Question

The coefficient of earth pressure at rest is given by _________

(a) \(K_0=\frac{μ}{1-μ}\)

(b) \(K_0=\frac{μ}{1+μ}\)

(c) \(K_0=\frac{2μ}{1-μ}\)

(d) \(K_0=\frac{1}{1-μ}\)

The question was posed to me in exam.

I'd like to ask this question from Earth Pressure at Rest topic in section Failure Envelopes & Earth Pressure of Geotechnical Engineering II

Answer 1

Right answer is (a) \(K_0=\frac{μ}{1-μ}\)

The explanation: The coefficient of earth pressure at rest is the ratio of the horizontal stress to the vertical stress.

since, σh=μ(σh+σv),

∴ \(\frac{σ_h}{σ_v} = \frac{μ}{1-μ}.\)

∴ \(K_0 = \frac{μ}{1-μ}.\)