Influence Of Deformation Modes Of Retaining Structures On Earth Pressure And Surface Settlements

Based on the analysis of the model tests and numerical analysis and the theories of earth pressure that researchers ever did, the factors that mainly affect the magnitude and distribution of earth pressure are summarized. Then, on the basis of a lot of measured deformation of retaining structures, the paper assumes that the deformation modes of retaining structures only has four kinds of basic deformation modes, that is, Rotation about base, Rotation about top, Translation and Flexure, and other deformation modes can be combined with the four kinds of basic deformation modes. Then, mainly factors that influence the magnitude and distribution of earth pressure are analyzed in detail. At the same time, the paper discusses the course of the progressive failure of soil and the relationship between the shape of failure surface and soil parameters. Then, soil arching effect mechanisms of different deformation modes of retaining structures are analyzed. For rotation about base, based on the relationship between biggest displacement of retaining structures and plastic zone of soil and soil arching effect mechanism, the formula of earth pressure considering displacement of retaining structures and soil arching effect is gained, and comparisons of the calculated results with the results from numerical analysis show that the formula can provide good predictions of earth pressure. For rotation about top, on the basis of shape of failure surface and soil arching effect, the formula of earth pressure which considers the two factors simultaneously is gotten, and the calculated results can provide good prediction of earth pressure.At last, the paper studies the relationships between different deformation modes and surface settlement extents of soil, modes of settlement, maximum settlement and the location of maximum settlement. The results indicate that the lower the deformations of retaining structures develop, the larger the surface settlement extents of soil caused by it, and the farther the locations of maximum settlements are away from retaining structures. Besides them, the results also indicate that the surface settlements of soil behind retaining structures are related to the deformations of...