Hydraulics and
Geotechnical Engineering
Module 17
Prepared by:
Engr. Carlo B. Dela Rosa
HGE MODULE 17: LATERAL EARTH PRESSURE AND SOIL BEARING CAPACITY
PREPARED BY: ENGR. CARLO B. DELA ROSA
Retaining wall structures can be gravity type structures, semi-gravity type structures, cantilever type
structures, and counterfort type structures. Prior to completing any retaining wall design, it is first
necessary to calculate the forces acting on the wall.
LATERAL EARTH PRESSURE (HORIZONTAL SOIL STRESS)
Vertical Earth Pressure 𝒑𝒑𝒗𝒗 = 𝜸𝜸𝜸𝜸
Lateral Earth Pressure 𝒑𝒑𝒉𝒉 = 𝒌𝒌𝒌𝒌𝒌𝒌
Where:
𝑘𝑘 = lateral earth pressure coefficient (the ratio between the lateral effective pressure and
vertical effective pressure at any point in the soil mass)
𝛾𝛾 = effective unit weight of soil
ℎ = height of soil
HGE MODULE 17: LATERAL EARTH PRESSURE AND SOIL BEARING CAPACITY
PREPARED BY: ENGR. CARLO B. DELA ROSA
LATERAL EARTH PRESSURE (HORIZONTAL SOIL STRESS)
Three categories:
At rest – soil pressure which causes no wall movement
po = k o γH
Active – soil pressure which causes the wall to move away from the soil
pa = k a γH
Passive – soil pressure which causes the wall to move toward the soil
pp = k p γH
HGE MODULE 17: LATERAL EARTH PRESSURE AND SOIL BEARING CAPACITY
PREPARED BY: ENGR. CARLO B. DELA ROSA
LATERAL EARTH PRESSURE (HORIZONTAL SOIL STRESS)
At rest earth pressure coefficient
Jaky, 1944: For coarse-grained soils
𝒌𝒌𝒐𝒐 = 𝟏𝟏 − 𝐬𝐬𝐬𝐬𝐬𝐬 𝝓𝝓
Mayne and Kulhawy, 1982: For overconsolidated coarse-grained soils
′
𝒌𝒌𝒐𝒐 = (𝟏𝟏 − sin 𝝓𝝓′) 𝑶𝑶𝑶𝑶𝑶𝑶 𝝓𝝓
Massarch, 1979: For fine grained, normally consolidated soils
𝐏𝐏𝐏𝐏 %
𝒌𝒌𝒐𝒐 = 𝟎𝟎. 𝟒𝟒𝟒𝟒 + 𝟎𝟎. 𝟒𝟒𝟒𝟒
𝟏𝟏𝟏𝟏𝟏𝟏
For overconsolidated clays, the coefficient of earth pressure at rest can be approximated by:
𝒌𝒌𝒐𝒐(𝒐𝒐𝒐𝒐𝒐𝒐𝒐𝒐𝒐𝒐𝒐𝒐𝒐𝒐𝒐𝒐𝒐𝒐𝒐𝒐𝒐𝒐𝒐𝒐𝒐𝒐𝒐𝒐𝒐𝒐𝒐𝒐) = 𝒌𝒌𝒐𝒐 𝒏𝒏𝒏𝒏𝒏𝒏𝒏𝒏𝒏𝒏𝒏𝒏𝒏𝒏𝒏𝒏 𝒄𝒄𝒄𝒄𝒄𝒄𝒄𝒄𝒄𝒄𝒄𝒄𝒄𝒄𝒄𝒄𝒄𝒄𝒄𝒄𝒄𝒄𝒄𝒄 𝑶𝑶𝑶𝑶𝑶𝑶
𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩 𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩
𝑶𝑶𝑶𝑶𝑶𝑶 =
𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩 𝐞𝐞𝐞𝐞𝐞𝐞𝐞𝐞𝐞𝐞𝐞𝐞𝐞𝐞𝐞𝐞𝐞𝐞 𝐨𝐨𝐨𝐨𝐨𝐨𝐨𝐨𝐨𝐨𝐨𝐨𝐨𝐨𝐨𝐨𝐨𝐨𝐨𝐨 𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩
HGE MODULE 17: LATERAL EARTH PRESSURE AND SOIL BEARING CAPACITY
PREPARED BY: ENGR. CARLO B. DELA ROSA
LATERAL EARTH PRESSURE (HORIZONTAL SOIL STRESS)
Additional Earth Pressure Parameters
Water:
𝑝𝑝𝑤𝑤 = 𝛾𝛾𝑤𝑤 𝐻𝐻
Cohesion:
𝑝𝑝𝑐𝑐 = −2𝑐𝑐 𝑘𝑘 active ; pc = 2c 𝑘𝑘 passive
Surcharge:
𝑝𝑝𝑞𝑞 = 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘
HGE MODULE 17: LATERAL EARTH PRESSURE AND SOIL BEARING CAPACITY
PREPARED BY: ENGR. CARLO B. DELA ROSA
LATERAL EARTH PRESSURE (HORIZONTAL SOIL STRESS)
Additional Earth Pressure Parameters
Pressure Diagram for 1m layer of soil:
HGE MODULE 17: LATERAL EARTH PRESSURE AND SOIL BEARING CAPACITY
PREPARED BY: ENGR. CARLO B. DELA ROSA
LATERAL EARTH PRESSURE (HORIZONTAL SOIL STRESS)
