Design of a small scale retaining wall model for investigating the lateral earth pressures

Abstract

The determination of geostatic stresses has a significant role on the analysis and design of various geotechnical structures, including retaining walls, piles and underground structures. Therefore correct estimation of the magnitude and distribution of the lateral earth pressures acting on geotechnical structures is of utmost importance. The goal in thesis is to design of a small scale retaining wall for investigating the parameters that influence the magnitude and distribution of lateral earth pressure for any deformation states between active and passive failure. Based on an extensive literature survey, the identified parameters of influence are arching effects, backfill friction angle, backfill density, stress level, the mode of wall movement and the frictional resistance between the wall and the backfill. To evaluate and quantify the influences of these parameters, a physical model consisting of a testing tank, a retaining wall, sand placing system, storage tank, crane and software has been developed and manufactured. Lab- VIEW, a system design software, is used in this model as a data acquisition system and software interface. The model is instrumented with pressure transducers and a load cell in order to measure the earth pressure at selected points on the wall and the total earth force acting on the wall. Some experiments were conducted on homogeneous normally consolidated loose uniformly graded sands in order to make sure that the physical model works properly. The results were evaluated and some interpretations were made according to experimental values.