Dynamic passive pressure from c–ϕ soil backfills

This technical note presents an analytical expression for the total passive pressure on a retaining wall from the c–ϕ soil backfill subjected to both horizontal and vertical seismic inertial forces. The developed expression has been analysed for the special cases, and the results have been found identical to those proposed by earlier researchers on the subject. A numerical example, presented to illustrate the steps for the calculation of total dynamic passive pressure using the developed general expression, shows that the design value of total dynamic passive pressure as a resistance to the retaining wall movement should be obtained with upward vertical seismic inertial force in combination with the direction of horizontal seismic force towards the backfill.