KEMENTERIAN KESEJAHTERAAN BANDAR

PERUMAHAN DAN KERAJAAN TEMPATAN

FUNDAMENTAL OF RETAINING WALL

1. INTRODUCTION
2. TYPE OF RETAINING WALL
3. MODE OF WALL FAILURE
4. LATERAL EARTH PRESSURE
5. STABILITY OF RETAINING WALL
– OVERTURNING H o riz o n ta l
F o rce
– SLIDING O v e rtu rn in g
M om ent

– BEARING CAPACITY
6. RETAINING WALL FOS GUIDELINE R e s is tin g
M om ent R e s is tin g F o rc e

7. ISSUE ON RETAINING WALL

CONSTRUCTION
8. CONCLUSION
9. Q&A (STUDY CASE)
• Rapid hilly developments for the past 20-30 years
has lead to numerous wall failure incidents
• Malaysia has recorded billions ringgit of losses due
to the tragedy
• Increased numbers of protest each years
demanding safety
• Some even demanded to stop the current approach
of allowing hilly developments
• We are in a battle against wall failure
• It is our responsibility at least to equip our self
some knowledge on wall.
HISTORICAL OF WALL FAILURE
- Wall Failure at Jalan Semantan, 2008 -

Damaged cars
13.4m

Site info
Type of Wall : CBP Wall + Ground
Anchor
Length of Wall : 500 m
Height of Wall : 13.4 m
Effected Length : 15 m
Cause of Failure :
15m i) Heavy rainfall
ii) No proper maintenance
 HISTORICAL OF WALL FAILURE
- CBP Wall Failure at Jalan Alam Damai, 2015 -

Site info
Type of Wall : CBP Wall
Length of Wall : 64.7 m
Wall Tilted
Height of Wall : 17 m
Effected Length : 64.7m
Cause of Failure :
i) Method construction
ii) High water table
iii) Excessive ground movement induced
underground water pipe bursting
 HISTORICAL OF WALL FAILURE
- RC Wall Failure at Lorong Ampang, 2014 -

H=2m
Wall Collapse

Site info
Type of Wall : RC Wall
Length of Wall : 100 m
Height of Wall : 2 m
thickness = 0.1 m
Effected Length : 7m
Cause of Failure :
i) Heavy rainfall
ii) Improper drainage system
 HISTORICAL OF WALL FAILURE
- Rubble Wall Failure at Taman Tan Yew Lai -

5m

4.5 m

Site info
Type of Wall : Rubble Wall + RC Wall
Length of Wall : 280 m
Height of Wall : 2 ~ 4 m
Effected Length : 47m
Cause of Failure :

Concrete Wall i) Heavy rainfall

ii) Improper drainage system
 HISTORICAL OF WALL FAILURE
- Temporary Sheet Pile Wall Failure at Taman Sri Rampai -

Deflection Sheet Pile

6m

Site info
Type of Wall : Temporary Sheet Pile
Length of Wall : 150 m
Height of Wall : 2 ~ 4 m
Effected Length : 10 m
Cause of Failure :
i) Not enough embedded length
ii) Active force more than passive force
 HISTORICAL OF WALL FAILURE
- Soldier Pile Wall Failure at Panchor Muar -
Soldier Pile Wall Tieback wall

Site info
Type of Wall : Soldier Pile Wall
Length of Wall : 500 m
Height of Wall : 12 m
Effected Length : 300 m
Cause of Failure :
i) Not enough embedded length
ii) Design failure
RETAINING WALL FAILURE (VIDEO)
Sungai Besi, 2015
RETAINING WALL FAILURE (VIDEO)
• Wall are generally used to provide
lateral support for:-
– An Earth Fill.
– Some other material
• One main purpose for these walls is to
maintain a different in elevation of the
ground surface on each side of the wall.
• The Earth whose ground surface is at
higher elevation is commonly called the
backfill and wall is said retain this
backfill.
 Stem Backfill
(granular
material)

Weepholes Retained
Height
Sliding
plane
Heel
Embedment Toe 45

Footing

Footing Footing
Width Key
 Cut off Drain

Weep Hole
Graded
Sand/ Gravel

Toe Drain
Perforated
Pipe
 Min 0.3 m

Retained
Height (H)

