Question

Consider the following statements:

Which of these statements is/are correct?

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

Answer 1

The correct option is C 2 and 3 only

The yield of a retaining wall required to reach plastic equilibrium in active case is less than that in passive case. Active pressures are accompanied by movements of the retaining wall directed away from the soil and passive resistances are accompanied by movements towards the soil.

Culmann gave the graphical method to evaluate the earth pressure from Coulomb's trial wedge method. Culmann's method permits one to determine graphically the magnitude of the earth pressure and to locate the most dangerous rupture surface according to Coulomb's trail wedge method. Culmann's method is in fact a simplified version of the more general trial wedge method. It may be conveniently used for ground surface of any shape, for different types of surcharge loads, and for layered backfill with different unit weights for different layers.
For cantilever and counterfort walls, Rankine's theory is used for gravity and semi-gravity retaining walls, Coulomb's theory is preferred.