(hap. I. WALLS AND PIERS.

iU
Thus, making the side qr = a,
qs = b.
rs =c.
The unknown side sh=x,
hh
=f.
The pressure
45
'9 found p,
Tlie hei-ht DF =d.
We have b
'.
cWh + x
,
=/io, and hh ho wiii be /

^a"^*
To obtain ik, we have the proportion a ; b
hf^br

ex
:/
heex
b

: ik.
Whence ih=- so tliat the pressure
p
x ik is represented by jd
\

-,
j,
to which
tlse resistance expressed by
''4 '""** equilibrate.
T'l 4.1 ^- 1 '?'- ( bfbcex\
,
Ipcx
llius the equation becomes
ir =p\
'
),
or x- +
-, =
1p{bfbc)
.
ad
For easier solution, make
~
d'""
^'"' ^""^ ^~-"' ^""^ ^^^ liave ar-
+ 2a; = 2i, an
equation of the second degree, whicli makes .r= V^m + n^ n, which is a general formula
for jiroblems of this sort.
lieturuing to the values of tlie known (juantities, in which
f=~l
d=in
6+nr
2 -28 and k?
a = 6i|
b =
5h
m=pbx'

. becomes m-^4.'r9 x
5k
: = 1
2
-70 and t>m = 25 -i
pc
n= , becomes n
=
act
45-9 X 3-75
20.
From tlie above, then, the formula .r= V2m + u- becomes .r= V 25-4
+
5-20
2 28 =
3-22, a result wliich was confirmed by the experiment, inasmuch as a facing of the thick-
ness of 8^
inches was found necessary to resist the pressure of pounded freestone. By
Belidor's method, the thickness comes out 4^
inches
; but it has been observed that its
application is not strictly correct. In the foregoing experiment, the triangular part only
of the material in the box was filled with the pounded stone, the lower part being supposed
of material which could not communicate pressure. But if tlie whole of the box had been
tilled with the same material, the requisite thickness would have been found to be 5\
inches
to bear the pressure.
1590. In applying the ])receding formula to this case, we must first find the area of the
trapezium BEUF (/(/.
61 2.),
which will be found 1
95^
;
multiplying this by
\%
to re-
duce the retaining wall and
the material to the same spe-
cific gravity, we have l('9y^.
This mass being supposed to
slide upon the inclined plane
ED, its effort parallel to that
plane will be 1
95i x -|j'
=
95 76=/). Having found in
tlie last formula that qs is rc-
))resented by o =6'9;5, sr by
c = 4-76, qr by a =8-40, /=
11-3, d-.^n-5; the thickness
of the retaining wall becomes
J-",
ill be- =sh
x; m =pb % ^
come, substituting the values
?ifi'l7^0
= -9''^- and 2m =
59 -04.
95-76 X 6-93
= '-^
becomes ^r,
ad
^
'
ft>7nx4-7(i
8-40xl7-Su'
3-1, and n^
9'61. Substituting these values in the formula x= \^2!n + w^ n, we have x= ^59-04
+ 9-61
3-1 =5-2, a result very confirmatory of the tlieory.
1591. In an experiment made on common dry earth, reduced to a powder, which took a
slope of 46^ 50', its specific gravity being only
\
of that of the retaining side, it was found
that the thickness necessary was 3 inches ^.
1592. It is common, in iiiactice, to strengthen walls for the retention of earth witli piers
at certain intervals, whicli are called counterforts, by whicli tlie wall acquires additional