Dynamic analysis of retaining structures

Mononobe-Okabe method is commonly used for calculating earthquake induced static and dynamic total earth pressures acting on retaining walls. It is based on Coulomb's method, which includes additional seismic vertical and horizontal inertial forces of soil. Mononobe-Okabe method does not predict distribution of total earth pressures due to total earth pressures acting on the retaining wall found from equilibrium of forces acting on the soil wedge behind the wall. Many researchers have made experimental and theoretical studies on static and dynamic total earth pressures including Sherif, Ishibashi and Lee (1982), Sherif and Fang (1984), Ishibashi and Fang (1987), Richards, Huang and Fisherman (1999), Wang (2000). The results of these studies indicate that distribution of total earth pressures was an exponential functioned curvature which was not a linear triangle distribution as accepted by Mononobe-Okabe method. In this thesis, initially, methods used for calculating static and dynamic total earth pressures and water induced hydrodynamic pressure effects were given. Then, a new method for calculating distribution of total earth pressures, total earth pressure intensities and its point of application were developed. Comparison between new method developed and other methods was made with an example.