Determination of center of circular failure wedge by horizontal slices method in cohesive-frictional soils

Calculation of active earth pressure on retaining walls is one of the fundamental problems in geotechnical engineering. In this study, new formulation is provided in the state of circular failure wedgeusing horizontal slices method, that is within the group of limit equilibrium analysis,.As the failure wedge is non-plate, it has different centers and its location is investigated in this study. Comparing the results of this method with the results of other researchers suggest that calculated active pressure by circular failure wedge is higher than plate failure wedge. This result indicates the need to use circular failure wedge.One advantages of this method compared to other methods is that it considers the soil cohesive. The presented equation has promotion capacity for sloped walls and seismic methods such as semi-dynamic and quasi-static methods.

Keywords:

retaining wall , horizontal slices method , active pressure resultant , critical failure wedge angle , circular failure wedge