It was necessary to use the adaptive theory for computing the distribution of earth pressure behind the wall adjacent to existing basements and the height of total earth pressure
because it was inconsistent with the Rankine’s theory which was based on the semi-infinite half space state. It could be divided two parts of the deformation trends by considering soil arching effect. The upper soil parts slide down alongside the wall which is same with Terzaghi’s tarp door experiment. Also
the lower soil parts slide down as a triangle the soil wedge. So it is reliable that the earth pressure behind the retaining wall adjacent to existing basement should be analyzed based on the above deformation trends of the upper part and lower part. Assuming the arch in soil arching as circular
the lateral coefficients of earth pressure of retaining wall about both upper and lower parts are derived from the principal stress rotation. And the formula of distribution of lateral active earth pressure is given based on the soil static wedge equilibrium. Expressions of the total earth pressure and the height of acting point are derived by translation of coordinates. According to the examples
the results by proposed method are close to the simulation results. So it has a significant meaning for active earth pressure theory which considering the soil arching effect.