STUDY OF ACTIVE EARTH PRESSURE IN EXPANSIVE SOILS

Abstract

A general analytical solution for calculating active earth pressure in expansive soils on a wall with bilinear backfill surface has been presented. Numerical computation _for a typical case showered that active earth pressure coefficient decreases with increase 'in stabi-lity number (IT = cam) . Results also reveals that K deoreas-es w.r.t. increase in for smaJ.ler value of cohesion and vice-versa. A trend of decrease in the ,rC lue of Ka w.r.t. increase in swelling pressure has also been .observed. A simple graphical method Is also proposed to obtain active earth pressure in expansive as well as cohesive soil backfill. Some studies were also made to determine swelling pressure by three different methods and compared. The effect of surcharge on swelling pressure was also studied and found that swelling pressure decreases wort, increase in surcharge loads but total swelling load varies a little.