Seismic passive earth pressures of narrow cohesive backfill against gravity walls using the stress characteristics method

• New method for calculating seismic passive earth pressures is developed. • Passive failure mechanism is more likely to occur than active failure mechanism. • The stress characteristics method takes into account the effects of seismic forces. • The influence of each parameter is discussed through the stress nephogram. A solution method for the determination of seismic passive earth pressures in narrow cohesive backfill behind gravity walls has been developed using the stress characteristics method. The stress characteristics method is combined with the pseudo-static method in the analysis to consider the effects of seismic forces. The failure mechanisms of backfill are complex when the backfill reaches its passive limit state. The stress characteristics method does not require pre-assumptions about the sliding surface and the plastic region of the backfill. This method automatically calculates the position of the sliding surface. The reliability and reasonableness of the proposed method are verified by comparing the sliding surface and seismic passive earth pressure calculated in this paper with the finite element calculation results, the existing experimental research results and the existing theoretical solution results. The effect of different parameters on seismic passive earth pressure is investigated by internal stress clouds of the backfill and the distribution of passive earth pressure on the retaining wall.