Derivation of Shukla’s Generalized Expression for Dynamic Active Thrust by Inclined Slice Element Method

Abstract

Shukla developed an explicit generalized analytical expression for dynamic active thrust on the retaining wall from cohesive-frictional soil backfill subjected to seismic loads by considering the equilibrium of an active failure wedge. In this paper, the inclined slice element approach has been used to derive this expression. Using this approach, the nonlinear distribution of the active earth pressure/thrust and its application position are obtained with a few assumptions. The generalized expressions can be applied to the calculation of active thrusts from cohesive or cohesionless soil backfill for the specialized cases of static and dynamic conditions. It is found that the active thrust values from the derived expressions are consistent with with Rankine’s expression, Coulomb's expression, and Mononobe-Okabe's expressions.