What type of pressure is experienced by a wall that has no lateral movement, such as in basements?

The pressure experienced by a wall with no lateral movement, such as in basements, is referred to as at-rest pressure. This type of pressure occurs when a soil mass exerts a force against a structure in a static condition, meaning there is no displacement of the wall. In this state, the soil particles are already in a stable configuration, and the pressure exerted is based on the weight of the soil above and its angle of internal friction.

At-rest pressure is particularly relevant in situations where walls are restrained from movement. For instance, the walls of a basement are typically fixed in position, which prevents them from laterally moving outward. Therefore, the resultant pressure exerted on the wall is primarily due to the hydrostatic forces acting on the wall and is measured by the earth pressure coefficients related to the at-rest condition.

Active and passive pressures refer to different conditions of soil movement. Active pressure arises when the wall is allowed to move away from the soil, which reduces the pressure exerted by the surrounding soil. Conversely, passive pressure occurs when the wall moves towards the soil, increasing the load on it. Dynamic pressure involves forces that change with time, such as during seismic events or vibrations, and is not applicable in the static condition of a basement