Required Active Earth Pressure for 3D ERSs Following a Modified Mohr-Coulomb Strength Criterion

• Published in: KSCE journal of civil engineering 2024, 28(7), , pp.2639-2646
• Main Authors: Xu, Jingshu, Wang, Xinrui, Li, Liyun, Du, Xiuli
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Civil Engineering; Computation; Earth; Earth pressure; Engineering; Failure modes; Genetic algorithms; Geotechnical Engineering; Geotechnical Engineering & Applied Earth Sciences; Industrial Pollution Prevention; Mohr-Coulomb theory; Particle swarm optimization; Plane strain; Pressure; Soil strength; Stability; Stability analysis; Stability criteria; Tensile strength; 토목공학
• ISSN: 1226-7988; 1976-3808
• DOI: 10.1007/s12205-024-0356-5

Exploiting the linear Mohr-Coulomb strength criterion, the stability computation for earth retaining structures (ERSs) by estimating the active earth pressure has been mainly conducted by setting the plane strain 2D. In this research, the modified MC strength criterion with reduced tensile strength is put into use for the stability analysis of ERSs employing a 3D multi-cone collapse analysis mechanism. After computing the coefficient of active earth pressure, the optimal results are captured from a combination of the genetic algorithm and particle swarm optimization. Research findings are validated through comparison, while the influences of soil tensile strength threshold and 3D geometrical features over the stability measures and critical failure modes of ERSs are explored by parametric assessment. It is revealed in this work that the linear MC strength criterion derives conservative estimates of the active earth pressure. The tensile strength threshold of soil has a pronounced effect on both the objective solutions and failure shapes, especially for the ERSs under a greater dimensionless cohesion c/γH . This work provides a straightforward approach to perform a 3D stability analysis of ERSs considering a tensile strength cutoff, without a pre-assumed distribution of the rupture angle.