technical issues

Martin Achmus
Ahmed Rouili

Study on Erddruckbeanspruchung of angular

retaining walls

The design of the vertical leg of angle support walls according to current standards for German elevated and after the currently discussed redesign of the
soil pressure, that is the average of the active earth pressure and earth pressure at rest make. This DIN 4085 the mean value of active earth pressure
approach is, as overall in this paper shows is, in many cases significantly on the safe side. By means of a and earth pressure at rest (hereinafter referred to
numerical parameter study are shown the important influence factors. Based on the results, a method is as elevated soil pressure) to be recognized in
proposed that the compressive load, the more accurate determination of the earth allows taking into classical distribution. Here, the angle of wall friction δ
account the substantially influencing variables in a simple manner. equal to the angle of repose β to be set. For the
common case β = 0, ie horizontal terrain, thus
following earth pressure coefficients apply:

Investigation on the earth pressure loading of L-shaped retaining walls. Due to current German regulations the
structural design of the vertical wall stem of L-shaped retaining walls is based on the assumption of Increased
earth pressure loading, ie the average of active earth pressure and earth pressure at rest. In the presented paper
it is shown did with this approach the Resultant loading is in most cases overestimated. The influence of the
Active earth:
most important parameters is Investigated by a numerical model. Based on the results, a simple method for a
more accurate estimation of the Resultant loading is Proposed. • φ •
k Ah = k a = tan 2 45
• °-' • (1)
• 2 •

1 Introduction made out if the wall shifts in use are not sufficient rest earth pressure:

to reduce the load on the active earth, as these

Angular retaining walls are proven designs for the shifts would occur before reaching a breaking state k 0h = k 0 = 1 - sin φ ' (2)
support especially piled terrain jumps. However, in any case.
while the conventional system and loads for the Taking into account bottom dead weight load, and
detection of the external stability of an angular a surface of p, the wall bending moment M thus
support wall (sliding, allowable eccentricity, bearing results in a depth z below ground level as follows:
capacity, terrain fracture) to be reliable or accurate However, the actually acting in use earth
enough are composed, with respect to the pressure must be set for the design of the vertical
Erddruckansatzes for the design of the vertical wall wall spur. Because of the presence of the
122
leg need for clarification. horizontal spur is assumed that at least in the Mz() = γz kz Eg + pzkz Ep (3)
lower wall portion acts higher than the active earth
pressure. The "old" DIN 4085 (1987) was the With

indirect account by active earth pressure could be

1
set, but this spread to be trapezoidal with a twice k = ( kka + 0 ) (4)
2
For the detection of the external stability as large earth pressure on the base of the wall
usually a replacement heavyweight wall can be than was assumed at the wall head, resulting in an
1 1
considered, formed by the angular support wall over classical earth pressure increased rated z Eg = z. z Ep = z (5)
3 2
and superimposed on the horizontal spur backfill torque results for the reinforced concrete
soil. vertical rear wall "imaginary" is set as a load to cross-section. In compacted backfill would be to check whether a
the active earth pressure in the extension of the higher torque results in the recognition of a
spur end, said derWandreibungswinkel is to Verdichtungserddrucks instead of earth pressure
choose behind the wall equal to the angle of the due to surface load, which would then prevail, see
slope. The approach active earth pressure here is DIN 4085-100 (1996).
usually also warranted
In which size and distribution of the earth
pressure really works is not fully understood, see Goh proposed in [2] based on numerical
[1]. According to DIN 4085-100 (1996) investigations, the earth pressure from soil weight
to

