RANKINE’S EARTH PRESSURE THEORY

(1857)

WJM Rankine
(1820-1872)
COULOMB’S EARTH PRESSURE THEORY
(1776)

Charles-Augustin de Coulomb
 Assumptions of Coulomb’s Wedge Theory:

 The backfill is dry, cohesionless, homogeneous and isotropic, which means

c, φ and γ have the same values everywhere, and they have the same values
in all directions at every point.
 The failure surface is a planner surface which passes through the heel of
the wall.
 Friction is considered between wall and backfill soil, Therefore, the
contact surface is considered rough.
 The sliding wedge is considered to be a rigid body and the earth pressure
is obtained by considering the limiting equilibrium of the sliding wedge as a
whole.
 E

A
i◦
ASSUMED
FAILURE PLANE

90◦ a l
H l Norm
a W
Norm φ
δ◦
T α◦ R
Pa F
α-φ
β◦ β ◦
α◦
B
 E

A
i◦
ASSUMED
FAILURE PLANE

90◦ al
H Norm
o rm al W
N
δ◦
T α◦ R
Pa F
α-φ
β ◦
β ◦
α◦ AB – WALL SURFACE
B AE – BACKFILL
BE – ASSUMED FAILURE/RUPTURE
SURFACE
β – ANGLE OF WALL
i – ANGLE OF SLOPE
α– ANGLE OF RUPTURE SURFACE
δ – ANGLE OF WALL FRICTION
 E
AB – WALL SURFACE
A AE – BACKFILL
i◦ BE – ASSUMED FAILURE/RUPTUR
SURFACE
β – ANGLE OF WALL
i – ANGLE OF SLOPE
α– ANGLE OF RUPTURE SURFACE
δ – ANGLE OF WALL FRICTION
90◦ al
H Norm
o rm al W
N
δ◦
+β
)
T α◦ R
F
–(α

Pa
α-φ
180

β ◦
β ◦
α◦
B
CONSIDER SOIL WEDGE BAE
WEIGHT OF THE SOIL WEDGE ACTS AT C.G. AND IS EQUAL TO W.
IN ACTIVE STATE WALL EXERTS A FORCE Pa ON SOIL WEDGE.
REACTION FROM STATIONARY PART OF SOIL ON THE RUPTURE
SURFACE IS R.
 E

A
i◦

90◦ al
Norm
o rm al W
N
δ◦
+β
)
T α◦ R
F
–(α

Pa
α-φ
180

β ◦
β ◦
α◦
B
1. SOIL WEDGE IS KEPT IN EQUILIBRIUM BY W, Pa AND R.
2. W IS KNOWN IN MAGNITUDE & DIRECTION
3. PA IS UNKNOWN IN MAGNITUDE. ACTS AT AN ANGLE (δ) -WALL
FRICTION ANGLE - wrt NORMAL TO WALL SURFACE.
4. R IS UNKNOWN IN MAGNITUDE. ACTS AT AN ANGLE (ϕ) –
SOIL FRICTION ANGLE- wrt NORMAL TO RUPTURE SURFACE.
 E
i◦
A α-i
i◦ α ◦

β◦
90◦

D
90◦ al
H Norm
o rm al W
N
δ◦
+β
)
T α◦ R
F
–(α

Pa
α-φ
180

β ◦
β ◦
α◦
B
W = γ (½ BE x AD x 1)
According to sine law: = OR =
BE = AB =
AD = AB sin (180 – (α + β)) = AB sin (α + β) = sin (α + β)

W = γ H2
 E
i◦
A α-i
i◦ α ◦
P a (β
β◦ -δ)

90◦
(180 – β – α + φ + δ) W
D
R

(α-
90◦ al

φ
Norm

)
H al W
N o rm
δ◦
+β
)
T α◦ FROM
R POLYGON OF FORCES
F =
–(α

Pa
α-φ
180

β ◦
β ◦
α◦
B
W=γH 2
The design value of Pa is the MAXIMUM value obtained for all such wedges,
with different angles α. (Pa)max = can be obtained by putting = 0.

Muller-Breslau
(Pa)max =

where KA =

IF WALL IS VERTICAL -> β = 900

IF BACKFILL IS HORIZONTAL -> i= 00

IF WALL IS SMOOTH -> δ = 00

KA = (1- sin ϕ) / (1+ sin ϕ)

COULOMB’S EQUATION REDUCES TO RANKINE’S

Determine the coulomb active force on the retaining wall shown in
figure. γ = 17.5 kN/m3
Determine the coulomb active force on the retaining wall shown in
figure. γ = 17.5 kN/m3

sin 2 (    )
Ka 
sin(   ) sin(  i ) 2
sin  sin(    )[1 
2
]
sin(    ) sin(   i )

1 sin 2 (    )
Pa(max)  H 2
2 sin(   ) sin(  i ) 2
sin  sin(    )[1 
2
]
sin(    ) sin(   i )
Determine the coulomb active force on the retaining wall shown in
figure. γ = 17.5 kN/m3
Calculate the Coulomb active force on the wall per metre length. The
backfill has water content of 16%, degree of saturation of 70% and
specific gravity of 2.683

5.71◦

c= 0 kN/m 2
eS  wG
6m ϕ=32◦
δ=16◦ wG 0.16 x 2.68
e   0.613
S 0 .7
78◦ G w
d    16 .3kN / m 3
1 e d

   d (1  w)  18.91kN / m 3
Calculate the Coulomb active force on the wall per metre length. The
backfill has water content of 16%, degree of saturation of 70% and
specific gravity of 2.683

5.71◦

c= 0 kN/m2
ϕ=32◦
  18.91kN / m 3
6m
δ=16◦

78◦

sin 2 (    )
Ka 
sin(   ) sin(  i ) 2
sin  sin(    )[1 
2
]
sin(    ) sin(   i )
Calculate the Coulomb active force on the wall per metre length. The
backfill has water content of 16%, degree of saturation of 70% and
specific gravity of 2.683

5.71◦

c= 0 kN/m2
ϕ=32◦
  18.91kN / m 3
6m
δ=16◦

78◦

sin 2 (78  32)

Ka   0.403
sin(32  16) sin(16  5.71) 2
sin 78 sin(78  16)[1 
2
]
sin(78  16) sin(78  5.71)
Calculate the Coulomb active force on the wall per metre length. The
backfill has water content of 16%, degree of saturation of 70% and
specific gravity of 2.683

5.71◦

  18.91kN / m 3
c= 0 kN/m2
6m ϕ=32◦ Ka  0.403
δ=16◦

78◦
1 2
Pa(max)  H Ka  137.47kN
2
 Passive Pressure

sin 2 (    )
Kp 
sin(   ) sin(  i ) 2
sin 2  sin(    )[1  ]
sin(    ) sin(   i )

1 2
Pp  H Kp
2