Effect of Arching On Passive Earth Pressure for Rigid Retaining Wall in C-Φ Soil

Abstract

Arching involves stress transfer from yielding part of a soil to unyielding part of soil. Many authors
considered arching action for active earth pressure as well as passive earth pressure but many of them have considered
arching effect for cohesion less soil. In this paper arching action is considered for passive earth pressure in C-φ backfill.
The backfill is assumed to move downward in a form of circular arch due to arching. The value of θw (the angle of major
principal plane) is calculated for soil-wall friction angle and soil friction angle. An expression for passive lateral stress
ratio has been derived considering these angles. An illustrative example has been solved to show the effect on earth
pressure distribution on retaining wall considering arching for different wall friction angles, soil friction angles and
cohesion. The applicability of proposed formulation is compared with experimental test results.