Rankine’s Theory, 1857
Active Earth pressure coefficient:
cos 𝛼𝛼 − cos 2 𝛼𝛼 − cos 2 𝜙𝜙
k a = cos 𝛼𝛼
cos 𝛼𝛼 + cos 2 𝛼𝛼 − cos 2 𝜙𝜙
When 𝛼𝛼 = 0,
1 − sin 𝜙𝜙
ka =
1 + sin 𝜙𝜙
Where:
𝜙𝜙 = angle of internal friction or angle of shearing resistance
𝛼𝛼 = slope of backfill soil mass with respect to horizontal surface
HGE MODULE 17: LATERAL EARTH PRESSURE AND SOIL BEARING CAPACITY
PREPARED BY: ENGR. CARLO B. DELA ROSA
LATERAL EARTH PRESSURE (HORIZONTAL SOIL STRESS)
Rankine’s Theory, 1857
Passive Earth pressure coefficient:
cos 𝛼𝛼 + cos 2 𝛼𝛼 − cos 2 𝜙𝜙
k a = cos 𝛼𝛼
cos 𝛼𝛼 − cos 2 𝛼𝛼 − cos 2 𝜙𝜙
When 𝛼𝛼 = 0,
1 + sin 𝜙𝜙
ka =
1 − sin 𝜙𝜙
Where:
𝜙𝜙 = angle of internal friction or angle of shearing resistance
𝛼𝛼 = slope of backfill soil mass with respect to horizontal surface
HGE MODULE 17: LATERAL EARTH PRESSURE AND SOIL BEARING CAPACITY
PREPARED BY: ENGR. CARLO B. DELA ROSA
Situation 1
A retaining wall 5.8𝑚𝑚 high supports a soil that has the following properties:
𝛾𝛾 = 17.3 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘/𝑚𝑚3
𝜙𝜙 = 26°
𝑐𝑐 = 14.5 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘
Determine the following:
a. Normal pressure acting at the back of the wall assuming no tensile crack occurs in the soil
b. Location of the tensile crack measured from the surface of the horizontal fill
c. Active pressure acting on the wall if tensile crack occurs in the soil
HGE MODULE 17: LATERAL EARTH PRESSURE AND SOIL BEARING CAPACITY
PREPARED BY: ENGR. CARLO B. DELA ROSA
Situation 2
From the figure shown, a vertical retaining wall with a horizontal backfill. Note that the water table
elevations in front the wall and at the back of the wall are different.
a. Determine the tension crack depth
b. Determine the total thrust acting on the wall
c. Determine the location of the total thrust from the base of the wall
HGE MODULE 17: LATERAL EARTH PRESSURE AND SOIL BEARING CAPACITY
PREPARED BY: ENGR. CARLO B. DELA ROSA
Situation 3
From the figure shown, if 𝑞𝑞𝑜𝑜 = 40 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘
a. Determine the total lateral pressure at the base of the wall
b. Determine the total active force acting on the wall
c. Determine the total active moment acting on the wall
HGE MODULE 17: LATERAL EARTH PRESSURE AND SOIL BEARING CAPACITY
PREPARED BY: ENGR. CARLO B. DELA ROSA
SOIL BEARING CAPACITY – is the maximum pressure that the soil can support at foundation level
without failure. This is a key design parameter for foundation design and also for design of retaining
walls at the base level.
General Shear Failure:
Strip Footing
𝒒𝒒𝒖𝒖𝒖𝒖𝒖𝒖 = 𝒄𝒄𝑵𝑵𝒄𝒄 + 𝒒𝒒𝑵𝑵𝒒𝒒 + 𝟎𝟎. 𝟓𝟓𝟓𝟓𝟓𝟓𝑵𝑵𝒚𝒚
Square Footing
𝒒𝒒𝒖𝒖𝒖𝒖𝒖𝒖 = 𝟏𝟏. 𝟑𝟑𝟑𝟑𝑵𝑵𝒄𝒄 + 𝒒𝒒𝑵𝑵𝒒𝒒 + 𝟎𝟎. 𝟒𝟒𝟒𝟒𝟒𝟒𝑵𝑵𝒚𝒚
Rectangular Footing
𝟑𝟑𝟑𝟑 𝟐𝟐𝟐𝟐
𝒒𝒒𝒖𝒖𝒖𝒖𝒖𝒖 = 𝒄𝒄𝑵𝑵𝒄𝒄 𝟏𝟏 + 𝟎𝟎. + 𝒒𝒒𝑵𝑵𝒒𝒒 + 𝟎𝟎. 𝟓𝟓𝟓𝟓𝟓𝟓𝑵𝑵𝒚𝒚 𝟏𝟏 − 𝟎𝟎.
