Question

If free water stands on both side of a retaining wall, the lateral earth pressure is given by ____

(a) pa=Ka γ’ z

(b) pa=Ka γ’ z-γw z

(c) pa=Ka γ’ z+γw z

(d) pa=Ka γ’ z*γw z

This question was addressed to me during an online interview.

I want to ask this question from Active Earth Pressure: Rankine’s Theory in section Failure Envelopes & Earth Pressure of Geotechnical Engineering II

Answer 1

The correct option is (a) pa=Ka γ’ z

The explanation: When the free water stands on both side of a retaining wall, the water pressure is not considered and the net pressure is given by,

pa=Ka γ’ z.