Active earth thrust method for granular backfill on a cantilever retaining wall with a short heel

In this study, the static and the dynamic active earth thrust determination method for the cantilever retaining walls with short heel that support granular soil is examined using limit equilibrium method. The experimental and the analytical studies were performed and the results obtained from the experimental study were used in the formation of the analytical study and in the verification of the proposed analytical model. As well as obtaining characteristic failure surface geometry, 1g small scale experiments were performed to examine the effect of heel length, foundation thickness, density and active state conditions on the failure surface geometry. In the experimental study, failure surfaces were determined using image analysis technique. In analytical part of the study, it is supposed that the earth thrusts acting on three different parts of the wall considering characteristic failure surface geometry, obtained from the experimental study. The earth thrust coefficient formulas were derived for each region based on backfill inclination, surcharge load, heel length and foundation thickness coefficient, internal friction angle, wallbackfill friction and failure surface inclination parameters and also horizontal and vertical seismic coefficients for dynamic case. In order to make thrust maximization, an algorithm was developed using the derived thrust formulation. Within the scope of the algorithm, backfill and wall dimension parameters were entered into the program as a constant and inclination of failure surfaces, earth thrust coefficients for each region and maximum lateral earth thrust coefficient were obtained as output. As a result of experimental study, it was seen that the failure surface geometry occurred behind the wall differs from the literature. Besides that, it was observed that the failure surfaces geometry occurred behind the wall with short heel is accordant with the suggestions in the literature. On the other hand, failure surface occur behind the wall with long heel is scattered. As a result of both numerical and experimental studies, it was determined that the short heel case depends on not only on heel length but also foundation thickness and internal friction angle parameters.