MODEL STUDY OF LATERAL PRESSURE ON FLEXIBLE WALLS WITH SAND BACKFILLS

Abstract

Faith' pressure studies have been carried put in cohey sitinles$ toils fOr flexible walls in an earth pressure Model, intiOding investigation of earth pressure and bending moment distribUtiOn Of flexible walls. Tests were performed in a steel framed tank having thick glata plates on the twO longer sides. Four mild steel sheets Of different th4kness were used as flexible walls. Bendin0 strains were measured at different Se,c4Ons along the height of the sheet pile by electrical resi.stan,ce strain gauges. The results have been compared with some of important theories to investigate their utility. The main conclusions drawn from model study are: (i) Active earth Pressure on flexible walls approximates to triangular distribution as given by Rankine, (ii) The reduction in bending moment is greater for sheet plies of greater flexibility. (iii) Anchored backfilled bulkheads give active earth pressure distribution greater than theoretical active pressure distribu-tionbut lesser than at rest earth pressure, (iv) Failure cracks on the top of backfill appeared after yield of the tie rod: