Retaining Wall Design Example

CE 437/537, Spring 2011

Design a reinforced concrete retaining wall for the

following conditions.

1/8

surcharge = qs = 400

f'c = 3000 psi

fy = 60 ksi

psf

Fill: = 32o
Unit wt = 100 pcf
HT = 18 ft

tf
wtoe tstem wheel
Natural Soil: = 32o
allowable bearing pressure = 5000psf

Development of Structural Design Equations. In this example, the structural design of the
three retaining wall components is performed by hand. Two equations are developed in this
section for determining the thickness & reinforcement required to resist the bending moment
in the retaining wall components (stem, toe and heel).
Equation to calculate effective depth, d: Three basic equations will be used to develop an
equation for d.
M u = M n

M n = As f y d
2

M u = As f y d [ Eqn 1]
2

C = T , 0.85 f c' a b = As f y
As = 0.85

f c'
ab
fy

strain compatibility :

[ Eqn 2]

0.003 s + 0.003 a
0.003
=
,
=
1
a / 1
d
d s + 0.003

Assuming 1 = 0.85,
s
0.005
0.00785
0.010

a/d
0.319
0.235
0.196

and choosing a value for s in about the middle of the practical design range,
a
= 0.235, a = 0.235 d
d

[ Eqn 3]

CE 437/537, Spring 2011

Retaining Wall Design Example

2/8

Substituting Eqn. 2 into Eqn. 1:

f'
a
M u = 0.85 c ab f y d

f
2
y

And substituting Eqn. 3 into the above:

M u = 0.85

f c'
0.235 d

0.235d b f y d

fy
2

0.883d

Inserting the material properties: f'c = 3 ksi and fy = 60 ksi, and b = 12in (1-foot-wide
strip of wall, in the direction out of the paper).
k

M u = 0.90(0.85) 3ksi (12 in )(0.235)(0.883)d 2

M u = 5.71 in d 2

Equation for area of reinforcement, As. The area of reinforcement required is calculated
from Eqn. 1:
M u = As f y 0.883d = 0.90 As 60 ksi 0.883 d

M u = 47.7 ksi As d

Design Procedure (after Phil Ferguson, Univ. Texas)

1. Determine HT. Usually, the top-of-wall elevation is determined by the client. The
bottom-of-wall elevation is determined by foundation conditions.
HT = 18 feet.
2. Estimate thickness of base. tf 7% to 10% HT (12" minimum)
Tf = 0.07 (18' x 12"/') = 15.1"

use tf = 16"

Retaining Wall Design Example

CE 437/537, Spring 2011

3/8

3. Design stem (tstem, Asstem). The stem is a vertical cantilever beam, acted on by the
horizontal earth pressure.

ft

in

h = 8 16 /12
ft
h =16.67

in/ft

tf = 16in

ka h

ka qs

wtoe tstem wheel

calc. d:
Pfill =

Pfill =

1
( k a h ) h (1 ft out of page)
2
1 sin 1 sin( 32 o )
ka =
=
= 0.31
1 + sin 1 + sin( 32 o )
1
(0.31)(100 pcf )(16.67 ft ) 2 (1 ft ) = 4310 lb
2

Psur = k a q sur h (1 ft ) = 0.31 ( 400 psf )(16.67 ft )(1 ft ) = 2070 lb

h
h
M u = ( Earth Pressure LoadFactor)( Pfill )( ) + ( Live LoadFactor)(Psur )( )
3
2
ft
ft
16
.
67
16
.
67
M u = (1.6)(4310 lb )(
) + (1.6)(2070 lb )(
) = 65.9 k ft
3
2

