Abstract: On the foundation of non-seismic active earth pressure theory, the seismic active earth pressure formulas, in the conditions of filling surface incline, wall back incline, filling soil having the characteristic of c and ?, having the c and ? action between the wall back and filling soil, the filling soil having horizontal and vertical acceleration, were obtained with differential layer method, these formulas included their distribution and total force. At the present time, the every active earth pressure formula in earthquake and non-earthquake condition is the special example of this paper’s construction. The total earth pressure calculated with differential layer method is consistent with other method such as Coulomb’s earth wedge equilibrium method; but its acting position is raised up; therefore, the design of retaining wall oughted to pay enough attention to this aspect.

Key words: active earth pressure, differential layer method, implicit treatment of earthquake effect