Retaining Wall Design
Retaining Wall Design
Retaining Wall Design
height of wall,
unit weight of retained soil,
pore water pressure,
strength of soil (angle of internal friction),
amount and direction of wall movement, and
other stresses such as earthquakes and surcharges.
Rankine Analysis
Coulomb Method
Log Spiral Theory
After determining lateral earth pressures, retaining wall analysis and design also
includes:
Sliding
Overturning
Bearing capacity and settlement
Structural design of wall
Reference:http://www.geotechnicalinfo.com/retaining_walls_technical_guidance.html
Farhan Iqbal
Rankine Analysis
Basically, lateral earth pressures are derived from the summation of all individual
pressure (stress) areas behind the retaining wall. These pressure areas are triangular
in shape with the base of the triangle at the base of the wall for the soil component
and pore water component. Pressure areas for surcharges are rectangular in shape,
and earthquake pressures are usually analyzed with a nearly 'upside-down' triangle.
See the RANKINE ANALYSIS link for an excellent presentation of determining
lateral earth pressures using the Rankine Analysis.
For the Rankine analysis, assumptions include:
horizontal backfill
vertical wall with respect to the retaining soil
smooth wall (no friction)
kN/m2 (lb/ft2)
Where,
Ps = 1 KH2 kN/m2 (lb/ft2)
2
Pw = 1 wH2 kN/m2 (lb/ft2)
2
kN/m2 (lb/ft2)
Pq = qKH
building, vehicleload)
Pe = 3 KhH2 kN/m2 (lb/ft2)
8
and,
Ps = lateral earth pressure due to soil
Pw = lateral earth pressure due to pore water
Pq = lateral earth pressure due to surcharge (i.e. building, vehicle load)
Pe = lateral earth pressure due to earthquakes
K = KA, KP or Ko
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Farhan Iqbal
KA = (1 - sin )
(1 + sin )
KP = (1 + sin )
(1 - sin )
Ko = 1 - sin
earthquake coefficient
Kh = 3 K
4
= effective unit weight of soil medium kN/m2 (lb/ft2)
w = 9.1 kN/m2 (62.4 lb/ft2) = unit weight of water
= angle of internal friction
degrees
H = height of retaining wall
m (ft)
kN/m2 (lb/ft2)
q = surcharge on soil, if any
water table
Engineering judgment should allow for some pore water pressure behind a
retaining wall due to stormwater or other water source. For a water table behind the
wall, why would you analyze a partially submerged backfill? You could
reasonably expect for almost every situation that a partially submerged backfill
will become fully inundated during the life of the wall. The following lateral earth
pressure equation is for a water table at the top of the wall. This equation is
composed of a soil component plus a pore water component. Add the above
surcharge and earthquake components if necessary.
P = 1/2 KsubH2 + 1/2 wH2 (lb/ft2)
sub = submerged soil unit weight (lb/ft3)
= sat - w
sat = saturated soil unit weight (lb/ft3)
w = unit weight of water (lb/ft3)
= 62.4 lb/ft3
See the following link for an excellent presentation of determining lateral earth
pressures using the Rankine Analysis
RANKINE ANALYSIS
Coulomb Method
The Coulomb Method:
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1
KH2
P= 1
2
sin cos
kN/m2 (lb/ft2)
where,
K = KA or KP
KA = active,
(see above)
sin2 ( + )
KA =
cos
KP =
cos2
[1 - SQRT[(sin sin ( - ))/(cos )]]2
Graphical Methods
Graphical methods are more in-depth than the Rankine or Coulomb Analysis. Until
some examples are presented on this website, look for more information in the
following downloadable publication:
Reference:http://www.geotechnicalinfo.com/retaining_walls_technical_guidance.html
Farhan Iqbal
NAVFAC 7.02 - Foundations and Earth Structures. This publication has a graphical
solution for lateral earth pressure analysis. Other publications with Coulomb
solutions may be found in thepublications section of this website.
