DESIGN PHILOSOPHY

1.1 Introduction
The following document consists of design of cantilever type retaining wall. A retaining wall is a
structure designed and constructed to resist the lateral pressure of soil. It helps in maintaining the
surface of the ground at different elevations on either side of the structure. If the retaining wall
was not there , the soil at higher elevation would tend to move down till it acquires its
natural,stable configuration.
1.2 Site-specific Restrictions
In this particular case ,due to site constraint (safe bearing capacity of soil at the site is limited to
13t/m2), the length of toe slab is kept almost equal to the length of the heel slab.The base slab is
checked for all the applicable stability criteria and found safe. Although, the above said safe
bearing capacity could not be achieved for this height in design, so a note will be added in the
drawing, stating that the soil needs to be replaced to achieve the required safe bearing capacity.
And if we increase the length of the heel,the requirement of bearing capacity will also increase
proportionaly. That is why the length of heel is kept nearly equal to the length of the toe.

1.2 Loads Considered

Self weight of Retaining wall: To resist forces tending to overturn the wall (primarily the lateral
earth pressure against the back of the wall), the wall must have sufficient weight, including the
soil above the footing, such that the resisting moments are greater than the overturning moments.

Lateral Earth Pressure: Under confinement, the soil has a tendency to slide and therby exerts
pressure on the wall. If the wall is absolute rigid, earth pressure at rest will develop. If the wall
deflects or move a very small amount away from the earth, active earth pressure will develop.
Under normal conditions earth pressure at rest is so intense that the wall deflects, relieving itself of
this type of pressure,and active pressure results. For this reason, most retaining walls are designed
for active pressure due to restrained soil. Lateral earth pressure due to backfill is calculated by
considering the static component and dynamic increment of coefficient of active earth pressure.
This pressure tends to overturn the wall.

TYPICAL RETAINING WALL AND PRESSURE DISTRIBUTION

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