𝑳𝑳 𝑳𝑳
Circular Footing
𝒒𝒒𝒖𝒖𝒖𝒖𝒖𝒖 = 𝟏𝟏. 𝟑𝟑𝟑𝟑𝑵𝑵𝒄𝒄 + 𝒒𝒒𝑵𝑵𝒒𝒒 + 𝟎𝟎. 𝟑𝟑𝟑𝟑𝟑𝟑𝑵𝑵𝒚𝒚
HGE MODULE 17: LATERAL EARTH PRESSURE AND SOIL BEARING CAPACITY
PREPARED BY: ENGR. CARLO B. DELA ROSA
Allowable Bearing Capacity:
𝒒𝒒𝒖𝒖𝒖𝒖𝒖𝒖
𝒒𝒒𝒂𝒂𝒂𝒂𝒂𝒂 =
𝑭𝑭𝑭𝑭
Allowable Net Bearing Capacity:
𝒒𝒒𝒖𝒖𝒖𝒖𝒖𝒖 − 𝒒𝒒
𝒒𝒒𝒂𝒂𝒂𝒂𝒂𝒂 =
𝑭𝑭𝑭𝑭
Where:
𝑞𝑞𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢𝑢 = ultimate bearing capacity 𝐵𝐵 = width of foundation or Diameter
𝑐𝑐 = cohesion of the soil or undrained shear strength 𝐿𝐿 = length of foundation
𝜙𝜙 = angle of internal friction
𝑞𝑞𝑢𝑢 = unconfined compressive strength
𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹 = factor of safety
𝛾𝛾 = unit weight of soil
𝑞𝑞 = 𝛾𝛾𝐷𝐷𝑓𝑓 , vertical effective stress at the base of foundation
𝑁𝑁𝑐𝑐 , 𝑁𝑁𝑞𝑞 , 𝑁𝑁𝑦𝑦 = bearing capacity factors
HGE MODULE 17: LATERAL EARTH PRESSURE AND SOIL BEARING CAPACITY
PREPARED BY: ENGR. CARLO B. DELA ROSA
Bearing Capacity Factors (If table is not given):
Reissner (1924)
𝝓𝝓
𝑵𝑵𝒒𝒒 = 𝒆𝒆𝝅𝝅 𝐭𝐭𝐭𝐭𝐭𝐭 𝝓𝝓 𝐭𝐭𝐭𝐭𝐭𝐭𝟐𝟐 𝟒𝟒𝟒𝟒 +
𝟐𝟐
Prandtl (1921)
𝑵𝑵𝒄𝒄 = (𝑵𝑵𝒒𝒒 − 𝟏𝟏) 𝐜𝐜𝐜𝐜𝐜𝐜 𝝓𝝓
Vesic (1973)
𝑵𝑵𝒚𝒚 = 𝟐𝟐 𝑵𝑵𝒒𝒒 + 𝟏𝟏 𝐭𝐭𝐭𝐭𝐭𝐭 𝝓𝝓
HGE MODULE 17: LATERAL EARTH PRESSURE AND SOIL BEARING CAPACITY
PREPARED BY: ENGR. CARLO B. DELA ROSA
Local Shear Failure
𝟐𝟐
𝐜𝐜 ′ = 𝐜𝐜
𝟑𝟑
2
tan 𝜙𝜙 ′ = tan 𝜙𝜙
3
Strip Footing
𝒒𝒒𝒖𝒖𝒖𝒖𝒖𝒖 = 𝒄𝒄′ 𝑵𝑵′𝒄𝒄 + 𝒒𝒒𝑵𝑵′𝒒𝒒 + 𝟎𝟎. 𝟓𝟓𝟓𝟓𝟓𝟓𝑵𝑵′𝒚𝒚
Square Footing
𝒒𝒒𝒖𝒖𝒖𝒖𝒖𝒖 = 𝟏𝟏. 𝟑𝟑𝒄𝒄′ 𝑵𝑵′𝒄𝒄 + 𝒒𝒒𝑵𝑵′𝒒𝒒 + 𝟎𝟎. 𝟒𝟒𝟒𝟒𝟒𝟒𝑵𝑵′𝒚𝒚
Rectangular Footing
′
𝟑𝟑𝟑𝟑 𝟐𝟐𝟐𝟐
𝒒𝒒𝒖𝒖𝒖𝒖𝒖𝒖 = 𝒄𝒄 𝑵𝑵′𝒄𝒄 𝟏𝟏 + 𝟎𝟎. ′ ′
+ 𝒒𝒒𝑵𝑵𝒒𝒒 + 𝟎𝟎. 𝟓𝟓𝟓𝟓𝟓𝟓𝑵𝑵𝒚𝒚 𝟏𝟏 − 𝟎𝟎.
