Static and seismic earth pressure coefficients for vertical walls with horizontal backfill

The seismic earth pressure problem is considered for the special case of a vertical wall with horizontal backfill. Using upper and lower bound finite element limit analysis, earth pressure coefficients are derived for a range of seismic coefficients and soil-wall interface friction angles. The coefficients presented have a verifiable error of at most +/- 1%. Finally, the earth pressure coefficients are applied in a limit equilibrium framework to the design of various embedded retaining structures. For the resulting designs, factors of safety are computed using upper and lower bound strength reduction finite element analysis and it is concluded that the limit equilibrium approach, using the new earth pressure coefficients, is fairly accurate, albeit slightly unconservative.