Sliding
Sliding failure is a result of excessive lateral earth pressures with relation to
retaining wall resistance thereby causing the retaining wall system to move away
(slide) from the soil it retains.
See a depiction for calculating the factor of safety for retaining wall sliding from
the following link:
SLIDING ANALYSIS
The following factors of safety (F.S.) are typically used for analyzing sliding:
F.S. = 1.5 for active earth pressure conditions.
F.S. = 2.0 for passive earth pressure conditions.
(RSL/RH) > F.S.
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Farhan Iqbal
RH = R cos
= horizontal component of resultant lateral earth pressure (kN/m2) (lb/ft2)
RV = R sin
= vertical component of resultant lateral earth pressure (kN/m2) (lb/ft2)
R = Ps + Pw + Pq + Pe (see Rankine Analysis above)
(use Rankine where K is passive)
PP = Ps
= Soil pressure exerted on key using passive earth pressures
Wi = summation of weights (see this link), that includes:
o
o
o
weight of footing
weight of wall
weight of soil directly above the entire width of the footing
Overturning
Overturning failure is a result of excessive lateral earth pressures with relation to
retaining wall resistance thereby causing the retaining wall system to topple or
rotate (overturn). Sliding governs the design of retaining walls most of the time,
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Farhan Iqbal
especially for walls less than 8 feet in height. However, overturning must be
analyzed.
See a depiction for calculating the factor of safety for retaining wall overturning
from the following link:
OVERTURNING ANALYSIS
Factor of safety (F.S.) is typically 1.5 when analyzing overturning
(Wixi + RVxV)/(RHy) > F.S.
where:
Wixi = summation of moments about the retaining wall toe. (see this link), that
includes:
o
o
o
o
weight of footing
weight of wall
weight of soil directly above the entire width of the footing
distance between toe of wall and centroid of specific weight
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OVERTURNING ANALYSIS
Example #1: Using the Rankine analysis, determine the individual lateral
earth pressures, and resultant lateral earth pressure on a 2.1 m (7 ft) rigid
concrete retaining wall. The free draining gravel backfill has a soil unit
weight, , of 21.2 kN/m3 (135 lb/ft3), and an angle of internal friction, , of 36
degrees. There will be vehicle surcharges of 14.4 kN/m2 (300 lb/ft2). The
retaining wall will be constructed for passive conditions.
Given
Solution
Soil parameters, and , are determined from laboratory testing. Engineering soil
properties from a known granular material source is sometimes used. Some
engineers use conservative soil parameters based on the soil classification without
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laboratory testing. It is good practice to avoid cohesive soils, and use gravel type
materials for retaining wall backfill.
From the Rankine Analysis equation provided above, the resultant (total) pressure
exerted on a retaining wall is:
R = Ps + Pw + Pq + Pe
kN/m2 (lb/ft2)
(1 + sin ) =
(1 - sin )
(1 + sin 36)
(1 - sin 36)
= 3.85
metric
standard
The soil pressure component is triangular behind the retaining wall. This means
that the theoretical lateral earth pressure due to soil is minimum (zero) at the top of
the wall, and maximum (KH) at the bottom of the wall. The resultant soil
pressure, area of the triangle = 0.5KH2, acts at the bottom 1/3 of the wall (i.e.
centroid of the triangle). In this case, the resultant location is H/3, or 0.7 m (2.3 ft)
from the bottom of the wall.
lateral earth pressure due to pore water pressure
Pw = 1 wH2 = 0
2
The pore water pressure component is also triangular, similar to the soil
component. The resultant location is H/3 from the bottom of the wall.
lateral earth pressure due to surcharge
Pq = qKH
= 14.4 kN/m2 (3.85)(2.1 m) = 116.4 kN/m
= 300 lb/ft2 (3.85)(7 ft) = 8085 lb/ft
metric
standard
The surcharge pressure component is rectangular behind the retaining wall. This
means that the theoretical lateral earth pressure due to the surcharge (qK) is the
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same at both the top of the wall, and bottom of the wall. The resultant surcharge
pressure, area of the rectangle = HqK, acts in the middle of the wall (i.e. centroid
of the rectangle). In this case, the resultant location is H/2, or 1.05 m (3.5 ft) from
the bottom of the wall.