0.1 H

0.1 H 0.1 H

0.5 H-0.7 H Footing

Key
 Min 0.3 m

Retained
Height (H)

D
0.12 H 0.12 H
to 0.17 H to 0.17 H

0.5 H-0.7 H
 Type of
Retaining Wall

Mechanical
Gravity Wall Pilling Wall Stabilization Earth Cantilever Wall
Wall

TYPE OF WALL TYPE OF WALL TYPE OF WALL TYPE OF WALL

- Gabion Wall. - Sheet Pile Wall - Nahemiah Wall - Reinforced
- Crib Wall - CBP Wall. Concrete Wall
- Rubble Wall. - Diaphragm (RC Wall)
- Keystone Wall Wall

H o r iz o n t a l
Fo rce
O v e r tu r n in g
M om ent

R e s is t in g
M om ent R e s is t in g F o r c e
GRAVITY WALL
1. DEFINITION
2. HOW GRAVITY WALL WORK.
3. TYPE OF GRAVITY WALL
• Gravity walls depend on
the weight of the material
(stone, concrete or other
heavy material) to stop
pressures from behind and
improve stability by
leaning back into the
retained soil.
These walls depend
upon their own
weight to provide
resisting forces
against forces trying
to topple the wall.

RESISTING
FORCES
• A gabion wall is a retaining
wall made of stacked stone-
filled gabions tied together
with wire.
• Gabion walls are usually
battered (angled back
towards the slope), or
stepped back with the slope,
rather than stacked vertically.
• Crib walls are gravity retaining
walls, constructed from
interlocking, precast, concrete
components.
• They are filled with free draining
material and earth backfill to
eliminate the hazards of
hydrostatic pressure building up
behind the wall.
• Keystone created the mortar
less segmental retaining wall
market with its patented
interlocking modular design.
• This wall are able to resist
lateral pressure with their unit
weight and deep embedment
shape.
• The wall use of undressed, rough
stone, generally in the construction
of walls.
• Its is suitable for smaller retaining
wall especially where the finished
appearance is important.
• A simple Stem Wall is suitable for
small retained height up to 1.5 m
 ADVANTAGE DISADVANTAGE

1. Cheap and simple to 1. Limited to about 5m

build. height (wall becomes
too big for higher walls).
2. When constructed
from natural materials 2. Space needed
can look attractive behind wall for
construction and
backfilling

3. Not suitable for soft

soils due bearing
failure.
PILING WALL
1. DEFINITION
2. TYPE OF PILING WALL
I. SHEET PILE WALL
II. CONTIGUOUS BORED PILES
WALL.
III. DIAPHRAGM WALL
• Commonly as TEMPORARY RETAINING WALL
• SPT-N LESS THAN 30 : Achieved Required Penetration
• Suitable for SHALLOW EXCAVATION
• Water tightness : Seepage EXPECTED to pass through
Cross-Sectional

Primary Column
Borepile Grout

• Ease coring into rock

• Lack water-tightness
• Minimum noise and
vibration disturbance
Reinforced concrete wall constructed in the ground
involves excavating a narrow trench that is kept full
of an engineered fluid of slurry
Pusat Matrikulasi Perak

Arau, Perlis
 MECHANICAL
STABILIZATION EARTH
WALL

Persiaran Salahuddin,
Kuala lumpur

Pinggiran Bukit Jalil

 Horizontal
Force
Overturning
Moment
• RC Cantilevered walls are
made of reinforced concrete
that consist of Thin Stem and Resisting
Moment Resisting Force

Base Slab
• These walls cantilever loads to
a large, structural footing and
convert horizontal pressures
from behind the wall to
vertical pressures on the
ground below.
 These walls resist
toppling over by
allowing the weight of
the soil to hold down
the reinforced base of
the wall.
RESISTING
FORCES
 Stem

Retained
Height

Embedment Toe Heel

Footing

Footing Footing
Width Key
Jalan Syed Putra, Kuala Lumpur
Salak Selatan

Bukit Nanas
 Mode of wall
Failure

Overturning Sliding Bearing

Failure Failure Failure
 Overturning Failure is
Rotation of wall about its
toe due to exceeding of
moment overturning to
moment resisting Moment
Overturning, M0

