Publication

Abstract :

This study investigates seismic passive earth pressure on cantilever retaining walls with cohesionless backfill subjected to surcharge loading at the surface of the backfill, using a limit equilibrium approach in association with pseudo-static, pseudo-dynamic, and modified pseudo-dynamic methods. The often-overlooked role of surcharge in passive conditions is addressed, as neglecting it can lead to overdesign and economic inefficiency by underestimating soil resistance. Results show a 25 – 35% increase in the passive earth pressure coefficient as the surcharge coefficient rises from 0 to 0.3. A field application study was carried out to confirm the practical relevance of accounting for surcharge in seismic design. Among the methods, it was observed that the modified pseudo-dynamic approach offers the most sustainable and cost-effective design outcomes.