GeoStructPy
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Disclaimer: This tool is intended for use by the APEC Consultancy team for preliminary geotechnical calculations only. The developers assume no liability for design decisions made based on the output of this application. All results must be verified by a qualified geotechnical or structural engineer before use in any project.

Mononobe-Okabe Seismic Earth Pressure Calculator

Embankment Parameters

Seismic Parameters

Enter kh and kv as the effective coefficients (i.e., the reduction factor α on PGA already applied: kh = α·amax/g). Typical α = 0.5 per AASHTO §11.6.5.2 / Seed & Whitman 1970.

References & Methodology

  1. Das, B.M. & Sivakugan, N. (2019). Principles of Foundation Engineering, 9th Edition, SI. Cengage Learning. Ch. 16 — Lateral Earth Pressure: §16.5 Generalized case for Rankine seismic active earth pressure (granular backfill); §16.9 Active earth pressure for earthquake conditions — granular backfill (M-O method); §16.10 Active earth pressure for earthquake condition (vertical backface and c'-φ' backfill); §16.17 Passive force on walls with earthquake forces. Ch. 17: §17.10 Gravity retaining-wall design for earthquake conditions.
  2. Mononobe, N. & Matsuo, H. (1929). On the determination of earth pressures during earthquakes. Proc. World Engineering Conference, Tokyo, 9, 177–185.
  3. Okabe, S. (1926). General theory of earth pressures. J. Japan Society of Civil Engineers, 12(1).
  4. Seed, H.B. & Whitman, R.V. (1970). Design of earth retaining structures for dynamic loads. ASCE Specialty Conf. on Lateral Stresses in the Ground and Design of Earth Retaining Structures, 103–147.
  5. Kramer, S.L. (1996). Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering, Ch. 11. Prentice Hall. (Modern treatment of pseudo-static M-O method.)
  6. AASHTO (2020). LRFD Bridge Design Specifications, §11.6.5 — Seismic earth pressure on retaining walls.
  7. Eurocode 8 Part 5 (EN 1998-5:2004). Foundations, retaining structures and geotechnical aspects, Annex E (M-O method).