Calculating the thrust exerted by saturated soil, the seat of a water flow
Retaining walls – Active and passive earth pressure

Let's consider a vertical retaining wall supporting a thin, horizontal soil mass. Let's suppose that, at the end of construction, or shortly afterwards, the soil mass becomes saturated. There are two possible causes of saturation:

• or surface feeding following continuous rainfall;

• or from a groundwater supply in the natural soil.

During this post-construction period, the buoyancy force must be calculated under undrained or short-term conditions (see article [C 254]).

If there is a drain just behind and below the wall,...