Question

An earth-retaining structure may be subjected to the following lateral earth pressures:
1. Earth pressure at rest
2. Passive earth pressure
3. Active earth pressure
The correct sequence of the increasing order of the magnitudes of these pressures is

• A. 3, 2, 1
• B. 1, 3, 2
• C. 1, 2, 3
• D. 3, 1, 2

Answer 1

The correct option is D 3, 1, 2

$\text{Pressure at rest:}$ When the wall is at rest and the material is in its natural state then the pressure applied by material is known as Earth Pressure at Rest

$\text{Active earth pressure:}$ When the wall moves away from the backfill, there is a decrease in the pressure on the wall and this decrease continues until a minimum value is reached after which there is no reduction in the pressure and the value will become constant. This kind of pressure is known as active earth pressure.

Passive earth pressure: When the wall moves towards the backfill, there is an increase in the pressure on the wall and this increase continues until a maximum value is reached after which there is no increase in the pressure and the value will become constant. This kind of pressure is known as passive earth pressure.