Trial Wedge Method

The trial wedge method of analysis is shown in Fig.1 below. The following steps are to be followed to make the analysis.

force on a trial wedge

Step 1 –   a mass of soil behind the wail is considered as a free body. The force P, which must exist between the free body and the wall, is found by writing the equation of equilibrium for the free body as a whole.

Step 2 – a different free body is considered, having a different boundary through the soil. Once again the required force between the wall and the free body is found.

Step 3 – the actual force against the Wall will be the largest value of P found as the result of considering all possible free bodies.

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