Moment
Resisting, MR
Sliding Failure is sliding of
wall away from backfill
when there is shearing
Lateral Earth
failure at the base of wall. Pressure from
backfill

Soil Friction
 Pressure exerted by
resultant vertical force at
toe wall must not exceed Mass of
wall acts
the allowable bearing downward Mass of earth
on heel acts
capacity of soil. downwards

Unsuffcient Bearing
capacity of soil
• Lateral earth pressure is important
parameter for design of retaining
wall.
• Lateral earth pressure are the direct
result of horizontal stresses in the
soil.
• The pressure on soil can categorizes
into 3 condition:-
– At Rest State.
– At Active State.
– At Passive State.
 A.C.
B.Pressure
At ActiveAt
AtPassive Rest
State
State Lateral Pressure acting can exit
and develop in three different
Wall in Rigid categories:-
Condition
A) At Rest State
Active If Wall is absolute Rigid , Earth
Pressure Pressure at Rest Will Develop.
Passive
Pressure B) At Active State
If wall deflect away from
backfill , Active Pressure will
develop.

C) At Passive State
To counter active pressure on
wall, Passive Pressure will
develop toward to backfill
 Active Pressure
Mass of wall acts Caused by mass of
downward retained wall
Passive Pressure
caused by Earth
Resistance if wall
Tend

Ground
Friction at interface Pressure or
of base and ground Soil Reaction
 Active Pressure
Caused by mass of
Mass of earth
Mass of wall acts retained wall
on heel acts
downward downwards
Passive Pressure
caused by Earth
Resistance if wall
Tend

Ground
Friction at interface Pressure or
of base and ground Soil Reaction
1) STABILITY OF OVERTURNING
2) STABILITY OF SLIDING
3) STABILITY OF BEARING CAPACITY
 Overturning Failure is Rotation of wall
about its toe due to exceeding of
moment overturning to moment
resisting
Moment
Overturning, M0

The Factor of Safety against Overturning :

F.O.S OVERTURNING = ∑ MR > 2.0

∑ M0

Moment
Resisting, MR
∑ MR = Sum of Resisting moment about Toe

∑ M0= Sum of Overturning moment about

Toe
 Sliding Failure is sliding of wall
Active
Pressure away from backfill when there is
shearing failure at the base of
wall.

Soil Friction The Factor of Safety against Sliding :

F.O.S SLIDING = ∑ FR > 1.5

∑ FD

∑ FR = Sum of Horizontal Resistance Force

∑ FD = Sum of Horizontal Driving Force

 Mass of
wall acts
downward Mass of earth
Pressure exerted by resultant vertical
on heel acts
downwards force at toe wall must not exceed the
allowable bearing capacity of soil .

Bearing
capacity of soil The Factor of Safety against Bearing Failure :

F.O.S BEaring = qna > 2.0

PMAX

q na = Bearing Capacity of Soil

PMAX = Maximum Bearing Pressure from Wall

1) CALCULATION OF LATERAL
EARTH PRESSURE.
2) CALCULATION ON FACTOR OF
SAFETY
3) SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS OF FOS
 PARAMETER TO DESIGN LATERAL EARTH PRESSURE.
PROCEDURE OF LATERAL EARTH PRESSURE
1.SOIL
-INTERNAL FRICTION ANGLE
1. FIND COEFFCIENT OF ACTIVE PRESSURE (Ka) -UNIT WEIGHT OF SOIL
2. CALCULATE LATERAL PRESSURE OF SOIL (Pa) 2. WALL
3. CALCULATED LEVEL OF ARM (m) -DIMENSION OF STEM, TOE AND HEEL
3. OTHER PARAMETER
4. CALCULATE MOMENT OF OVERTURNING,
-VALUE OF SURCHARGE
SLIDING AND BEARING -HEIGHT OF GROUND WATER LEVEL