942 © Ernst & Sohn · Publishers for Architecture and Technical Sciences GmbH & Co. KG, Berlin Structural Engineering 81 (2004), No. 12

to be set as the active earth pressure to half the
height of leg and in the lower half rising to earth
pressure on raised for rough walls or on the full
rest earth pressure with smooth walls at the
Schenkelfuß. As compared with the approach in
accordance with DIN 4085-100 with increased
earth pressure over the entire wall height arise
from naturally smaller wall bending moments.
It is obvious that the displacements the wall
and thus the actual size of the earth pressure on
the dimensions of the angular support wall (height
H, width B and ratio B / H) of the rigidity of the wall,
the stiffness of the backfill material and especially
of the subsurface depends. In this article, the
effects of these parameters are quantified by
numerical investigations, the considerations are
limited to non-cohesive backfill material with a
horizontal ground surface. On this basis,
recommendations are made to approach the
pressure acting on the vertical wall leg earth
pressure from bottom dead weight and load
surface.
Figure 1. angular retaining wall reference system
Fig. 1. L-shaped retaining wall, reference
system
1. Parameters used table for sand, constitutive law "Hardening Soil" Table 1. Parameters used
for the sand soil, material law "Hardening Soil"
storage density γ φ'
in kN / m 3 in
close 17 46.5
medium density 17 35
relaxed 17 32
M. Achmus / A. Rouili ​· investigation for Erddruckbeanspruchung of angular retaining walls
2 structural behavior of an angular support wall
2.1 Reference System
the system illustrated in Figure 1 is used as a
reference system for the study of the structural
behavior of an angular support wall with a wall
height of H = 9 m and a side length of B = 5.4 m is
selected. This system was also Djerbib et al. [3]
studied in centrifuge experiments. The test results
are used zurVerifikation of the numerical model.
The angular support wall is first assumed to be
approximately flexurally rigid.
2.2 Numerical model
In order to simulate the structural behavior of an
angular support wall realistically, both the shear
strength and the stiffness of the soil must be
detected realistic. To use the program system
Plaxis comes here with the implemented therein
"Hardening Soil" -Stoffgesetz. This material law
allows, inter alia, considering the voltage
dependence of the stiffness of the bottom module
E S according to the following equation:
m times the acceleration of gravity. For the wall, a
• σ •
EES = oed ref
. • • (6)
• p ref •
It is e oed ref oedometrische the stiffness of the soil
at a reference voltage of the p ref ( here 100 kN / m 2)
corresponding ground voltage σ.
The shear strength of the soil is determined
by the parameters φ '( internal angle of friction), ψ ( Dilatancy)
and c '( Cohesion) described. The contact behavior
between the reinforced concrete wall and the floor
is taken into account via interface elements. The
maximum shear stress is mobilizable by a
parameter R inter
specified, the tan the ratio for non-cohesive soil δ / tan
φ ' indicates. For details on the material law and
ψ e oed ref m e 50
in in MN / m 2 in one
10 30 0.6
2.5 25 0.65
0 20 0.7
to contact modeling is referenced here [4].
The Plaxis program also allows for gradually
increasing the vertical acceleration for simulating
centrifuge experiments. The recalculation for the
trial of Djerbib et al. the next parameter of the
dense sand are summarized in Table 1 below. The
gravity and friction angles were as specified by Djerbib
et al. selected in [3]. the bearing for medium-tight
and loose sand parameters used in the numerical
calculations are also indicated. These were
selected in the range of ordinary skill values ​for
Feinbis medium sand (see. Eg. B. EAU 1996 [5]).
For better comparison of the results of the specific
gravity was set the same for all storage densities.
2.3 Verification of the numerical model
In the centrifuge experiments of
Djerbib et al. was a reduced scale factor to the wall
60 model (H = 15 cm, B = 9 cm) was prepared,
and the wall shifts and the earth pressures were
measured under the effect of an acceleration of 60
steel profile is used, which is to be considered
under the experimental conditions as bending rigid.
As substrate and backfill material, a dry fine
enggestufter was incorporated in a sealed storage
to medium sand ( "Leighton Buzzard" sand). The
parameters of this sand are of Djerbib et al.
specified as follows: gravity γ = 17 kN / m 3,
Installation void ratio e = 0.56, related storage
density I D = 0.77, effective angle of internal friction φ
'= 46.5 °. The numerical simulation was carried
out by recognizing the parameters specified in
Table 1 for dense
e ur R inter
in MN / m 2 in MN / m 2 in one
30 120 0.8
25 100 0.8
20 100 0.8
Building Technology 81 (2004), Heft 12 943
M. Achmus / A. Rouili ​· investigation for Erddruckbeanspruchung of angular retaining walls

