity of a concrete anchor block embedded in air dry sand and located at different distances from yielding boundary wall. The experimental setup consists of a large tank made of fiberglass sheets and steel framing system. A series of tests was carried out in the tank to investigate the load-displacement behavior of anchor block. Experimental results are then compared with the theoretical approaches suggested by different researchers and codes. The appropriate placement of an anchor block and the passive resistance coefficient, which is multiplied by the passive resistance in front of the anchor block to obtain the pullout capacity of the anchor, were also studied.

• Geotechnical Engineering
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.55-70
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• 1987

An analytical solution procedure is described to estimate the developed passive lateral earth Pressures behind a vertical rigid retaintng wall rotating about its toe into a mass of cohesionless soil. Various stases of wall rotation, starting from an at-rest state to an initial Passive state to a full Passive state, are considered in the analysis. Condition of failure defined by a modified Mohr-coulomb criterion, together with equilibrium conditions, is used to obtain the necessary equations for the solution. Using methods of stress characteristics and numerical finite difference, a complete solution within and on the boundaries of the entire solution domain is made possible. The variations of the soil shear strength and the wall friction at various depths and stages of wall rotation are also taken into account in the analysis. The results predicted by the developed method of analysis are compared with those obtained from the experimental model tests on loose and dense sand. The comparisons show good agreements at various stages of retaining wall rotation Fin- ally, results of analytical parametric study are presented to demonstrate the effects of wall fric- tion on the resultant thrust and distribution of developed lateral earth pressures.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.385-393
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• 2022

Previous studies postulated insignificant capillary rise (h_c) effect above the water table (H_w) for unsaturated soils. In addition, these studies utilised dry unit weight above H_w. This paper, therefore, addresses the effect of these postulations on strength where the influence of h_c using a modified upper bound approach, Discontinuity Layout Optimization (UNSAT-DLO) for a simulated soil was predicted. Two different parametric studies to model passive earth pressure and bearing capacity problems are carried out to provide an insight into the effect of capillary rise on strength. Significant increase in strength, owing to unsaturated conditions, was obtained where the maximum increase was when suction slightly less or greater than the air entry suction. On the other hand, the results showed a negative effect of h_c. For example, up to 8.24% decrease in passive thrust (P_p) was obtained at H_w=0 m when h_c rose 1 m from 0 m. To put this into perspective, this was equivalent to a decrease of about 2° in 𝜙 at H_w=0 m and h_c =0 m in order to obtain the same result at h_c =1 m. For the bearing capacity problem, the effect was seen to be higher, up to 18.4% decrease in N_𝛾 was obtained when h_c rose from 0 m to 2.5 m at H_w =0 m. In addition, the results revealed a negative influence of assigning dry unit weight above H_w or h_c.. However, considerable increase in strength was obtained when unsaturated unit weight above h_c was assigned.