10 Kn/m2 Active Pressure Active Pressure Active Pressure

from Soil from Surcharge from Water Level

γ=18kN/m3
Θ =30⁰
H

HW
NO ITEM DESCRIPTION UNIT
1 Height of Wall 3 m
2 Top of Wall Thickness 0.3 m
3 Bottom of Wall Thickness 0.3 m
4 Heel Length 2 m
5 Toe Length 0 m
6 Total Height of Soil 3.3 m
7 Total Height of Backfill 1.2 m
8 Base Slab Thickness 0.3 m
9 Base Slab Length 2.3 m
10 Height of Ground Water 0.5 m
Level
11 Surcharge 10 kN/m
FILL MATERIAL
NO ITEM DESCRIPTION UNIT
1 Density of Soil 18 kN/m³
2 Unit Weight of Saturated Soil 18 kN/m³
3 Friction Angle of Fill Soil 30 °
4 Density of Concrete 24 kN/m³
5 Density of Water 9.81 kN/m³
 10 Kn/m2 Active Pressure
from Soil

γ=18kN/m3 A1
H1 H1
Θ =30⁰
H = 3.3m
HW=0.5m A2
H2 H2
A3

1. Find Coefficient of Active 1. Find Pressure on Soil

Pressure.
Pa = Σ areas = ½ Ka γH12 + Ka γH1H2 + ½ Ka γ’H22
Friction Angle = 30 (Area 1) + (Area 2) + (Area 3)

= 1-sin (30) P = 0.5 (0.333)(18)(2.8)2+ (0.333)(18)(0.5)(2.8)+

1+ sin (30) 0.5 (0.333)(18-9.81)(0.5)2

= 0.3333 P = 23.5 +8.391+ 0.34

P = 32.231 KN
 10 Kn/m2 Active Pressure Active Pressure
from Surcharge from Water Level

γ=18kN/m3
Θ =30⁰
H = 3.3m
HW=0.5m

2. Find Pressure on 3. Find Pressure on Ground

Surcharge Water Level

Pa = Σ areas = Ka qH Pa = Σ areas = 1/2γwH22

P = (0.333)(10)(3.3) P = 0.5 (9.81)(0.5)2

P= 10.989 kN P= 1.226 kN
 10 Kn/m2 Active Pressure Active Pressure Active Pressure
from Soil from Surcharge from Water Level

γ=18kN/m3
Θ =30⁰ LEVEL OF LEVEL OF LEVEL OF
H
ARM ARM ARM

HW
1/3 H 1/2 H 1/3 H

Moment Overturning
Type Item Calculation Force (kPa) Level Arm (m)
(kN.m)
Soil
P1 [(1/2Kap γs (Hs-HW)2 23.520 1.433 33.712
(No Water)
Soil
P2 (With [(1/2Kap γw (Hw)2 0.341 0.167 0.057
Water)
Soil
P3 (With KapγH1H2 8.400 0.250 2.100
Water)
P4 Water [(1/2 γw (Hw)2 1.226 0.167 0.204
P5 Surcharge KaHs(UDL) 11.000 1.650 18.150
TOTAL MOMENT
TOTAL HORIZONTAL FORCE (kN) 44.488 (kN.m) 54.223
 10 Kn/m2

1. Find Force for 1. Moment

1. Level Arm (m)
Stem 1 (W1) Overturning
γ=18kN/m3
Θ =30⁰ Ma = Force x
H Pa = W4 x H1 x WC La = (W4/2 + W3)
Level Arm
HW L = (0.3/2) + (0)
P = (0.3)(3)(24) M = (21.6)(0.15)
L= 0.15 m
P= 21.6 kPa M= 3.240 kN.m

Moment Restraint
Type Item Calculation Force (kPa) Level Arm (m)
(kN.m)
Stem 1 (L x H x Wc) 21.600 0.150 3.240
W1
Stem 2 ((L1-L2) x 1/2 x H x Wc) 0.000 0.300 0.000
Soil Earth
(Lheel x H x Ws) 108.000 1.300 140.400
(Heel)
W2
Soil Earth
(1/2xHxLheelxWs) 0.000 1.300 0.000
(Slope)
W3 Base Slab (LBase x D x Wc) 16.560 1.150 19.044
Toe
W4 (LToe x H x Ws) 0.000 0.000 0.000
Backfill
W5 Surcharge (Surcharge X Lheel) 20.000 1.300 26.000
TOTAL MOMENT
TOTAL VERTICAL FORCE+ WEIGHT (kN) 166.160 (kN.m) 188.684
Check for Overturning
Factor of Safety (Overturning) = Moment Resistance
Moment Overturning

