Calculation of Active Earth Pressure on a Circular Retaining Wall Based on Energy Method

For an axisymmetric circular retaining wall, a calculation method of active earth pressure on the circular retaining wall based on energy method is being proposed. The analysis of the soil behind the wall employs the Coulomb failure mechanism. Assuming the soil to be a completely rigid plastic body, the calculation formula of active earth pressure on the circular retaining wall is being established according to the associated flow law and virtual work principle. The results are indicating that the active earth pressure on the circular retaining wall is lower than that predicted by the Coulomb solution for plane retaining walls. This active earth pressure is increasing as the radius-to-height ratio of the wall increases, eventually aligning with the Coulomb solution for plane walls. Additionally, the inclination angle of the slip surface is being observed to increase with the circumferential stress coefficient, while the active earth pressure is decreasing correspondingly; For non-cohesive soil, when the radius-to-height ratio approaches infinity, the calculation method in this paper is being consistent with Coulomb theory. This method can calculate the active earth pressure on circular retaining wall with cohesive soil behind the wall. As the cohesion increases, the inclination angle of the slip surface rises, and the active earth pressure decreases. The result is being confirmed by model tests. It can provide a reference for the engineering design of circular retaining structures.