Lateral Earth Pressure at Rest in Soft Clay

Abstract

The lateral earth pressure at rest in a soft cohesive soil as determined by five different methods at Backebol, Sweden is compared and analyzed. The agreement between the results using a thin earth pressure cell and a self-boring pressuremeter was satisfactory. It was found that the results from conventional pressuremeter tests were difficult to interpret. This method as well as the hydraulic fracturing method seems to overestimate the lateral earth pressure at rest for very soft clays. The lateral earth pressure as determined by a total stress cell (Camkometer) installed in an excavated borehole was low and erratic.