=188.684 = 3.48 >2.0

54.223
Check for Sliding
Factor of Safety (Sliding) = Vertical Force + Soil Weight
Horizontal Force

=166.16 = 3.73 >1.5

44.48
Check for Bearing
Factor of Safety (Bearing ) = Ultimate Bearing Capacity of Soil
Bearing Pressure of Wall

=1953.727 = 14.32 >2.0

136.4
 9.0

0%
8.0

7.0
Fixed Parameters :
Top Wall Thickness = 0.3m 6.0
Bottom wall Thickness = 0.3m y = 10x-1

FOS SLIDING
5.0 - 41%
Base Slab Length = 2m
Base Thickness = 0.3m 4.0 RC Wall
- 58%
Height of Water Level = 0.5m
3.0 - 67%

- 75%
Manipulated Parameters : 2.0 - 78%

Exposed Height of RC Wall; 1.7

1.0
1m, 2m, 3m, 4m, 5m, 6m
0.0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
6m
Exposed Height of RC Wall (m)

Based on JKR Guideline Factor of Safety (FOS) for sliding is 1.7 , if exposed
Minimum FOS for sliding = 1.5 height of RC Wall 6m
 24.0
0%
22.0

20.0
Fixed Parameters : 18.0
Top Wall Thickness = 0.3m 16.0
y = 25x-2

FOS OVERTURNING
Bottom wall Thickness = 0.3m
14.0
Base Slab Length = 2m
12.0
Base Thickness = 0.3m RC Wall
10.0
Height of Water Level = 0.5m
8.0 - 67%

6.0
Manipulated Parameters : - 84%
4.0
Exposed Height of RC Wall; - 91%
- 94%
1m, 2m, 3m, 4m, 5m, 6m 22.0 - 96%

0.0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
4 mWall (m)
Exposed Height of RC

Based on JKR Guideline Factor of Safety (FOS) for overturning is 2.0 , if exposed
Minimum FOS for overturning = 2.0 height of RC Wall 4m
 100.0

90.0
0%

80.0
Fixed Parameters :
Top Wall Thickness = 0.3m 70.0

FOS BEARING CAPACITY

Bottom wall Thickness = 0.3m 60.0 y = 102.12x-1.695
Base Slab Length = 2m
50.0
Base Thickness = 0.3m
RC Wall
- 54%
Height of Water Level = 0.5m 40.0

30.0
Manipulated Parameters : - 77%
20.0
Exposed Height of RC Wall; - 87%
1m, 2m, 3m, 4m, 5m, 6m 10.0 - 92%
- 95%
4
0.0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Exposed Height of RC Wall (m) 6m

Based on JKR Guideline Factor of Safety (FOS) for bearing capacity is 4.0 , if
Minimum FOS for bearing capacity = 2.0 exposed height of RC Wall 6m
WALL ISSUES PREVENTIF MEASURED

Saturated backfill Use granular material (e.g: sand, garavel)

Bearing Failure Foundation (e.g: increase size foundation,

deep foundation)
Overturning Failure Increase size heel, toe and stem

Sliding Failure Increase length of heel or apply shear key

Drainage Apply drainage system (e.g: weep hole, cut

off drain or perforated pipe)
 GARIS PANDUAN
GARIS PANDUAN PERANCANGAN
PERANCANGAN
PEMBANGUNAN
PEMBANGUNAN
DI KAWASAN BUKIT DAN TANAH
DI KAWASAN BUKIT DAN
TINGGI
TANAH TINGGI BAGI
JABATAN PERANCANGAN
WILAYAH PERSEKUTUAN
BANDAR DAN DESA
CERUN BAGI
SEMENANJUNG MALAYSIA
WILAYAH PERSEKUTUAN
KEMENTERIAN PERUMAHAN
KUALA LUMPUR,
DAN KERAJAAN TEMPATAN
2010(GPWPKL2010)
(KPKT)
KUALA LUMPUR, 2010

GARIS PANDUAN KESELAMTAN DRAF GARIS PANDUAN

PERANCANGAN PEMBANGUNAN PERANCANGAN PEMBANGUNAN GUIDELINE FOR SLOPE
DI KAWASAN BUKIT DAN TANAH DI KAWASAN BUKIT DAN TANAH DESIGN JKR
TINGGI NEGERI PULAU PINANG TINGGI NEGERI SELANGOR
• This guidelines were formulate to
provide assistance to the designer in:
– the design and assessment of slope
stability
– safety and mitigation by complementing
existing design policies, manuals, and
directives recognised by JKR.

