The influence of distant surcharge load with a finite length on the cantilever walls

The behavior of a sheet pile wall constructed on saturated sand soil and exposed to a distant surcharge load with a finite length at the top of the backfill soil is examined in this study. For this aim, various internal friction angles (φ), and natural ground surface for the groundwater level are considered. Furthermore, it is considered that the sheet pile wall acts as cantilevered and supports a six-meter-high (H) excavation. The simple “45° distribution” (AP) and uniform distribution of “Beton Kalender distribution” (BK) methods are examined with Coulomb’s and Rankine’s earth pressure theories in analytical solutions, while the finite element method (FEM) is used as a numerical method. The present research has two primary goals: a) determining the best analytical approach that provides the maximum bending moment (Mmax) values that are more comparable to those of the FEM b) examining the behavior of the sheet pile wall considering several effects of load scenarios, depth (D) and section type (ST) of the wall, and the soil properties together. In this context, parametrical analyses are performed. Consequently, it is found that the distance of the surcharge load (x1) has a pronounced effect than the intensity (q) and length (Ls) of the surcharge load on the behavior of the sheet pile, and this effect vanishes for the large values of x1. Furthermore, Coulomb theory provides more convenient values with FEM for Mmax than those obtained from Rankine theory. The Mmax values obtained from FEM are generally less than those from BK, while they are greater than those from APC.