6.4 EARTH PRESSURES DUE TO SURFACE LOADS ‘Vertical loads on the surface of the ground increase both the vertical and lateral pressures in the ground, Loads on the ‘backiillsurface near an earth-retaining structure cause increased ‘earth pressures on the structure 6.4.1 Uniform Surcharge Loads ‘A uniform surcharge pressure applied to the ground surface Over a large area causes a uniform increase in vertical pressure ‘of the same amount, Ap. = a (6.1) in which Ap, = increase in vertical pressure due to surcharge, land q, ~ surcharge pressure. The surcharge pressure also causes ‘an increase in lateral pressure, Am = kas 12) in which Ap, = increase in horizontal pressure due to surcharge, thd k isan earth pressure coefficient. For active earth pressure SGnditions,k-= k,:for at-rest conditions, k = kg: and for passive fearth pressure conditions, k = ky, ‘Oving to the fact that the surcharge loading is applied over ‘a large area (theoretically, an infinitely large area) both the Wertical pressure due to the surcharge (Eq. 6.11) and the horizontal pressure due tothe surcharge (Eq. 6.12) are constant at all depths. 2. Point Loads, Line Loads, and Strip Loads When the surface loading is not uniform, or does not act over a large area, more complex calculations are needed to estimate fhe magnitude of the induced lateral stresses. As shown in Figure 6.13, the horizontal pressure induced by a vertical point oad varies with depth and distance along the wal. ‘Although exact solutions to the problem shown in Figure 6.13, Ihave not been developed, a simple approximation has been found that is accurate enough for practical purposes. Boussinesq, eveloped expressions for the stresses induced within an elastic fnass by a point load acting on the surface. According to this Poin) Lead ating on io Sfoce Earth Pressures 229 solution, the horizontal stress can be expressed a8 Q 39? RU-2) eR? RR in which Q = the magnitude ofthe point load expressed in tunits of force; R? = xt + y?-+ 27; r= x? ty? x and y ae horizontal distances from the load to the stress point: z = depth of stress point below surface; and v = Poisson's ratio. ‘Bovssinesq’s solution can be used to develop an expression for the horizontal stress on a wall due to point load on the Sirface if two simplifying assumptions are made: (1) the wall Goes not move, and (2) the wall is perfectly smooth (there is, tho shear siress between the wall and the soil), Under these Conditions the stress induced on the wall would be the same Ge the stress induced in an elastic half-space by two loads of equal magnitude situated as shown in Figure 6.14. The second Toad (called the image or imaginary load) would cause equal and opposite normal displacements on a plane midway between flan. the real load, thus enforcing the zero-horizontal- ‘isplacement boundary condition at the wall. Thus, the fhovzontal pressures on the wall are twice as large as the horizontal stres induced in an elastic half-space, and can be ccaleulated from the expression _@ ee RU=2) mROR? R+e 4p (6.13) An (614) in which x = horizontal distance from load to wall, y= 0, and the other terms are as defined for Equation 6.13. ‘Spangler (1938) and Terzaghi (1954) performed experiments to compare measured and calculated pressures on walls due 10 point loads. These experiments confirmed the fact that doubling Fhe free-feld stress (ie, using the stress calculated from Equation 6.14), provides a good approximation to measured values of earth pressures on walls. "The same procedure has been used to develop expressions for sireses due to line loads and strip loads. For an infinitely xy attoree) jnivitl 16.13 Earth pressure data due toa point load. (After Spanier, ) ome vere | ate imagery Looe Real aes ro) long this line, the Rerizntl deflections due tothe rel tnd imaginary leeds conte She norizntal siresses ore twice ob high os fr 0 single Fig, 6:14 Use ofan imaginary load to enforce a zero-dsplacement Condition at a wal. (a) A point load near 2 wall. (b) Two point Toads on an elastic hat-space