Retaining Wall Example 311-1-1

RETAINING WALL EXAMPLES : Prepared by Ahmed Salim-Contact @URL:
https://www.facebook.com/ahmedsalimnstructures
EXAMPLE 3
A rigid Concrete retaining wall shown below supports cohesionless backfill soil with an angle of shearing
resistance = .The backfill is dry and has a density of / and the water table is below
the base of the wall . Determine
a) Maximum pressure at the base Take = /
b) Rankine's active earth pressure per meter length of the wall
c) Factor of safety against overturning and Sliding Coefficient of friction = .
d) Factor of safety against Bearing Capacity
e) Ground bearing pressure = /
f) Position at which the ground Reaction cuts the base from the toe
g) Tension in Joints
Structure’s Lesson Notes :Diploma in Building Technology (Mod II) Mathenge

Technical Training Institute: Prepared by , Ahmed Salim-Contact @Fb: URL
. https://www.facebook.com/ahmedsalimnstructures
®2020 Series
The retaining wall is having a levelled (horizontal) backfill at height as that of retaining wall
stem
Therefore the coefficient of active earth pressure is = = −
Unit weight of backfill material is = = = /
And for Concrete = = = /
Active Lateral earth pressure
= − … ℎ
− ( )
NB: For cohesionless soil ,its shear strength is ZERO ( i.e = )
= ,Where is the angle of repose / Angle of internal .

. friction /Angle of shearing resistance of the backfill material –
. measured in degrees
− −
= = = . ( . )
+ +
The Pressure due to backfill material acting on the back of the retaining wall is Varying Linearly from the
surface of the backfill material to Maximum at the base of the Retaining wall.
Since = the formula = − is reduced to =

And at the Base pressure is =
. = . . ( )= . /

®2020 Series
 Obtain the Resultant Active Pressure force / Total Active Thrust / Resultant active Thrust - acting from
the backfill side of Retaining wall and its distance from the Base of the retaining wall
The Resultant Active pressure force is the Average pressure multiplied by area of plane upon which it is
+
acting on that is of unit length of wall i.e = ( )
= ( )( )=
= . . . . ( )( ) .
=
 The Resultant pressure force is acting at the Centroidal − of the pressure distribution
diagram (The line of Action of the Resultant Active Pressure force)
The centroidal − aright angled triangle is at a third its Height ( ) =
. = .

®2020 Series
This Resultant Active Pressure Force is

 Acting horizontally from the backfill side
 Its acting at a distance = . from the bottom of the base slab (The line of Action of the
Resultant Active Pressure force)
What is the effect of the Resultant Active Pressure Force on/to the R.W ???

®2020 Series
OVERTURNING MOMENT-
Taking the TOE TIP as the Point of support or rather taking MOMENT about the TOE TIP ( i.e at Point C in
this case)
The Resultant Active Pressure Force − = , is Horizontally acting thus following a
straight line towards the front side of the R.W. This Horizontal Line is the line of action, and the
Force - will tend to TOPPLE the R.W in the direction of the force i.e in an Anti-Clockwise
direction.The Force will produce an Anti-clockwise Moment about the TOE TIP i.e at about C, this
moment is known as Overturning Moment due to Active Pressure Force− and is the
product of Force and the perpendicular distance between the point of support ( C ) and the
line of action of Force i.e
− = ( ) = . ( )( ) =
= .
Therefore, the SUM Net Overturning Moment is equal to the sum of moment(s) due to Resultant(s) Active
Pressure Force(s) and Resultant(s) Passive Pressure Force(s)
In our case there isn’t Passive Pressure Force(s) therefore
= = .
3
(This net turning moment is the moment that is in action in turning the R.W in the direction of the greater
moment)

®2020 Series
 Unit Weight( ) of each section is Density ( ) of that section multiplied by gravitational

acceleration ( )
 But weight ( ) of a section equals Unit Weight( ) of each section multiplied by Volume of that
section t( ) i.e = = ( )

®2020 Series
( ) ( ) ( / ) /
( − )( )
. . . .
. . . .
. . . .
. . . .
= . .

