Little inward movement can occur at the top of the cut after the
first strut is inserted. The pattern of deformation differs so greatly from
that required for Rankine's state that the distribution of earth pressure
associated with retaining walls is not a satisfactory basic for design.
Peck (1969) presented pressure distribution diagrams on braced
cuts. These diagrams are based on a wealth of information collected by
actual measurements in the field. Peck called these pressure diagrams
apparent pressure envelopes which represent fictitious pressure
distributions for estimating strut loads in a system of loading.