Discussion of 'Seismic Earth Pressures on Cantilever Retaining Structures' by Linda Al Atik and Nicholas Sitar

摘要

This paper correctly identifies that the maximum active earth pressure developed by a retained soil wedge occurs during the passive direction of ground motion (base motion acceleration toward the retained side of the wall). Interestingly, the maximum active earth pressure is opposite the inertial movement and maximum moment of the wall itself (which is reported occurring in the active direction; base motion toward the lower side of the wall). The commonly illustrated active acceleration of the wedge [Fig. l(a)] is, in fact, shorthand for the actual behavior. From the point of view of free-body interaction, the assumed acceleration in Fig. l(a)