Particle flow simulation of active earth pressure distribution on rigid retaining wall

Soil mass is treated as rigid blocks with slip contact models,active earth pressure distribution on rigid retaining wall is simulated by particle flow code(PFC2 D)program under certain displacement of different wall movement models:translation(T), rotation about bottom(RB),and rotation about top(RT).The simulating results of model test show that the active earth pressure distribution on rigid retaining wall is nonlinear;and the out friction angle between soil and retaining wall,as well as the soil shear angle are significant effect on active earth pressure.The resting earth pressure is larger than the active earth pressure in 0.3 times height of retaining wall from the top,as result the soil arching is formed.At last the calculation values are in consistence with model test ones very well;so the method presented has theoretical value.