Question

The total earth pressure P0 at rest per unit length for vertical height H is _______

(a) \(P_0=\frac{1}{2}K_0γH^2\)

(b) P0=γH^2

(c) P0=K0 γH^2

(d) \(P_0=\frac{1}{2}K_0H^2\)

This question was posed to me in final exam.

Query is from Earth Pressure at Rest topic in division Failure Envelopes & Earth Pressure of Geotechnical Engineering II

Answer 1

The correct answer is (a) \(P_0=\frac{1}{2}K_0γH^2\)

For explanation I would say: The pressure intensity P0 is given by,

P0=K0 γz,

The total earth pressure P0 at rest per unit length is,

\(P_0=\int_0^H K_0 γz.dz \)

∴ \(P_0=\frac{1}{2}K_0γH^2.\)