Abstract:The passive earth pressure distribution of retaining walls under seismic conditions is of significant importance, and the pattern of which is often closely related to the displacement mode of the wall structure. Aiming at solving the distribution of seismic passive earth pressure of retaining wall under the RB mode, quasi-dynamic and finite layer analysis methods are adopted by considering the variations of friction coefficients at the two sides of the soil failure wedge with depth. The seismic non-limit passive earth pressure of retaining walls under the RB mode is then calculated, and the formulas for estimating the resultant force and its acting location are derived. The analytical solution using the proposed formula is compared with the experimentally measured data and other available data, demonstrating the rationality of the proposed formula. Furthermore, the influence of friction angle, displacement magnitude and seismic acceleration on the distribution of earth pressure is analyzed. The results show that the passive earth pressure of retaining walls increases firstly and then decreases with depth under the RB mode, but the soil pressure at the bottom of the displaced wall corresponding to different wall movements is basically the same. The proposed analysis approach has certain reference value for the development of non-limit passive earth pressure of retaining structures.