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Journal ArticleDOI

Experimental and theoretical investigations of a passive earth pressure problem

01 Mar 1970-Geotechnique (Thomas Telford Ltd)-Vol. 20, Iss: 1, pp 17-37
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present data from the experimental investigation of the passive failure of an initially vertical, rough, plane wall which is rotated about its toe into a mass of dry sand with an unloaded horizontal surface.
Abstract: Synopsis The Paper presents data from the experimental investigation of the passive failure of an initially vertical, rough, plane wall which is rotated about its toe into a mass of dry sand with an unloaded horizontal surface. The sand is constrained to deform in plane strain. Measurements are made of the distribution of the normal and shear stresses on the wall while strain fields are determined from observations by an X-ray technique of the positions of lead shot buried in the sand mass. The form of the rupture surface mechanism in dense sand is determined. The strain data are used to investigate the φ= constant assumption of the Sokolovski (1965) method and Sokolovski solutions are compared with the experimental data for two cases. There is marked agreement between the predicted principal compressive stress directions and the observed principal compressive strain increment directions. Cet Expose presente des donnees provenant de recherches experimentales portant sur la rupture de butee d'un mur plan, ...
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the load-deformation behavior of soils in mixed boundary value problems at model scale is discussed. But the main objective is to develop an understanding of the stress-strain behaviour of soils so that reliable predictions can be made concerning their load deformation characteristics at all working loads, rather than only loads at failure.
Abstract: Synopsis The aims, during the past 20 years, of the Cambridge research programme in soil mechanics are outlined. The principal objective is to develop an understanding of the stress–strain behaviour of soils so that reliable predictions can be made concerning their load-deformation characteristics at all working loads, rather than only loads at failure, in practical problems. A superstructure and its foundation can then be designed as a unit. The pressing need for the study of the load-deformation behaviour of soils in mixed boundary value problems at model scale is emphasized. New versatile shear test equipment which can impose a wide range of stress and/or strain paths, together with non-destructive methods of checking the uniformity of the behaviour of specimens, are briefly described. Typical data are presented for one problem, illustrating the variation of the passive pressure on a retaining wall with the displacement of that wall into sand. A revised statement of the Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion i...

795 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the strength anisotropy and shear band direction at failure and their relationship for sands were studied experimentally using reconstituted specimens of air-pluviated Toyoura sand, plane strain compression (PSC) tests, torsional shear tests and a bearing capacity test with a strip surface footing.

222 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors employed limit-equilibrium methods using mobilized logarithmic-spiral failure surfaces coupled with a modified hyperbolic soil stress-strain behavior (LSH model) to estimate abutment nonlinear force-displacement capacity as a function of wall displacement and soil backfill properties.
Abstract: Current seismic design of bridges is based on a displacement performance philosophy using nonlinear static pushover analysis. This type of bridge design necessitates that the geotechnical engineer predict the resistance of the abutment backfill soils, which is inherently nonlinear with respect to the displacement between soil backfill and the bridge structure. This paper employs limit-equilibrium methods using mobilized logarithmic-spiral failure surfaces coupled with a modified hyperbolic soil stress-strain behavior (LSH model) to estimate abutment nonlinear force-displacement capacity as a function of wall displacement and soil backfill properties. The calculated force-displacement capacity is validated against the results from eight field experiments conducted on various typical structure backfills. Using LSH and experimental data, a simple hyperbolic force-displacement (HFD) equation is developed that can provide the same results using only the backfill soil stiffness and ultimate soil capacity. HFD is compatible with current CALTRANS practice in regard to the seismic design of bridge abutments. The LSH and HFD models are powerful and effective tools for practicing engineers to produce realistic bridge response for performance-based bridge design.

206 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, a simple model is developed to predict the shapes and locations of failure surfaces in the soil, and conditions for development of a graben structure, as observed during normal movement on the bedrock fault, are also determined.
Abstract: Tests were performed on dense and loose sand in a glass‐walled fault test box to investigate the shapes and locations of failure surfaces that may occur in alluvium overlying active dip‐slip faults. The experimental procedure is reviewed and the results of the tests with reverse and with normal movements along the bedrock faults are presented. Based on the experimental results, a simple model is developed to predict the shapes and locations of failure surfaces in the soil. These are determined as a function of the depth of the soil, the angle of dilation for the soil, and the dip angle of the fault. The conditions for development of a graben structure, as observed during normal movement on the bedrock fault, are also determined. The emphasis of the study is on the mechanics of deformation and failure in cohesionless soil above dip‐slip faults in relation to principles of soil mechanics. The simple model is also evaluated in relation to real field conditions.

165 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors present experimental data of earth pressure acting against a vertical rigid wall, which moved into a mass of dry sand with a stress-free horizontal surface under various wall-movement modes.
Abstract: This paper presents experimental data of earth pressure acting against a vertical rigid wall, which moved into a mass of dry sand with a stress‐free horizontal surface under various wall‐movement modes. To investigate the variation of earth pressure induced by the rotation about a point above the top (RTT) and rotation about a point below the wall base (RBT) types of wall movement, the instrumented retaining‐wall facility was developed at National Chiao Tung University. Based on experimental data it is found that, for a wall under translational movement, the passive pressure distribution is linear and in good agreement with Terzaghi's prediction based on the general wedge theory. For a wall under either RTT or RBT mode, the magnitude of passive thrust and its point of application are significantly affected by the mode of wall displacement. However, if the parameter n indicating location of the center of rotation is greater than 2.0, the influence of movementmode on passive earth pressure becomes less impo...

125 citations