Mu =

k
in
5.71

d2
k

in
) = 5.71 in d 2 , d = 11.8in
ft
1
t stem = 11.8in + 2 in cover + (1.0 in ) = 14.3in , ( assume #8 bars )
2
in
in
in
d = 15 2 0.5 = 12.5in
65.9 k ft (12

use t stem = 15in

CE 437/537, Spring 2011

Retaining Wall Design Example

4/8

calc. As:
M u = 47.7 ksi As d
65.9 k ft (12

in
) = 47.7 ksi As (12.5in ), As = 1.33 in 2
ft

As of one #8 bar = 0.79 in 2

in 2
in
in
bar
12 = 7.13
,
2
ft
bar
in
1.33
ft of wall
0.79

use #8 @ 6 in

4. Choose Heel Width, wheel Select wheel to prevent sliding. Use a key to force sliding
failure to occur in the soil (soil-to-soil has higher friction angle than soil-to-concrete).
12in

Neglect soil resistance in front of the

wall.
Fresist
= Fsliding
FS
FS = Factor of Safety = 1.5 for sliding
set

18

ft

Fresist = (Vertical Force)(coefficient of friction)

Fresist = WT (tan natural soil )

tf = 16in

tan natural soil = tan(32 o ) = 0.62

WT = W fill + Wstem + W found

W fill = (100 pcf )(16.67 ft )( wheel )(1 ft ) = 1670

15in

lb
wheel
ft

12 in + 15in 1 ft
(1 ft ) = 2810 lb
in
2
12 )
16
15
= (150 pcf )( ft )( wheel +
ft + 3 ft )(1 ft ) = 200 plf wheel + 850
12
12

Wstem = (150 pcf )(16.67 ft )(

W found

Fsliding = Pfill + Psur

1
(0.31 100 pcf )(18 ft ) 2 (1 ft ) = 5020 lb
2
= (0.31 400 psf )(18 ft )(1 ft ) = 2230 lb

Pfill =
Psur

Fsliding = 5020 lb + 2230 lb = 7250 lb

CE 437/537, Spring 2011

Retaining Wall Design Example

5/8

lb
lb
lb
lb
1670 ft wheel + 2810 + 200 ft wheel + 850 (0.62)

7250lb =
1.5
1.5
lb
7250lb
= 3660lb + 1870 wheel , wheel = 7.42 ft ,
0.62
ft

use wheel = 7.5 ft

5. Check Overturning.

12in

18 ft
18 ft
) + Psur (
)
3
2
= 5.02 k (6 ft ) + 2.23k (9 ft ) = 50.2 k ft

M over = P fill (
M over

18

ft

7.5 ft 15
+
ft + 3 ft ), assume wtoe = 3 ft
2
12
1.25 ft
+ Wstem (3 ft +
)
2
3' 15" 7.5'
11.75 ft
+ W found (
)
2
= (1.67 klf 7.5 ft )(8 ft ) + ( 2.81k )(3.625 ft ) + (0.20klf 7.5 ft + 0.85k )(5.875 ft )

M resist = W fill (

M resist

12.53k

2.35k

M resist = 124.2 k ft
M resist 124.2 k ft
=
= 2.47 > 2.0 = FSover , OK
M over
50.2 k ft

6. Check Bearing.
WT
M
L
+
, equation is valid only if e <
bL bL2
6
6
+ W found

v at end of toe =
WT = W fill + Wstem

WT = 12.45 k + 2.81k + 2.35 k = 17.69 k

7.5 ft
1.25 ft
) + Wstem (7.5 ft +
5.875 ft ) + W found (0)
2
2
12.53k ( 2.125 ft ) + 2.81k ( 2.25 ft ) = 29.9 k ft

M = M over W fill (5.875 ft

M = 50.2 k ft

Check that e < L/6:

e=

m
29.9 k ft
L 11.75 ft
L
ft
=
=
1
.
68
,
=
= 1.96 ft , e < , OK
k
WT
6
6
6
17.69

tf = 16in

Retaining Wall Design Example

CE 437/537, Spring 2011

v =

17.69 k
ft

ft

(1 )(11.75 )

29.9 k ft
1 ft
(1 )(11.75 ft ) 2
6

6/8

= 2.80 ksf < 5.0 ksf = allowable bearing capacity, OK

7. Heel Design.
Max. load on heel is due to the weight of heel + fill + surcharge as the wall tries to tip over.
Flexure:
W = Wheel + W fill + Wsur
16
ft )(1 ft )
12
+ 1.2(100 pcf )(16.67 ft )(1 ft )

