Analysis of seismic earth pressure for rigid retaining wall with inhomogeneous backfilled soil
1.College of Civil Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400045, China; 2.Key Laboratory
of New Technology for Construction of Cities in Mountain Area, Ministry of Education, Chongqing
University, Chongqing 400045, China
Abstract：Seismic earth pressure of retaining wall is often calculated based on shearbeam
models on the assumption of homogeneous backfilled soil at present. The discrete shearbeam mode
was proposed to calculate the pressure of rigid retaining wall with inhomogeneous backfilled
soil. The shear stiffness of the spring in nonhomogeneous backfilled soil was deduced by
assuming the shear modulus distribution of power function with depth. According to the different
varied shear modulus and seismic earth pressure distribution, the resultant earth pressure and
acting point were analyzed. The calculated results based on the proposed model were compared with
those from Veletsos model and Scott model. The results show that the distribution form of shear
modulus has significant influence on seismic earth pressure increment distribution, the resultant
earth pressure increment and the base shear increment, but has little influence on the
application points of resultant earth pressures increment and the amplification factor of base
shear increment.
2013, Vol. 34 
