surcharge

[Badger]

When you have a surcharge behind a retaining wall, do you multiply it by Ka for lateral pressure?

For example if you have surcharge q, of 3000lbs/ft the vertical pressure at depth 4 feet would be yz + (qa'/(a'+z)).

Would the lateral pressure be Ka(yz + (qa'/(a'+z))) or Ka(yz)+ (qa'/(a'+z))?

 

[civilized_naah]

The Ka factor is to convert vertical (effective) stress/pressure to horizontal/lateral (effective) stress/pressure. So, the surcharge pressure q which is vertical is to be multiplied by Ka in order to get the horizontal/lateral pressure produced as a byproduct.

 

[Badger]

Hi,

Thanks for the answer, thats what I thought. I just wasn't sure.