lateral earth pressure due to earthquakes
Pe = 3 KhH2
8
Kh = 3 K = 3 (3.85) = 2.89
4
4
earthquake coefficient
Pe = 3 KhH2
8
= 3 (2.89)(21.2 kN/m3)(2.1 m)2 = 101.3 kN/m
8
= 3 (2.89)(135 lb/ft3)(7 ft)2 = 7169 lb/ft
8
metric
standard
The earthquake pressure component is nearly an upside down triangle behind the
retaining wall. The resultant earthquake pressure, area of the triangle = 3/8(Kh)H2,
acts at the upper 1/3 of the wall (i.e. centroid of the triangle). In this case, the
resultant location is H/3, or 0.7 m (2.3 ft) from the top of the wall.
resultant lateral earth pressure
R = Ps + Pw + Pq + Pe
R = 180.0 kN/m + 0 + 116.4 kN/m + 101.3 kN/m = 398 kN/m
R = 12,734 lb/ft + 0 + 8085 lb/ft + 7169 lb/ft = 27,990 lb/ft
metric
standard
metric
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Farhan Iqbal
Conclusion
The resultant pressure behind the retaining wall is 398 kN/m (28 kips/ft) at a
distance of 0.98 m (3.2 ft) from the bottom of the wall.
***********************************
Example #2: Using the results from the Rankine analysis in example problem
#1, determine the factor of safety for the concrete retaining wall to
resist sliding due to lateral earth pressures exerted on the wall. The wall
foundation is on soils with a cohesion of 23.9 kN/m2 (500 lb/ft2). The retaining
wall is not threatened by earthquakes, so omit the dynamic component. The
retaining wall dimensions are provided below.
Given
Solution
F.S. = 2.0 for passive earth pressure conditions.
(RSL/RH) > F.S.
RSL = Resistance to sliding
= (Wi + RV)tan + cAB
= (Wi + RV)tan + cAB + PP
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Farhan Iqbal
RH = R cos
= (398 kN/m)cos 24 = 364 kN/m
= (27,990 lb/ft)cos 24 = 25,570 lb/ft
metric
standard
RV = R sin
= (398 kN/m)sin 24 = 162 kN/m
= (27,990 lb/ft)sin 24 = 11,385 lb/ft
metric
standard
metric
standard
Conclusion
The factor of safety with relation to retaining wall sliding is 0.6. This factor of
safety is unacceptable. In order to increase the F.S., we can design a number of
combinations including adding a key beneath the footing, increasing the footing
width, and using tie-backs. Also, note that soil above the footing in front of the
wall was not accounted for in this problem. Depending on the footing depth, this
soil aids in the sliding resistance.
***********************************
Example #3: Using the results from the Rankine analysis in example
problems #1 and #2, determine the factor of safety for the concrete retaining
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Farhan Iqbal
wall to resist overturning due to lateral earth pressures exerted on the wall.
The retaining wall dimensions are provided below.
Given
Solution
Factor of safety (F.S.) is typically 1.5 when analyzing overturning
(Wixi + RVxV)/(RHy) > F.S.
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metric
standard
metric
standard
metric
standard
metric
standard
Conclusion
The factor of safety with relation to retaining wall overturning is 0.7. This factor of
safety is unacceptable. In order to increase the F.S., we can design a number of
Reference:http://www.geotechnicalinfo.com/retaining_walls_technical_guidance.html
Farhan Iqbal
combinations including moving the wall further from the footing toe, increasing
the footing width, decreasing the wall height, and using tie-backs. Also, note that
soil above the footing in front of the wall was not accounted for in this problem.
Depending on the footing depth, this soil aids in the overturning resistance.
***********************************
Reference:http://www.geotechnicalinfo.com/retaining_walls_technical_guidance.html