Lateral earth pressure calculator

Inputs in the worked example

The live calculator starts with these values; change any of them and every result, check and diagram updates instantly.

Worked example — results

Method, formulas and assumptions

• Rankine: Ka = (1 − sin φ)/(1 + sin φ), Kp = 1/Ka
• Coulomb: Ka = cos²(φ − α) / {cos²α cos(α + δ)[1 + √(sin(φ + δ) sin(φ − β)/(cos(α + δ) cos(α − β)))]²}
• σh = K(σ'v + q) ∓ 2c√K, tension cut off at zero; water pressure added below the GWL
• Resultant and its height by numerical integration of the pressure diagram

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