Determination of passive earth pressure coefficients by the method of triangular slices

Abstract

A new procedure is proposed for determination of passive earth pressure coefficients using triangular slices within the framework of the limit equilibrium method. The potential sliding mass is subdivided into a series of triangular slices, rather than vertical slices as usual, with inclinations of the slice bases to be determined. The forces between two adjacent slices (interslice forces) are expressed in terms of interslice force coefficients, and recursive equations for solving interslice coefficients are derived. By using the principle of optimality, the critical inclinations of slice bases, minimum interslice force coefficients, and passive earth pressure coefficients are determined. A form of function for describing the distribution of interslice force inclination (interslice force function) is suggested and the scaling parameter contained in the function is determined by satisfying the moment equilibrium condition for the final sliding mass. Comparisons are made with other accepted methods and tables for passive earth pressure coefficients are presented for practical use.Key words: passive earth pressure coefficient, retaining walls, limit equilibrium method, the principle of optimality.