Sand. The model dimensions were similar to those

of the centrifuge test. In the first calculation steps,
the production of the model system was simulated
by progressively installing individual layers of the
soil and the wall. After that, the vertical
acceleration was increased to 60 times the
acceleration of gravity.

The earth pressures experimentally

determined and wall shifts for an unsupported wall
under the action of ground weight and also the
earth pressures under zusätzlicherWirkung a
Obeflächenlast of 50 kN / m 2 are shown in Figure 2
and compared with the results of numerical
calculations.

The comparison of the earth pressures

shows a fairly good agreement between
experiment and calculation, especially for the
interest here earth pressure due to soil weight.
Both of measurement and calculation is made in
the upper wall region an approximately
corresponding to the active earth pressure load,
while in the lower half of the wall is an increase in
resting pressure on the theoretical or even higher
determine addition. Similar results were also Goh [ get
2].

derWandverschiebungen regarding
compliance is sufficient to note the order of the wall
chief position. In this regard, however, to be noted
that the measured values ​of the centrifuge test
result in a movement of the wall towards the foot of
the backfill, which is not very plausible.
Image 2 centrifuge test: Comparison of the measurement results of Djerbib et al. [3] with the results of
numerical calculation
Fig. 2. Centrifuge test: comparison of the results from Djerbib et al. [3] with results of the numerical
calculations

The overall conclusion is that the numerical

model, both qualitatively and quantitatively
reproduces the earth pressure from soil own
weight on the vertical wall leg very well and thus is
suitable for parametric studies.

2.4 structural behavior of the reference system

With the verified numerical model the structural

behavior of the reference system shown in Figure
1 was calculated. Backfill and substrate were each
uniformly once as a dense, medium dense and
accepted once as once stored as a favorite. The
finite element mesh used is wiedergege- in Figure Figure 3. Reference system: finite element mesh and Hauptdehnungsinkremente for medium density
3
Figure 3. Reference system: finite element mesh and principal strain increments for medium dense sand.

944 Building Technology 81 (2004), Heft 12

 M. Achmus / A. Rouili ​· investigation for Erddruckbeanspruchung of angular retaining walls

ben. It was chosen a very fine discretization to
obtain an accurate resolution of the wall voltage
curve. example in the case of medium density of
the soil material - - yield the greatest strain
increments, the areas in which are marked in
Figure 3. Can be clearly seen here, the expected
formation of two, from the end of the wall spur
outgoing and upwardly extending slip planes. In
calculating a deformation-free initial stress state
was first generated for the underground. Then the
wall construction and backfill were simulated. For
the latter case, the application in the individual
layers of 1 m thickness was simulated.
loose bedding he falls below it.
The horizontal wall spur from above directly
only by approx. 90% of (above pending
Bodenauflast γ HB) loaded. Significantly reduced
the Auflastspannung is in the area immediately
behind the vertical wall, while at the femoral end to
something
greater than the average full Auflastspannung γ H
is.
Under the wall Sporn a higher soil pressure
on the air-side end occurs in accordance with the
tilting stress the angle support wall. For the case of
densely packed sand results in approximately a
trapezoidal voltage distribution,

Figure 4 shows the forces acting on the

vertical wall leg Erddruckspannungen horizontal
and acting on the horizontal wall spur from above
and below respectively loads for dense, medium
dense and loose storage of the substrate and the
backfill material are shown. Also indicated are the
wall shifts determined.

