The reliability of an anchored sheet-pile wall embedded in a cohesionless soil

Abstract

A probabilistic method is used in this study to investigate the safety of an anchored sheet-pile wall embedded in a cohesionless soil. Two different definitions of the structure's limit state are given for reference. Failure probability is estimated in terms of overall stability, specifically with reference to the upper soil anchor. The probabilistic analysis is based on a second level approximate computation method (Rosenblueth point estimate method). The friction angle and the soil unit weight are the assumed independent and uncorrelated stochastic variables. Key words : probability, sheet-pile wall, active and passive pressure, friction angle, safety factor, safety margin, reliability index.