Calculation of Nonlimit Active Earth Pressure against Rigid Retaining Wall Rotating about Base

A retaining wall with sandy fill was considered as the research object in order to study the nonlimiting active earth pressure under the rotation about the base (RB mode). Rankine’s and Coulomb’s earth pressure theories are no longer applicable to the above conditions (RB mode and nonlimiting active earth pressure). In order to improve the traditional earth pressure calculation methods (Rankine and Coulomb), a calculation method using curvilinear thin layer elements is presented with overall considerations of wall displacement, soil arching effect, and friction angle exertion coefficient to deduce the nonlimit active earth pressure under RB. Additionally, the calculation results were in good agreement with model test data (from Fang and Smita). Moreover, a parametric analysis was carried out. It was revealed that the developed value of the shear strength decreased with the depth, and the active earth pressure distribution curve was linear and nonlinear in the upper and lower halves, respectively.