The Erddruckverteilungen are similar to the

distribution obtained for the centrifuge test in all
three cases, ie in the upper wall portion
approximately active earth pressure in the lower
region is increasingly in the direction of the notional
rest earth pressure. The point of application of the
resulting Erddruckbeanspruchung in all cases at z e
= approx. 0.30 H above the base of the wall, ie
slightly below the third point derWandhöhe.

The size of the earth pressure can be

described dimensionless over the middle earth
pressure coefficient k:

EHH
k =05 (7)
2
. γ

The following k-values ​are obtained from the

calculated Erddruckverteilungen:
- dense sand: k = 0.227 corresponds to 0.59 k 0 + 0.41
ka
- medium density Sand: k = 0.308 corresponds to
0.24 k 0 + 0.76 k a
- loose sand: k = 0.335 corresponds to 0.17 k 0 + 0.83
ka
In the case of the dense substrate and
backfill material, the value is thus exceeded in
accordance with DIN 4085-100, at medium and Figure 4. Reference system: results of the numerical calculations Figure 4. Reference
denser system:. Results of numerical calculations

Building Technology 81 (2004), Heft 12 945

M. Achmus / A. Rouili ​· investigation for Erddruckbeanspruchung of angular retaining walls
Table 2. Comparison of the calculated, the Wandfußmoment parameters determining the values ​according to DIN 4085-100 Table 2. Comparison of
Calculated wall stem bending moments with values ​gemäß to DIN 4085-100
numerical calculation
k ze/ H
relaxed 0.335
medium density 0.308
close 0.227
as it is also commonly recognized in the
assessment. Considering that a support wall
usually integrates in practice in the building - which
is not included in the numerical model - and thus
may occur on the air-side end to the case of loose
and medium density larger soil pressures, as also
appears in these cases the approach of a
trapezoidal voltage distribution justified.
Main target of the considerations in this
paper is the size of the earth pressure distribution
of the vertical wall leg and in particular the
resultant nominal torque M foot at the base of the
wall. This can be as a product of the resulting
horizontal earth pressure e H with the lever arm with
respect to the foot wall z e to calculate.
e 1 3
M foot = concentrationγ camp
HH 2
The determined for the three tested storage
densities at the reference system values ​for the
rated torque or the determining parameters k and z e
/ H are summarized in Table 2 below. Also given
the values ​according to the approach with
increased earth pressure to DIN 4085-100 are.
It is apparent that the latter approach is on
the safe side, and provides for the loosely
deposited soil around 28% and for the mid-tight
bottom by 24% higher design moments. For the
dense soil the difference still amounts to approx.
8th %.
3 parametric study on the influence of the
geometry and stiffness of the
underground
3.1 General
For the parametric study uniform medium density
storage of will
946 Building Technology 81 (2004), Heft 12
-
M Foot/( 0.5 γ H 3) k=k
0,302 .1012 0.389
0.304 0.0936 0.349
0.296 0.0672 0.217
Backfill material assumed. the wall height H and
the length of the horizontal leg wall B and the ratio
B / H for an approximately rigid wall and also
medium-dense sand ground are initially varied.
Then, the influence of the wall thickness or
stiffness of the wall and, finally, the influence of the
base rigidity can be investigated.
The considerations are limited to the
following Eq. (7) defined k value, which determines
the absolute magnitude of the horizontal earth
pressure. The lever arm with respect to the wall toe
z e varies only relatively slightly, ie the qualitative
distribution of Erddruckspannungen is similar in all
limits because of the assumed rigidity.
cases. For the medium-density surface were all z E- Values
​between 0.28 H and 0.31 H, that is slightly below
the third point of the wall height, the values ​at high
wall height slightly greater than with a low wall
height. Only with very rigid background values
​were up to z e = 0.325 H determined.
(8th)
3.2 Influence of the wall height and
length of the legs
Were examined wall heights H of 2 m, 5 m and 9
m. customarily
Figure 5. earth pressure depending on wall height and leg length for rigid angle retaining walls
Figure 5. Earth pressure Coefficients for rigid L-shaped walls dependent on wall height and base
width.
Approach to DIN 4085-100
ze/ H M Foot/( 0.5 γ H 3)
0.333 .1295
0.333 .1162
0.333 .0723
as the ratio of the horizontal side length to the wall
height of between about 0.5 and 0.8.
Corresponding side lengths B were included in the
calculations.
In Figure 5 the respectively determined for a
rigid wall k-values ​are compared with the
Erddruckgrenzwerten according to DIN 4085-100.
For all considered wall heights to a unified picture
emerges. For small segment lengths, the k value is
only slightly above the active earth pressure
coefficient (mind determined δ = 0), with large side
lengths it is still below the DIN 4085-100 to be
applied in average from Ruhedruck- and active
earth pressure. It must also be borne in mind that
the calculation values ​representing the wall upper
3.3 Influence of wall stiffness
To study the influence of the wall stiffness different
wall thicknesses were considered, the thicknesses
of the vertical and horizontal leg were respectively
the same size and constant applied. The
calculation results are in

