Limit analysis approach for passive earth pressure determination in three-dimensional conditions

摘要

The paper presents non-dimensional coefficients of passive earth pressure influenced by the soil weight K_(pγ), and by the surcharge K_(pq) in tabular form, regarding different geometric and soil parameters. Numerical values afford to reader precise applicability in geotechnical praxis. The coefficients are calculated with a modified three-dimensional (3D) translational kinematical admissible failure mechanism within the framework of the upper-bound theorem of the limit analysis. The 3D coefficient is distinguished from the two-dimensional one, by its growing difference, depending on soil properties and geometrical data. Therefore, these coefficients are very useful at numerical analyses of different kinds of geotechnical problems, where a 3D state gives more exact and realistic results. In comparison to other world-recognized failure mechanisms based on the limit analysis approach the results of this mechanism reached lower values.