AN APPROXIMATION TO LATERAL EARTH PRESSURES FOR K0 CONDITION

Abstract

In this study, the determination of lateral earth pressures of soils or Ko parameter is considered. For this effect, the deformation and the variations in the shear stresses of the soils placed in an oedometer set up were investigated. Based on this data, a general method which can be used in the calculation of lateral pressures of soils has been proposed. The study was carried out on a cohesive soil having two different group symbol and sandy soils with different relative densities. The lateral pressure values measured by thin wall oedometer technique are in very good agreement with those obtained by calculation. In conclusion, lateral earth pressures or the Ko values are depend upon the distribution of the samples, their relative density and consistancy, the magnitude of the pre-consolidation pressure. The proposed method is a simple and economic technique as regards to the approximation and experimentation