Retaining wall design

Retaining walls are relatively rigid walls used for supporting the soil mass laterally so that the
soil can be retained at different levels on the two sides.

Retaining walls are structures used to provide stability of earth or other material where
conditions disallow the mass to assume its natural slope.

Based on the method of achieving stability retaining wall are classified as

1. gravity wall
 made of plain concrete or stone masonry
 depends upon its weight for stability
 Trapezoidal in section with the base projecting beyond the face and back of
wall.
 no tensile stress in any portion of the wall
 economically used for walls less than 6m high
2. cantilever walls
 made of reinforced concrete material
 inverted T-shaped in section with each projecting acts as a cantilever
 economically used for walls greater than 6 m high
3. counterfort walls
 made of reinforced concrete materials
 consists of cantilever wall with vertical brackets known as counterfort placed
behind face of wall
 ordinarily used for walls height greater than 6.0m
4. buttress walls
 same as counterfort except that the vertical brackets are on the opposite side
of the backfill
5. semi gravity walls
 The size of the section of gravity wall may be reduced if a small amount of
reinforcement is provided near the back face such walls are known as semi
gravity walls.

Forces on Retaining Walls

The forces that should be considered in the design of retaining walls include

 Active and passive earth pressures

 Dead weight including the weight of the wall and portion of soil mass that is
considered to act on the retaining structure
 Surcharge including live loads, if any
 Water pressure, if any
 Contact pressure under the base of the structure
The usual practice in the design of retaining walls is to assign tentative dimensions and then
check for the overall stability of the structure, Retaining walls should be designed to provide
adequate stability against sliding, overturning, foundation bearing failure and overall or deep
foundation failure.

Design data

from this design the height is higher (6 – 8m) cantilever wall is preferable and economical

Ø1 = 350

ɣ1 = 20
H = 7.5m
C1 = 0

Ø2 =320
H =1.5m
ɣ2 = 18.7

C2 = 0

Proportioning (select tentative dimension)

For cantilever wall tentative recommended tentative dimensions as follows

min. 30cm

50

lt = B/3 bs = H/12 to H/10 H

Df = H/12 to H/10
B = 0.4 to 0.7H

Top thickness min =30cm provide 40cm

 B = 0.4H to 0.7H = 0.4*7.5m to 0.7*7.5m = 3m to 5.25m
Use B = 4.5m
75 75
625 75
2 2
Use D = = 0.7m
45
5
3 3
Computing of the vertical and horizontal forces

(1)
0.4m

(2)

(4)

𝑃𝑎
1.5m 0.7m 2.3m
H/3=2.5m
𝑃𝑝
0.5m (3) 0.7m

4.5m

Use Rankine equation to determine the lateral earth pressure because the backfill surface is
horizontal and the wall is vertical and smooth.

Lateral forces

Rankine active earth pressure

Where 27

2 75 27 52 44
2

Passive pressure
 Where 3 25

87 5 3 25 68 37
2
Moments due to lateral forces about toe

75
52 44 38
3 3
5
68 37 34 9
3 3
Vertical forces and its moments

secti Area ( Weight/unit Moment arm from Moment about toe

on length (KN) toe (m) (KNm)
1 0.4*6.8=2.72 25*2.72=68 1.5+0.3+0.4/2=2 2*68=136
2 0.5*0.3*6.8=1.02 25*1.02=25.5 1.5+2(0.3)/3=1.7 1.7*25.5=43.35
3 0.7*4.5=3.15 25*3.15=78.75 4.5/2=2.25 2.25*78.75=177.19
4 2.3*6.8=15.64 20*15.64=312.8 1.5+0.7+2.3/2=3.35 3.35*312.8=1047.88
sum 485.05 1404.42

Stability check

I. Stability against overturning

2 Where and

0
3 69 2 OK

II. Stability against sliding along the base

5
Where
, Øb=2/3*Ø =2(32)/3 = 2 30
= 485.05*tan2 30 + 0 + 68.37 = 257.48KN/m

257 48
69 5
52 44
III. Stability against bearing capacity

e 𝑀𝑅 𝑀𝑂
𝑋′
𝑉

= (1404.42-381.1)/485.05=2.11

𝑋′
𝐵
𝑒 𝑋 ′ =4.5/2-2.11=0.14
B/2

The pressure distribution under the base slab (q)

0 0
( ) ( ) 7 79 9

7 79 9 28 27

7 79 9 87 3

The ultimate bearing capacity of shallow foundation

qult = c’NcScdcic + qNqSqdqiq + 0.5B’ NɤSɤdɤiɤ

Where B’= B- 2e =4.5-2*0.14 = 4.22m

From table

8 42 7 74 7 88

Shape factor

Shape factor
0 0
3

2 2 22 70 22 70 5 45

Load inclination factor

( ) ( ) 9 80
0
 ( ) ( ) 794
0 0

( ) ( ) 48

Therefore,

87 5 8 42 794 5 4 22 8 7 7 88 48
496 48

65 49 > 28 27 ……….. Ok

Therefore from the above stability checks the section is safe against overturning, sliding and
bearing capacity

Structural design

a) Design of stem

The stem is designed as a cantilever for active earth pressure loading by neglecting its own
weight

A B

0.4m

6.8m

H =7.5 - 0.7 = 6.8, Ka = 0.271 and =18.7

= H =18.7*6.8*0.271=34.46KN/m

= H =18.7*3.75*0.271=17.23KN/m

Moment

At x=6.8

68
( ) 34 46 265 57
2 3 2 3
 34 46 6 8 7 64
2 2

At 34

34
( ) 7 23 33 2
2 3 2 3

7 23 3 4 29 29
2 2
For section A-A
= 356.25KNm = 142.5KN
D = 700mm, assume Ø14 and 80mm concrete cover

d = 700-80-14/2=613mm

Check depth for flexure

d ≥√0 0

Where
0 00
fcd=0.85* 36 fyd= 347 83 and

m =0 3 97
0

√ )

