GATE CE 2016 Set 1 — Question 51
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Geotechnical Engineering → Earth Pressure → Active Earth Pressure
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Question
A homogeneous gravity retaining wall supporting a cohesionless backfill is shown in the figure. The lateral active earth pressure at the bottom of the wall is 40 kPa.
The minimum weight of the wall (expressed in kN per m length) required to prevent it from overturning about its toe (Point P) is
Correct answer
(A) 120
Solution
1.Calculate the total active earth force ():
The pressure distribution is triangular, starting from 0 at the top to 40 kPa at the bottom over a height .2.Calculate the overturning moment () about toe P:
The force acts at a distance of from the base.3.Calculate the restoring moment () about toe P:
The weight of the rectangular wall acts at its center, which is at a distance of from the toe P.4.For stability against overturning (minimum weight condition):
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