Analysis of the Minor Principal Stress Arch behind Retaining Wall

This paper theoretically analyzed the shape of minor principal stress arch considering the effect of soil internal friction angle on the inclination of slip plane behind a retaining wall and the partial development of wall friction. This study shows that the shapes of minor principal stress arch behind the retaining wall are different from those proposed by others. Average vertical earth pressures were computed according to the shape of minor principal stress arch. The coefficient of earth pressure versus the angle of internal friction and the angle of wall friction was obtained. Using the coefficient in the method of horizontal differential element to compute active earth pressures on retaining wall, the theoretical formulae of the unit earth pressures, the resultant force and the points of application of the resultant force were derived. This proposed method is compared with the methods by others and some experimental data.