Figure 6 reproduced. The flexural stiffness was
under each approach of the uncracked state of
reinforced concrete with a modulus of elasticity E B
= 3 x 10 4 MN / m 2 determined.
A reduced wall thickness leads as expected
according to the additional displacement of the wall
by bending and hence of the larger ground shifts to
a reduction of the horizontal earth pressure,
respectively, the k-value. The greatest effect is
obtained here at the very high wall with H = 9 m,
while in the wall of small height of H = 2 m only
gives a small reduction.
3.4 Influence of the substrate stiffness
In the parametric study was once a relatively soft
ground (E oed ref = 10 MN / m 2, m = 0.5) and once a
very rigid base (E S = 200 MN / m 2) accepted. The
former represents about a rigid to semi-solid or a
Silt
Figure 6. earth pressure coefficients for different wall thicknesses d Fig. 6. Earth
pressure Coefficients for different wall thicknesses d
Figure 7. earth pressure depending on the stiffness of the floor Fig. 7. Earth pressure Coefficient
dependent on the underground stiffness
M. Achmus / A. Rouili ​· investigation for Erddruckbeanspruchung of angular retaining walls
mixed-grained soil and thus one may still
sufficiently strong, but quite compressible surface.
The voltage-independent set-stiffness modulus for
the latter substrate represents an extremely rigid
non-cohesive soil such. B. dense gravel.
Figure 7 shows the results for the three
considered wall heights are shown, for reasons of
clarity, only the values ​for each have a wall
thickness are shown.
While only an insignificant additional
decrease of the k value with respect to the value
for medium density building occurs in a soft
ground, the very stiff ground leads, in particular at
low wall height to a significant increase of the k
value and thus the horizontal earth pressure. H = 2
m even higher values ​than for the approach of the
DIN give 4085-
100th
4 Conclusions and Recommendations
The results of the numerical study show that the
approach of DIN 4085-100 is used to determine
the earth pressure on the vertical leg of an angular
retaining wall as a rule clearly on the safe side.
Only at extremely rigid base and walls of relatively
low height values ​can occur in the size of the DIN
approach. The approach is thus so far confirmed
are not detected as parameters such as geometry
and wall and ground stiffness herein and that
therefore must lead in all cases to lie on the safe
side results. However, it is advisable to use the
existing in "normal" conditions profitability reserves.
The size of the to be applied
Erddruckbeiwertes is essentially determined by the
surface rigidity because of this, the settlement and
thus the size of a possible rigid body rotation the
wall depend. In addition, the displacement of the
vertical wall of the leg due to bending stress affects
the magnitude of the earth pressure. Both effects
(rigid body rotation and bending deformation) effect
on the resulting misalignment of the vertical wall
limb, which can thus be used as an integral,
substantially influences the sensing evaluation
size. This resulting average misalignment is
defined herein with the difference of the horizontal
displacements of the head wall and base of the
wall and with derWandhöhe as follows:
δ h .head - δ h .walk
tan θ v
= (9)
H
In Figure 8, the determined parameters in the
study earth pressure k depending on the inclination
