ECG426 – SOIL MECHANICS

WEEK 14 ~ CHAP. 5
Earth Retaining Structures
 LATERAL EARTH PRESSURE

TOPIC 2 : EARTH RETAINING

STRUCTURES

Geotechnicques (ECG433) ARM - 2007

 LEARNING OUTCOMES

Retaining wall, External stability of Gravity Wall.

Learning outcomes:
At the end of this lecture/week the students would
be able to:

 Differentiate the types of retaining structures

commonly used in the construction industry.
 Analyse and determine the stability conditions of
gravity/semi-gravity retaining wall.

GEOTECHNIQUES (ECG433) ARM - 2007

 LATERAL EARTH PRESSURE

OUTLINE of PRESENTATION
2.4 Types of Retaining Wall
2.5 Rigid Retaining Walls – types,
analysis & design

Geotechnicques (ECG433) ARM - 2007

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Gravity Walls

2.4.1 Gravity Walls

Masonry walls
Gabion walls
Crib walls
RC walls
Counterfort walls
Buttressed walls

Geotechnicques (ECG433) ARM - 2007

 LATERAL EARTH PRESSURE
Gravity Walls

Unreinforced masonry wall

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 LATERAL EARTH PRESSURE
Gravity Walls

Gabion wall

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Gravity Walls

Crib wall

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LATERAL EARTH PRESSURE
Gravity Walls

Types of RC
Gravity Walls
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Embedded Walls

2.4.2 Embedded walls

Driven sheet-pile walls

Braced or propped walls
Contiguous bored-pile walls
Secant bored-pile walls
Diaphram walls

Geotechnicques (ECG433) ARM - 2007

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Embedded Walls

Types of embedded walls

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Reinforced and Anchored Earth

2.4.3 Reinforced and anchored earth

Reinforced earth wall

Soil nailing
Ground anchors

Geotechnicques (ECG433) ARM - 2007

 LATERAL EARTH PRESSURE
Reinforced and anchored earth

Reinforced earth and soil nailing

Geotechnicques (ECG433) ARM - 2007

 LATERAL EARTH PRESSURE
Stability Criteria

2.5 Stability of Rigid Walls

Failures of the rigid gravity wall may occur

due to any of the followings:

 Overturning failure
 Sliding failure
 Bearing capacity failure
 Tension failure in joints
 Rotational slip failure

In designing the structures at least the first three of the

design criteria must be analysed and satisfied.

Geotechnicques (ECG433) ARM - 2007

 LATERAL EARTH PRESSURE
Stability Criteria

The stability of the retaining wall should be checked against :

(i) FOS against overturning (recommended FOS = 2.0)

Resisting moment
FOS 
Disturbing moment

(ii) FOS against sliding (recommended FOS = 2.0)

RV tan   (0.5 - 0.7) Pp  cw B
FOS 
RH

Geotechnicques (ECG433) ARM - 2007

 LATERAL EARTH PRESSURE
Stability Analysis
The stability of the retaining wall should
be checked against :

2.3.1 FOS against overturning

(recommended FOS = 2.0)
Resisting moment
FOS 
Disturbing moment ∑V

Ph
Pp

.. overturning about A
A
Geotechnicques (ECG433) ARM - 2007
 LATERAL EARTH PRESSURE
Stability Criteria

2.3.2 FOS against sliding

(recommended FOS = 2.0)

RV tan   (0.5 - 0.7) Pp  cw B

FOS 
RH
∑V

Ph

Pp

Friction & wall base adhesion

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 LATERAL EARTH PRESSURE
Stability Criteria

2.3.3 For base pressure (to be compared against the

bearing capacity of the founding soil. Recommended
FOS = 3.0)

RV  6e 
qb  1  
B  B
Now, Lever arm of base resultant

 Moment
x
RV
B
Thus eccentricity e  - x
2
Geotechnicques (ECG433) ARM - 2007
 LATERAL EARTH PRESSURE
Stability Analysis

∑V

Ph

Pp

Base pressure on the founding soil

Geotechnicques (ECG433) ARM - 2007

LATERAL EARTH PRESSURE
Stability Analysis

Worked example :
Figure below shows the cross-section of a reinforced concrete
retaining structure. The retained soil behind the structure and
the soil in front of it are cohesionless and has the following
properties:

