Dynamic Earth Pressures with Different Wall Movement Modes

Dynamic active earth pressures against rigid retaining structures with dry cohesionless backfill are investigated based on the observations of the shaking table model experiment with different wall movement modes: rotation about the base, rotation about the top, translation and a combination of these. The earth pressure distribution, total dynamic thrust, incremental dynamic thrust and their points of application are discussed in detail. It was found that the dynamic active earth pressure distribution is strongly influenced by the wall movement mode particularly at a low level of horizontal acceleration, while inertial body force effect becomes dominant at a high acceleration level. Soil arching developed near the wall top for rotation about the top mode and high residual stress region near the wall base for rotation about the base mode are significantly attributed to the earth pressure distribution.