Active earth pressure is the lateral pressure exerted by soil on a retaining structure or a bulkhead wall. It is the maximum pressure exerted by soil when there is a tendency to slide or overturn the retaining structure. The active earth pressure is characterized by a wedge-shaped failure zone that originates at the base of the retaining wall and extends into the soil in front of the wall at an angle of about 30 to 45 degrees. It is important to consider active earth pressure in the design and analysis of retaining structures to ensure their stability and safety.
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