are tan θ v shown. Not reproduced calculated for the
only theoretical limit of a rigid wall values ​are here
only. It is clear that the k value can be determined
in good approximation according to the defined
inclination. tan for misalignment θ v> 0.01 k may be
equal to the active earth pressure coefficient for δ
= be 0. For small misalignment can between this
value and the increased ground
Building Technology 81 (2004), Heft 12 947
M. Achmus / A. Rouili ​· investigation for Erddruckbeanspruchung of angular retaining walls
pressure coefficient according to DIN 4085-100,
the tan θ v = 0, are linearly interpolated. A possible
slight underestimation of the k value would be
about the approach of a classical earth pressure
distribution and thus the consistent approach of
e.g. e =
H / 3 for the determination of the rated torque to
compensate.
An expedient for practical design approach
results from the fact as follows:
- Determining the ratios and thus the "rigid body"
-Schiefstellung derWinkelstützwand by
conventional calculation of an active earth
pressure polluted by replacement heavyweight
wall.
- Calculating said additional middle inclination of
the vertical
Figure 8. earth pressure coefficients k tan depending on the average inclination θ v
the vertical wall leg
Figure 8. Earth pressure Coefficient k dependent on the average tilt tan. θ v of the wall stem
948 Building Technology 81 (2004), Heft 12
Wall leg due to bending deformation by earth
pressure. Simplifies active earth pressure can
likewise be applied.
- Selecting a Erddruckbeiwertes, depending on
the determined resultant misalignment. With this
coefficient of the vertical leg may then be
calculated by recognizing the classical earth
pressure.
Finally, please note that the results
presented here and recommendations initially
apply only to medium-dense Hinterfüllboden and
horizontal ground surface. Also requires the tan
here with about θ v = 0.01 limit of the inclination for
the active earth pressure approach, of course,
determined nor the verification. According to the
Author but pointed to the approach presented here,
a convenient and praktikablerWeg for the future
desirable accurate determination of the earth
pressure on the vertical wall leg.
literature
[1] Arnold, M .: Model tests for earthworks
pressure on angular retaining walls. In: Communications of
the Institute of Geotechnical Engineering at the University
of Dresden, No. 9 (2001)
S. 23-34.
[2] Goh, TC: Behavior of cantilever
retaining walls. Journal of Geotechnical Engineering,
Vol. 119 (1993), No. 11, pp. 1751-1770. [3] Djerbib, Y.,
Hird, CC, Touahmia, M .:
Centrifugal model tests of uniform surcharge loading
on L-shaped retaining walls. 15 th Int. Conf. on Soil
Mechanics and Foundation Engineering, Istanbul
(2001), Vol. 2, pp. 1137-1140. [4] Brinkgreve, RBJ,
Vermeer, PA:
Plaxis Version 8 (Handbook). AA Balkema, Rotterdam
/ Brookfield 2002. [5] EAU recommendations of lost
working
Committee waterfront structures, ports and
waterways. 9th edition, Berlin: Ernst & Sohn 1996th
Authors of this article:
Univ. Dr.-Ing. Martin Achmus, Institute of Foundation
Engineering, Soil Mechanics and Energy Engineering,
University of Hannover, Appelstraße 9A, 30167 Hannover,
achmus@igbe.uni-hannover.de Ahmed Rouili, M. Phil., Ing.,
Institut de Genie Civil, Universite de Tebessa Algerie, route de
Constantine, 12002 Tebessa, Algeria, arouili@hotmail.com