SOIL 1 : u = 35o, d = 17 kN/m3,

SOIL 2 : u = 30o,  = 25o , d = 18 kN/m3,
sat = 20 kN/m3
The unit weight of concrete is 24 kN/m3. Taking into account the
passive resistance in front of the wall, determine a minimum value
for the width of the wall to satisfy the following design criteria:

Factor of safety against overturning > 2.5

Factor of safety against sliding > 1.5
Maximum base pressure should not exceed 150 kPa
LATERAL EARTH PRESSURE
Stability Analysis
THE PROBLEM 30 kN/m2

0.5 m

SOIL 1
2.0 m

4.0 m GWT

SOIL 2
2.9 m

SOIL 2

0.6 m

4.5 m

2.0 m
 LATERAL EARTH PRESSURE
Stability Analysis
30 kN/m2
THE SOLUTION
0.5 m

SOIL 1
W1 2.0 m P1 P3
W3 GWT
4.0 m

SOIL 2
W41
2.9 m
W2 P2 P4
SOIL 2
PP P5 P6
0.6 m
4.5 m
2.0 m

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 LATERAL EARTH PRESSURE
Stability Analysis
Determination of the Earth Pressure Coefficients

1  sin  1 - sin 35o

K a1    0.271
1  sin  1  sin 35 o

1  sin  1 - sin 30 o
K a2    0.333
1  sin  1  sin 30 o

1  sin  1  sin 30 o
K p2    3.00
1  sin  1  sin 30 o

Geotechnicques (ECG433) ARM - 2007

LATERAL
ELEM.
EARTH PRESSURE
FORCE (kN/m) TOTAL
L. ARM MOMENT
(m) (kNm/m)
Stability Analysis
HORIZONTAL
Active
P1 0.271 x 30 x 2 16.26 4.5 73.17
P2 0.333 x 30 x 3.5 34.97 1.75 61.20
P3 0.5 x 0.271 x 17 x 2 x 2 9.21 4.17 38.41
P4 0.333 x 17 x 2 x 3.5 39.63 1.75 69.35
P5 0.5 x .333 x (20-9.81) x 3.5 x 3.5 20.78 1.167 24.25
P6 0.5 x 9.81 x 3.5 x 3.5 60.09 1.167 70.13

SUM 180.94 336.50

Passive
Pp 0.5 x 3 x 18 x 1.5 x 1.5 60.75 0.5 30.38

VERTICAL
W1 0.5 x 4.9 x 24 58.8 1.75 102.90
W2 0.6 x 4.5 x 24 64.8 2.25 145.80
W3 2 x 2.5 x 17 + 2.9 x 2.5 x 20 + 30 x 2.5 305 3.25 991.25
W4 0.9 x 1.5 x 18 24.3 0.75 18.23

SUM 452.9 1288.55

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Stability Analysis

To check for stability of the retaining wall

(i) FOS against overturning > 2.5

Resisting moment 1288 .55

FOS    3.83  2.5, thus it is OK
Disturbing moment 336 .50

(ii) FOS against sliding > 1.5

RV tan   0.5 Pp 452.9 tan 25o  0.5 x 60.75

FOS    1.34  1.5
RH 180.94

Thus it is not OK

Geotechnicques (ECG433) ARM - 2007

 LATERAL EARTH PRESSURE
Stability Analysis

(iii) For base pressure

RV  6e 
qb  1  
B  B
Now, Lever arm of base resultant

 Moment 1288.55 - 336.5

x   2.10
RV 452.9
B
Thus eccentricity e  - x  2.25 - 2.10  0.15
2

452.9  6 x 0.15 
Therefore qb  1  
4.5  4.5 

Geotechnicques (ECG433) ARM - 2007

LATERAL EARTH PRESSURE
Stability Analysis

qb = 120.8 and 80.5 kPa

Since maximum base pressure is less than the bearing pressure of the
soil, the foundation is stable against base pressure failure.

DISTRIBUTION OF BASE PRESSURE

80.5 kPa
120.8 kPa

In conclusion the retaining wall is not safe against sliding. To

overcome this the width of the base may be increased or a
key constructed at the toe.
 LATERAL EARTH PRESSURE
Stability Analysis

Group assignment :

Design a reinforced concrete gravity wall to

support soil of at least 5 m height. The ground
surface may be horizontal or sloping.
Properties and strength parameters of the soil
may be assumed appropriately

The work must be presented to the class,

explaining all the steps undertaken and the
stability checks carried out.

Geotechnicques (ECG433) ARM - 2007