The effect of strip surcharge on the inclination of sliding plane of soils behind retaining wall is taken into account. New formulas of active earth pressure due to strip surcharge are presented based on Coulomb’s theory. When the surcharge is zero
the formulae are the same as Coulomb’s theory. If the strip surcharge is cut by the sliding plane of soils
it is shown that the obliquity of sliding plane of soils behind the wall is not only related to the angle of internal friction of soil
the angle of wall friction and the inclination of ground
but also to the magnitude of surcharge and the distance of the surcharge from the wall. It is also shown that the farther the surcharge from the wall
the smaller the coefficient of active earth pressure. The bigger the magnitude of strip surcharge
the bigger the coefficient of active earth pressure.