W = 1.2(150 pcf )(
+ 1.6( 400 plf )
W = 2.88
Mu =

Vu

wu
16

Mu
7.5

in

ft

klf

wu L2 2.88klf (7.5 ft ) 2
=
= 81.0 k ft
2
2

k 2
d
in
in
k
81.0 k ft (12 ) = 5.71 d 2 , d = 13.0in for flexure
ft
in
M u = 5.71

Shear:
Vu = wu (7.5 ft ) = 2.88 klf (7.5 ft ) = 21.6 k

Vc = (0.75) 2 f c' bw d = (0.75) 2 3000 psi (12 in ) d

setVu = Vc ,

21,600lb = (0.75) 2 3000 psi (12 in ) d , d = 21.9 in for shear, controls

Shear controls the thickness of the heel.

1
t heel = 21.9 in + 2 in cover + in = 24.4 in (assume #8 bar ),
2

use t heel = 21.5 in

Reinforcement in heel:
M u = 47.7 ksi As d

in
81.0 k ft (12 ) = 47.7 ksi As (21.9 in ), As = 1.07in 2
ft
in 2
0.79
bar (12 in ) = 8.83 in ,
ft
in 2
1.07
ft

use #8 @ 8"

Retaining Wall Design Example

CE 437/537, Spring 2011

7/8

8. Toe Design.
Earth Pressure at Tip of Toe:
Wu
Mu

bL 1 2
bL
6
Wu = 1.2(W fill + Wstem + W found ) + 1.6 (Wsur )

v =

Wu = 1.2(12.53k + 2.81k + 2.35k ) +

1.6(0.4 ksf )(18 ft )(1 ft ) = 32.7 k , (did not recalc foundation wt b.c. neglible change)
M u = 1.6 M over 1.2(Wsoil 2.125 ft + Wstem 1.0 ft )
3' 1.25'
7.5'

M u = 1.6(50.2 k ft ) 1.2 12.53k ( 2.125 ft ) + 2.81k (1 ft ) = 45.0k ft

32.7 k
45.0k ft
+
(1 ft )(11.75 ft ) 1 (1 ft )(11.75 ft ) 2
6
ksf
= 2.78
+
1.96ksf = 4.74 ksf

v =
vA

vC = 2.78ksf
vB = 0.82 ksf +

1.96ksf

= 0.82 ksf

4.74 ksf 0.82 ksf

(8.75 ft ) = 3.74 ksf
11.75 ft

d for flexure:
M u = (3.74 ksf )(3 ft )(1 ft )(

3 ft
1
2
) + (1.00 ksf )(3 ft )(1 ft )( 3 ft ) = 19.8k ft
2
2
3

k 2
d
in
in
k
19.8k ft (12 ) = 5.71 d 2 , d = 6.5in for flexure
ft
in
M u = 5.71

d for shear:
Assume theel = ttoe = 21.5in
Critical section for shear occurs at "d" from face of stem, d = 21.5" 3"cover-1/2"=18"
vcritical sec tion = 0.82 ksf +

Vu =

4.74 ksf 0.82 ksf

18
(8.75 ft +
ft ) = 4.24 ksf
ft
12
11.75

1
18
( 4.74 ksf + 4.24 ksf )(3 ft
ft )(1 ft ) = 6.74 k
2
12

Vc = (.75)2 3000 psi (12in )(18in ) = 17,750lb > Vu , OK , d for flexure controls

CE 437/537, Spring 2011

Retaining Wall Design Example

8/8

Reinforcement in toe:
M u = 47.7 ksi As d
19.8k ft (12

in
) = 47.7 ksi As (18in ), As = 0.28 in 2
ft

in 2
bar (12 in ) = 33in , try smaller bars , say #4
ft
in 2
0.28
ft

0.79

in 2
bar (12 in ) = 8.6in
ft
in 2
0.28
ft

0.20

use #4 @ 8"