®2020 Series
Factor of safety with respect to Overturning is sum of RESISTING MOMENTS divided by the sum of
OVERTURNING MOMENT and a minimum factor of safety of 2 to 3 is desirable to resist overturning.
∑ ∑
( ) = =
∑ ∑
∑ .
. . = = = 3.5 > 2
∑ .
Assignment : Suppose the factor of Safety is less than 2 (< ) ,what should be done to increase it to be
. greater that (> )
FACTOR OF SAFTEY AGAINST SLIDING
∑
( ) =
∑
NB: RESOLVE ALL INCLINED FORCES INTO THEIR VERTICAL AND HORIZONTAL
. COMPONENTS IF ANY EXIST
Horizontal Resisting Forces

These are the horizontally acting forces that tends to resist sliding of the retaining wall horizontally forward
(i.e. away from backfill), and tends to act horizontally towards the backfill and these forces are
a) Resultant Passive Pressure Force −
b) Frictional Force -
c) Adhesive Force - =
Resultant Passive Pressure Force

The passive resistance at the rear of the retaining wall is calculated as
= [ ] +
NB: In our case there is no fill (in front) of the retaining wall thus =
Frictional Force
The friction resisting force at the base of footing is calculated as
= [∑ ] ℎ ∑ =∑

®2020 Series
and is friction coefficient between concrete base (in this case ) and soil .The coefficient of friction is
calculated as
= tan
Where − is angle of friction between the retaining wall base and soil below the .
foundation base. = ( ∅ )
∅ − Which is the angle of Repose /Angle of internal friction of Soil In contact with the base of f R.W
− is a ‘factor’ that varies between Therefore =( ∅ )= ∅
NB: is often taken as ⁄ ∅ .
∴ = tan = ( ∅ )= 2
3∅
In our case coefficient of friction = 0.4
∴ = [∑ ] = 0.4( . ) = 58.184
The horizontal resisting force due to friction between the foundation concrete base and the soil below it is
58.18
Adhesion Force
Definition: intermolecular attraction between substances that are unlike and in surface contact, causing
them to cling together
The Adhesion resisting force at the base of footing is calculated as
= = =
Where − −is the coefficient of adhesive force with respect to Retaining wall base . .
And =( )
−is Shear Strength of the soil in contact with the Retaining wall base
− is a ‘factor’ that varies between
Therefore =( )= NB: is often taken as .
∴ = = =
NB : Often Adhesive Force is IGNORED unless otherwise

®2020 Series
Horizontal Driving Forces

These are horizontally acting forces that tends to drive the retaining wall away from the backfill retained
material ( i.e towards the front side of R.W horizontally)
In our case the only horizontal force tending to drive the R.W away from backfill is the Resultant Active
Pressure Force − i.e
= ( )( )= = ( )( )
= .
∑ [∑ ] +
( ) = = > . −
∑
But =0
[∑ ] 58.184
∴ ( ) = = = . < .
ASSIGNMENT
The Factor of Safety Against Sliding is less than 1.5 (< 1.5) what should be done to
increase it to be > 1.5

®2020 Series

®2020 Series
FACTOR OF SAFTEY AGAINST BEARAING CAPACITY FAILURE

RESULTANT PRESURE FORCE
The sum of the all vertically Downward acting forces acting on the slab base is ∑ (see table
column 4, table 1), and the horizontally acting force is where
− ℎ ℎ ℎ
− ℎ &
ℎ ℎ ℎ
Let R be the Resultant Pressure Force
= = [∑ ] + [ ] = [ . ] +[ ] = .
→ = +
RESULTANT PRESURE FORCE- = .
Where Does The Resultant Presure Force Cuts/Intersect/Strikes The Base Slab
The Resulting Net Moment about Toe due to Resultant of all Vertical & horizontal forces is
= −
Recalling Moment is the product force and distance from the point of support (in this Case –A
(Toe) )
Therefore the distance where the Resultant Force – intersect the base slab is at from
TOE (i.e at ) is
− . − .
= ̅= = = = . ( )
∑ ∑ .
The distance = in general does not coincide with the centroid of the base ,it might be
to the Left or Right of the centroidal axis thus causing eccentric loading to footing.( For
Eccentric & Concentric Loading and effect refer to COMBINED STRESS )

®2020 Series
It is desirable to keep the point (i.e Where the Resultant Pressure Force Cut the base )
within the middle third of the BASE WIDTH to get the whole footing under pressure. To check
that the Resultant Force if it lies within the middle third of the base Width ,we check for
ECCENTRICITY which should be less than i.e
( )= − <
−
=
∑
−
( )= − = − <
∑
.
= − . = . < . −
= .
Assignment- MUST DO
1. What is the effect to ground pressure distribution
a) if the Eccentricity is less than ? ( < )

b) if the Eccentricity is equal to ? ( = )
c) if the Eccentricity is greater than ?( > )
2. Using hypothetical examples draw ground pressure distribution diagram due to

above cases

®2020 Series
= ⋯………
= ⋯ … .. = ⋯ … ..
= .
= . = .
= .
= .

®2020 Series
.
=
=
= .
= = .

