Modelling the arching effect in active earth pressure problems

[Abstract]: This paper uses FLAC to analyse the active earth pressure problem. The model used is a rigid gravity retaining wall, with Mohr Coulomb soil backfill and a zero thickness interface element between the wall and backfill to model the sliding and separation between the wall and the backfill soil. Activefailureof the soil backfill was inducedthrough pushing the rigid wall away from the backfill,resultingin generation of an ultimate failure load. The results for this paper were compared with the availablesolutionsof similar studies, and major problems encountered during the modeldevelopment process were discussed.