8. Application: influence of interstitial pressure u

For soils below the water table, once the pore pressures have been calculated, it is essential to apply Terzaghi's principle to determine the effective stresses. These stresses are then multiplied by the thrust and stop coefficients. Pore pressures u, whether hydrostatic or hydrodynamic, must also be added.

Application: let's take the example of a 5-metre-high retaining wall supporting a compacted fill, resting on clay soil, as illustrated in figure 22 .

Let's assume that this embankment is not drained, and that due to leaks, heavy rainfall or snow melt, it is saturated to a depth of 3 meters. The embankment's horizontal platform...