®2020 Series
NB: The Resultant Pressure Force cuts the base slab at Point C where the
. Resulatant of the Vertical forces acts and GROUND REACTION too
. acts i.e at 0.87m away from Toe ( A )

®2020 Series
PRESSURE /STRESS DISTRIBUTION UNDER BASE SLAB

The pressure /Stress distribution under the base slab may be determined by using the simple
principles of mechanics of materials
The pressure / Stress Distribution consist of both of or one of either direct and bending
stress/pressure depending whether the Load is Concentric or Eccentric –(REFFER TO
COMBINED STRESS)
COMBINED PRESSURE / STRESS UNDER THE BASE
: − − / ℎ
∑
= ±
Where − −Moment of Inertia per unit length of the Base Section = ( )
− Area per unit length of the rectangular/Square Base Section = (1)
– is the distance away from centroidal axis /2

For maximum and minimum pressures below the base slab , the value of in equation
equals /2. Substituting the preceding values into the equation
∑
= ±
Development of the Formulae

∑ ∑ [∑ ]
= ± = ±
But = /2
The maximum and minimum pressure below the base of the wall ( ) is:
∑ [∑ ] ∑
= = + = +
( )( ) ( )

®2020 Series
The Maximum Pressure below the base of the wall ( ) is at TOE
∑
= = + = . /
The Minimum Pressure below the base of the wall ( ) is at HEEL
∑
= = − = . /
= = . /

®2020 Series

Retaining Wall Example 311-1-1

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Retaining Wall Example 311-1-1

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

RETAINING WALL EXAMPLES : Prepared by Ahmed Salim-Contact @URL:

Structure’s Lesson Notes :Diploma in Building Technology (Mod II) Mathenge

Therefore the coefficient of active earth pressure is = = −

Unit weight of backfill material is = = = /

And for Concrete = = = /

Active Lateral earth pressure

NB: For cohesionless soil ,its shear strength is ZERO ( i.e = )

= ,Where is the angle of repose / Angle of internal .

Since = the formula = − is reduced to =

Structure’s Lesson Notes :Diploma in Building Technology (Mod II) Mathenge

Structure’s Lesson Notes :Diploma in Building Technology (Mod II) Mathenge

This Resultant Active Pressure Force is

Structure’s Lesson Notes :Diploma in Building Technology (Mod II) Mathenge

Structure’s Lesson Notes :Diploma in Building Technology (Mod II) Mathenge

 Unit Weight( ) of each section is Density ( ) of that section multiplied by gravitational

Structure’s Lesson Notes :Diploma in Building Technology (Mod II) Mathenge

Structure’s Lesson Notes :Diploma in Building Technology (Mod II) Mathenge

Horizontal Resisting Forces

Resultant Passive Pressure Force

Structure’s Lesson Notes :Diploma in Building Technology (Mod II) Mathenge

− is a ‘factor’ that varies between Therefore =( ∅ )= ∅

NB: is often taken as ⁄ ∅ .

− is a ‘factor’ that varies between

Therefore =( )= NB: is often taken as .

Structure’s Lesson Notes :Diploma in Building Technology (Mod II) Mathenge

Horizontal Driving Forces

Structure’s Lesson Notes :Diploma in Building Technology (Mod II) Mathenge

Structure’s Lesson Notes :Diploma in Building Technology (Mod II) Mathenge

FACTOR OF SAFTEY AGAINST BEARAING CAPACITY FAILURE

Let R be the Resultant Pressure Force

RESULTANT PRESURE FORCE- = .

Structure’s Lesson Notes :Diploma in Building Technology (Mod II) Mathenge

1. What is the effect to ground pressure distribution

a) if the Eccentricity is less than ? ( < )

2. Using hypothetical examples draw ground pressure distribution diagram due to

Structure’s Lesson Notes :Diploma in Building Technology (Mod II) Mathenge

Structure’s Lesson Notes :Diploma in Building Technology (Mod II) Mathenge

Structure’s Lesson Notes :Diploma in Building Technology (Mod II) Mathenge

Structure’s Lesson Notes :Diploma in Building Technology (Mod II) Mathenge

PRESSURE /STRESS DISTRIBUTION UNDER BASE SLAB

COMBINED PRESSURE / STRESS UNDER THE BASE

Where − −Moment of Inertia per unit length of the Base Section = ( )

− Area per unit length of the rectangular/Square Base Section = (1)

– is the distance away from centroidal axis /2

Development of the Formulae

Structure’s Lesson Notes :Diploma in Building Technology (Mod II) Mathenge

The Maximum Pressure below the base of the wall ( ) is at TOE

The Minimum Pressure below the base of the wall ( ) is at HEEL

Structure’s Lesson Notes :Diploma in Building Technology (Mod II) Mathenge

You might also like