Surcharge Lateral Earth Pressure

Description
A uniform vertical pressure applied to the ground surface in the vicinity of a retaining wall is
called a surcharge load. This surcharge load will result in an additional horizontal pressure on
the wall.

Calculations
Like the pressure caused by soil, the surcharge lateral earth pressure is related to the vertical
pressure in the soil using a coefficient. The equation used to calculate this coefficient depends
on whether the lateral earth pressures are at-rest, active, or passive. If they are active then the
equation for the active earth pressure coefficient should be used, otherwise use the equation for
the at-rest or passive earth pressure coefficient. Unlike the pressure caused by soil, the surcharge
lateral earth pressure is uniform with depth below the ground surface. Figure 1 illustrates how
this pressure is applied to a retaining wall, and is calculated as follows:

Δσ h k⋅ q

Where: Δσh = surcharge pressure on wall

k = lateral earth pressure coefficient
q = surcharge load

The total horizontal pressure acting on a retaining wall can be found by summing the soil
pressure and surcharge pressure.

σ h + Δσ h

Where: σh = horizontal soil pressure acting on wall (active, at-rest, or passive)

Δσh = horizontal pressure from surcharge load

Once the lateral earth pressure is known, the force acting on the retaining wall can be calculated
as follows:

F (σ h + Δσ h)⋅ A
Where: F = force acting on retaining wall per meter width of wall
A = area on which pressure is applied
Figure 1: Surcharge Lateral Earth Pressure Acting on a Retaining Wall

Since the lateral earth pressure changes with depth, this equation should be modified. The best
way to do this is to find a force per unit width of wall, which is calculated as follows:

1 2
F ⋅ k⋅ γ ⋅ H + k⋅ q ⋅ H
2

Where: H = total height of retaining wall

This equation can be derived as follows:

(σ h + Δσ) k⋅ ( γ ⋅ z + q )

A dz⋅ 1

H
⌠
F ⎮ k( γ ⋅ z + q ) dz⋅ 1
⌡
0

1 2
F ⋅ k⋅ γ ⋅ H + k⋅ q ⋅ H
2