Which pressure is mobilized when walls move into the soil to utilize shear strength?

The pressure mobilized when walls move into the soil to utilize shear strength is referred to as passive pressure. This occurs when a wall, such as a retaining wall, moves toward the soil, resulting in an increase in soil pressure due to the deformation of the soil mass.

Passive pressure is developed when the wall moves away from the initial position, allowing the soil to build up resistance against the wall. This resistance is due to the soil's shear strength, which can be mobilized when the wall displaces. The concept is crucial in retaining wall design because it affects how the wall interacts with the soil and must be considered to ensure stability and avoid structural failure.

Other pressures, like active pressure, pertain to the conditions where the soil moves to a new equilibrium position, and at-rest pressures occur when there is no movement between the wall and the soil. Neutral pressure relates to pore water pressures and does not directly involve the shear resistance of soil in the same way that passive pressure does. Understanding these concepts is essential for civil engineers when designing structures to cope with soil interaction.