GATE CE 2021 Set 1 — Question 55
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Geotechnical Engineering → Earth Pressure → Active Earth Pressure
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Question
A retaining wall of height with clay backfill is shown in the figure (not to scale). Weight of the retaining wall is acting at from the toe of the retaining wall. The interface friction angle between base of the retaining wall and the base soil is . The depth of clay in front of the retaining wall is . The properties of the clay backfill and the clay placed in front of the retaining wall are the same. Assume that the tension crack is filled with water. Use Rankine's earth pressure theory. Take unit weight of water, .
The factor of safety (round off to two decimal places) against sliding failure of the retaining wall after ignoring the passive earth pressure will be ________.
Correct answer
4.2 to 4.35
Solution
1.Rankine's Active Earth Pressure Coefficient (): For clay with , .
2.Depth of Tension Crack ():
3.Active Earth Pressure Force from Soil (): The pressure is zero at and increases linearly to the base.
At , .4.Hydrostatic Force from Water in Tension Crack ():
5.Total Driving Force (): Ignoring passive pressure,
6.Resisting Force (): Based on the interface friction angle ,
7.Factor of Safety (FOS):
Rounding to two decimal places, the factor of safety is 4.29.Continue learning with Success Tracker
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