• As a supplement to other geotechnical

manuals e.g.:
– Geotechnical Manual for Slopes published
by Geo Hong Kong
– British Standards and
– other accepted standard practices
TABLE OF GEOTECHNICAL DESIGN OF SLOPE

F.O.S Retaining Wall

1. Overturning = 2.0
2. Sliding =1.5
3. Bearing =2.0
• These guidelines were prepared for
planning and controlling the activities of
the development in the hills and slopes of
the Federal territory of Kuala Lumpur
(WPKL).
• Adopting similar safety standards of Hong
Kong developers.
• Allows such development with provisions
for:
– planning control
– certified independent checkers
– additional rules for safety and technical
measures.
GUIDELINE OF BUFFER ZONE CASES

Case 1 : Natural Slope – Structure

Case 2 : Man-Made Slope - Structure

Case 3 : Retaining Structure (Without Slope) -

Structure

Case 4 : Retaining Structure (With Man-Made Slope)

- Structure

Case 5 : Retaining Structure (With Natural Slope) -

Structure
 BUFFER ZONE PROPOSED (CASE 3)
Buffer zone between Retaining Structure (Without Slope) and
Structure
 BUFFER ZONE PROPOSED (CASE 4)
Buffer zone between Retaining Structure (With Man-Made Slope)
and Structure
BUFFER ZONE PROPOSED (CASE 5)

Buffer zone between Retaining Structure (Natural Slope) and

Structure
 EXAMPLE OF BUFFER ZONE ISSUE IN
DEVELOPMENT PROPOSAL
PROPOS
ED
BUFFER
ZONE

Cross Section
FIRST
PROPOS The developer have to revise the design to
AL
comply the Buffer Zone guideline
AFTER
AMMEN
DED

PROPOS
ED
20 BUFFER
m ZONE
Cross Section
 CROSS SECTION
Proposed
Buffer Rain
Zone Forest
105
m Villa
15
m H1

Proposed 2:1 Slope

(63°) Proposed
FIRST Soil Nailing 15° CBP Wall
(1.5m c/c)
PROPOS
AL
AFTER Buffer Proposed
AMMEN Zone Townhous
DED e
105
20
m
m

Soil Nailing on Proposed 2:1 Slope

Existing Slope 1.5m (63°)
c/c Soil Nailing 15°
(1.5m c/c)
Soldier Pile Wall Tieback wall

Site info
Type of Wall : Soldier Pile Wall
Length of Wall : 500 m
Height of Wall : 12 m
Effected Length : 300 m
Cause of Failure :
i) Not enough embedded length
ii) Design failure
 Apply Perforated Pipe to control water
Sheet Pile Tie to Vertical Other Sheet Pile
level

Paint the wall to prevent corrosion

LAYOUT CROSS SECTION Soldier Pile Wall Tieback RC Pile
Tieback

Soldier Pile Wall

RC Pile
RIVER

RIVER
SOIL

LAYOUT CROSS SECTION Sheetpile Wall Tieback

Tieback
Sheetpile Wall

Sheetpile Wall
RIVER

RIVER
SOIL
• Retaining Wall is structure that used to maintain
different level of high.
• Lateral earth pressure is important parameter
for design of retaining wall.
• Factor of safety of wall must meet three mode
of failure which are overturning (2.0), Sliding
(1.5) and Bearing (2.0)
• JKR Slope guideline is reference for engineer to
design of wall to unsure wall is safe.
PANORAMIC VIEW AT THE CREST

W : 50 m

PANORAMIC VIEW
Concrete Wall

OVERVIEW OF FAILURE AREA