C1=2.5/m=2.5/31.97=0.0782

C2 = 0.32*m2*fcd=0.32*31.972*= 4448.1

0
ρ= 782 √ 782 = 0.076 or 0.0042
000

= 0.75*
0 00
Where 8 ) 8 ) = 0.0261
0 00 00000

= 0.75*0.0261= 0.0196 and 67

Therefore take 42 which is between

0
d ≥√0 = 516.41m < …….. ok
0 00 000 0 0 00
Reinforcement calculation

√ ⁄ =√ ⁄ 6 3 = 26.58

From EBCS2 Ks =2.988

2 988 265 57
294 45
6 3
000
Spacing 8 92 since asØ14 = 153.86 m

Therefore provide φ14c/c 110mm

Check depth for shear

Vc = 0.25*fctd*k1*k2*bw*d

Where, k1=1+50 ≤2=1+50*0.0042 = 1.21 ≤ 2………………ok

K2 =1.6-d ≥ 1 = 1.6-0.613 = 0.987≤1…………………..not ok, so take K2=1

Fctd = 0.21 = 0.21 = 1.165

Vc = 0.25*1.21*1*1.165*1*613=216.09 ≥ VA..................ok

For section B-B

=33.2KN m, and = 29.29KN
D = 468mm, assume 14 and 80mm concrete cover

d = 468-80-14/2 = 381mm

Check depth for flexure

d ≥√0 0

√ )

0
= 782 √ 782 = 0.0775 or 0.0007
000

= 0.75*
0 00
Where 8 ) 8 ) = 0.0261
0 00 00000

=0.75*0.0261= 0.0196 and 67

Therefore take 67
 0
d≥√0 = 241.66m < d provided…………….ok
0 00 000 0 0 00

Reinforcement calculation

As = ρ*b*d = 0.00167*1000*381= 638.27mm2

53 86
24 94
638 27
Therefore provide φ14c/c 240mm

Check depth for shear

Vc = 0.25*fctd*k1*k2*bw*d

Where, k1=1+50 ≤ 2 =1+50*0.00167 = 1.0835 ≤ 2……………ok

K2 = 1.6-d ≥ 1 = 1.6-0.381=1.219≥1………………………… ok

Fctd =1.165 from above

Vc = 0.25*1.0835*1.219*1.165*1*381=146.563KN ≥ VB..................ok

b) Design of heel

It is designed as a cantilever subjected to both upward and downward forces. However the net
pressure is usually acting downward.

Weight of soil on the heel slab (W)

W = Ƴ* (H – D ) =18.7(7.5-0.7) =127.16 KN/m

0.7
2.3m

Pressure distribution under the base slab

87.31
108.245
2.3m
Net effect will be
27 6 8 245 8 92 and
27 6 87 3 39 85

18.92 39.85

2.3m

23 23
8 92 ( ) 39 85 8 92 86 95
2 3 2
39 85 8 92 2 3 8 92 2 3 67 586
2
D = 700, d =700 – 80 - 12/2 = 614mm, use 12 mm bar

Check depth for flexure

d ≥√0 0

√ )

0
782 √ 782 = 0.0776 or 0.0007
000

= 0.0196 and 67

Therefore take 67

0
d ≥√0 = 391.1m < d provided…………….ok
0 00 000 0 0 00

Reinforcement calculation

As = ρ*b*d = 0.00167*1000*614 = 1025.38mm2

53 86
5 3
25 38
Therefore provide φ14c/c 150mm

Check depth for shear

Vc = 0.25*fctd*k1*k2*bw*d

Where, k1=1+50 ≤ 2 = 1+50*0.00167 =1.0835 ≤ 2………………ok

 K2 =1.6-d ≥ 1 = 1.6 - 0.614 = 0.986 ≤ 1………………not ok take K2 = 1

Fctd =1.165 from above

Vc = 0.25*1.0835*1*1.165*1*614 = 193.76KN ≥ Vd = 67.586KN..................ok

c) Design of toe
It is designed as the same as the heel slab. But the soil over the slab is neglected.
Pressure distribution under the base slab

114.62
128.27 1.5m

4 62 5 28 27 4 62 5 82 7
2
5 2
4 62 28 27 4 62 5 39 9
2 2 3

28 27 4 62 5 4 62 5 82 7
2
D = 700, d = 700-80-12/2 = 614mm, use 12 mm bar

Check depth for flexure

√ )

0
782 √ 782 = 0.0771 or 0.0011
000

= 0.0196 and 67

Therefore take 67

0
d ≥√0 = 500.8mm < d provided……….ok
0 00 000 0 0 00

Reinforcement calculation

As = ρ*b*d = 0.00167*1000*614 = 1025.38mm2

53 86
5 3
25 38
 Therefore provide φ14c/c 150mm

Check depth for shear

Vc = 0.25*fctd*k1*k2*bw*d

Where, k1=1+50 ≤ 2 = 1+50*0.00167 = 1.0835 ≤ 2 ………………ok

K2 = 1.6-d ≥ 1 = 1.6-0.614 = 0.986 ≤ 1…………………not ok take K2=1

Fctd = 1.165 from above

Vc = 0.25*1.0835*1*1.165*1*614 = 193.76KN ≥ Vd =182.17KN..................ok

Reinforcement detail

Ø14c/c 240mm

Ø14 c/c 150mm

Ø14 c/c 240mm

7.5m
Ø14 c/c 150mm
Ø14 c/c 150mm
Ø14 c/c 150mm

0.7m

B=4.5m