𝑳𝑳 𝑳𝑳
Circular Footing
𝒒𝒒𝒖𝒖𝒖𝒖𝒖𝒖 = 𝟏𝟏. 𝟑𝟑𝒄𝒄′ 𝑵𝑵′𝒄𝒄 + 𝒒𝒒𝑵𝑵′𝒒𝒒 + 𝟎𝟎. 𝟑𝟑𝟑𝟑𝟑𝟑𝑵𝑵′𝒚𝒚
Where:
Nc′ , Nq′ , Ny′ = modified bearing capacity factors
HGE MODULE 17: LATERAL EARTH PRESSURE AND SOIL BEARING CAPACITY
PREPARED BY: ENGR. CARLO B. DELA ROSA
Case 1: If the groundwater table is located at a distance d above the bottom of the foundation, the
magnitude q in the second term of the bearing-capacity equation should be calculated as:
𝑞𝑞 = 𝛾𝛾 𝐷𝐷𝑓𝑓 − 𝑑𝑑 + 𝛾𝛾 ′ 𝑑𝑑
where 𝛾𝛾 ′ = 𝛾𝛾𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 − 𝛾𝛾𝑤𝑤 = effective unit weight of soil. Also, the unit weight of soil, 𝛾𝛾, that appears in the
third term of the bearing capacity equations should be replaced by 𝛾𝛾′.
HGE MODULE 17: LATERAL EARTH PRESSURE AND SOIL BEARING CAPACITY
PREPARED BY: ENGR. CARLO B. DELA ROSA
Case 2: If the groundwater table coincides with the bottom of the foundation, the magnitude of q is
equal to 𝛾𝛾𝐷𝐷𝑓𝑓 . However, the unit weight, 𝛾𝛾, in the third term of the bearing-capacity equations should be
replaced by 𝛾𝛾′.
HGE MODULE 17: LATERAL EARTH PRESSURE AND SOIL BEARING CAPACITY
PREPARED BY: ENGR. CARLO B. DELA ROSA
Case 3: When the groundwater table is at a depth d below the bottom of the foundation, 𝑞𝑞 = 𝛾𝛾𝐷𝐷𝑓𝑓 . The
magnitude of 𝛾𝛾 in the third term of the bearing-capacity equations should be replaced by 𝛾𝛾av .
1
𝛾𝛾av = 𝐵𝐵 𝛾𝛾𝛾𝛾 + 𝛾𝛾 ′ 𝐵𝐵 − 𝑑𝑑 ; for d ≤ 𝐵𝐵 𝛾𝛾av = 𝛾𝛾; for d > B
HGE MODULE 17: LATERAL EARTH PRESSURE AND SOIL BEARING CAPACITY
PREPARED BY: ENGR. CARLO B. DELA ROSA
Situation 4
A footing is embedded to a site of sandy clay at a depth of 1.6𝑚𝑚 below natural grade line (NGL). The soil has the
following properties: cohesion is 10 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘, angle of internal friction is 35°, specific gravity of soil solids is 2.75, void
ratio is 0.55, and water content is 5%. The water table is at great depth. Consider Terzhagi’s general shear failure
and a factor of safety of 3.5. For angle of internal friction of 35°, the bearing capacity factors are Nc = 57.75; Nq =
41.44; Ny = 45.41.
a. What will be the allowable load for a 1.2𝑚𝑚 square footing?
b. What will be the allowable load for a 1.35𝑚𝑚 diameter circular footing?
c. What will be the allowable load for a 1.3𝑚𝑚 wide wall footing per meter length?
Situation 5
A circular footing having a diameter of 1.5𝑚𝑚 has its bottom at a depth of 2.5𝑚𝑚 from the ground surface. The water
table is located at a depth of 1.2𝑚𝑚 below the ground. The soil above the water table is moist. The soil has the
following properties: sp. gr. Is 2.72, void ratio is 0.25, cohesion is 25 kPa, and angle of internal friction is 20°.
Assume local shear failure and a factor of safety of 3.2. For angle of internal friction of 20°, the bearing capacity
factors are Nc′ = 11.85; Nq′ = 3.88; Ny′ = 1.12
a. Determine the ultimate bearing capacity of the soil
b. Determine the allowable bearing capacity of the soil
c. Determine the allowable load on the footing