Rankine Active Earth Pressure Coefficient
Mediumearth pressureRankine
For cohesionless soil with friction angle φ = 30°, what is the approximate Rankine active earth-pressure coefficient Ka for level backfill and a smooth vertical wall?
- A0.17
- B0.33
- C0.50
- D3.0
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Answer: B. 0.33
Ka = tan²(45° − φ/2) = tan²30° = 1/3 ≈ 0.33. The reciprocal, 3.0, is the passive coefficient for these conditions.
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