International Journal of Steel Structures (2022) 22(2):622–631 Online ISSN 2093-6311

https://doi.org/10.1007/s13296-022-00594-2 Print ISSN 1598-2351

Elastic Foundation Beam Solution of Tensile Flexible Retaining Wall

Xu Jianqiang1,2 · Xu  Jiangbo1   · Yang Xiaohua1 · Yan  Zhaobai3 · Li  Haiping2 · Wang  Huoming2 · Tan  Ling2 ·
Fei  Dongyang1 · Li  Jianguo4 · Luo  Yongzhen1

Received: 19 July 2021 / Accepted: 22 February 2022 / Published online: 12 March 2022
© Korean Society of Steel Construction 2022

Abstract
The application of flexible retaining walls in foundation pit engineering is gradually increasing. At present, many practical
engineering problems need to be solved. This article takes a corrugated steel retaining wall with tensile reinforcement, for
example, assuming that it is an elastic foundation beam model. A typical vertical thin layer unit is taken on the retaining wall
for analysis. It uses the waveform integration method to calculate the moment of inertia, deriving the differential equation of
flexural deformation of corrugated steel retaining wall and establishing the theoretical formula for deformation of corrugated
steel retaining wall under filling pressure behind the wall. Finally, a FLAC3D model was established to simulate the deforma-
tion of corrugated steel retaining walls in practical engineering, and the final numerical simulation results were consistent
with the theoretical formula. Thus, providing a theoretical basis for the deformation of such flexible retaining structures.

Keywords  Elastic foundation beam model · Flexible structure · Corrugated steel retaining wall · Corrugated steel
deformation · Flexural deformation solution

1 Introduction is necessary to find a theoretical basis for the deformation

With the development of foundation pit and slope support
technology, the application of various light flexible retaining
walls is becoming more and more extensive. At the same
time, the design theory is constantly developing and per-
fecting. Compared with the traditional masonry retaining
wall, the lightweight flexible retaining wall is deformed by
itself, which can effectively reduce the earth pressure behind
the wall to increase the safety of the retaining wall. Owing
to its small weight, the basic uneven subsidence of flexible
retaining wall hardly occurs in practice. The corrugated steel
retaining wall damage usually happens as a result of exces-
sive deformation, thus, the deformation must be strictly con-
trolled within the engineering allowable range. Therefore, it
* Xu Jiangbo
xujiangbo@yeah.net
1
School of Highway, Chang’an University, Xi’an, Shaanxi,
China
2
China Merchants Chongqing Communications Research
and Design Institute Co. Ltd, Chongqing, China
3
Yongtaiwen Expressway Co. Ltd., Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
4
Institute of Rock and Soil Mechanics, Chinese Academy
of Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei, China
prediction of the retaining wall before construction. At pre-
sent, the research on the design and calculation of flexible
retaining walls by scholars around the world mainly includes
the following four aspects.
In the aspect of the loading mechanism of the flexible
retaining wall. Zhang (2005) compiled the finite element
calculation program and obtained the variation law of pile
displacement and bending moment with the excavation pro-
cess. Xu et al. (2014) proposed a combination of Unicode
back analysis software and ABAQUS finite element analysis
software to carry out research. Chen et al. (2016) derived the
active earth pressure, functional extreme equivalence model,
with the consideration of the position of the action point.
Chen et al. (2016)) established an accurate finite difference
numerical model of the three-dimensional prototype retain-
ing wall. Bouafia (2016) used the finite element software
CRISP to study the parameters of the flexible retaining wall.
Ying et al. (2014) established the earth pressure calculation
model of flexible retaining wall considering displacement
variation and proposed the calculation method of earth pres-
sure distribution and height of joint force under arbitrary
displacement. Chen et al. (2001) studied that the earth pres-
sure acting on the retaining structure in foundation pit engi-
neering often changes with the deflection deformation of the

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International Journal of Steel Structures (2022) 22(2):622–631 623
structure, and studied the exponential function to describe
this relationship and applied it to the improved beam method
of elastic foundation. Liu et al. (1999) studied the earth
pressure of flexible retaining walls in sand fill by using a
complete indoor test of a large flexible sheet pile to simu-
late actual working conditions. Wang et al. (2017) carried
out model tests and field tests. The stress and deformation
characteristics of road-shoulder geocell flexible retaining
walls are studied. Zhao et al. (2018), based on the Mohr's
Circle of clay stress, established the static balance by using
the microlayer analysis method, searched the potential slid-
ing surface of slope soil, and deduced the non-limit passive
earth pressure calculation formula of flexible retaining clay
foundation pit.
In the aspect of the factors affecting the load of the flex-
ible retaining wall. Abdelsalam et al. (2017) used 3D analy-
sis software to study the EPS flexible retaining wall and
found that the use of flexible retaining walls can significantly
reduce the lateral earth pressure on the wall. Liu et al. (2013)
and Tong et al. (2014) found that the section shape of sheet
pile influences the distribution of lateral earth pressure.
Miriano et al. (2015) used finite element simulation software
to evaluate the effects of soil tectonic behavior on loads and
displacements on flexible retaining walls with consideration
of the plasticity models of different soils. Wen et al. (2016)
took the new type of slag geogrid flexible retaining wall as
an example, studying the displacement change and failure
rule of retaining wall under different working conditions.
Miyata et al. (2015) studied the performance of three kinds
of geogrid reinforced soil retaining walls before and after
foundation soil failure. Pritykin and Kirillov (2020) studied
the local stability of a flexible wall beam under concentrated
force.
In the aspect of the dynamic response of a flexible retain-
ing wall under seismic loading. Wagner and Sitar (2016)
studied the response of flexible retaining structures' under-
ground motion load. Liu (2016) studied the seismic response
of a flexible cantilever wall with semi-infinite viscoelastic
soil under plane strain conditions. Panah et al. (2015) stud-
ied the seismic behavior of reinforced earth retaining walls
with polymeric belts. Wang et al. (2015) studied the effects
of seismic active earth pressure acting on the back of a
reinforced wall. Sun et al. (2019) introduce an approach to
reconstructing full-profile seismic response demands across
multiple tall buildings, using kernel-based machine learn-
ing methods. Zhu et al. (2015) analyzed the overall static
stability of the gravity-type retaining wall with flexible
reinforcement, deduced the calculation formula, and estab-
lished the seismic dynamic calculation model. Many schol-
ars have studied the effects of seismic action on structures.
Pierdicca et al. (2019) studied the dynamic evolution of con-
crete building structures under earthquake action through
dynamic monitoring. Researchers (Li et al. 2020a, 2020b,
2020c) have also shown the influence factors and variation
law of the strength and deformation characteristics of rein-
forced soil, which can provide dynamic parameters for the
design and stability of reinforced retaining walls. Through
the shaking table test, Jiang-Bo and Zheng (2012) discussed
the dynamic characteristics and vibration response law of
the embedded anti-slide pile model slope under earthquake
action and the influence of ground motion parameters on the
dynamic characteristics and dynamic response. Sizkow and
El Shamy (2021) used three-dimensional discrete element
method (DEM) simulation to analyze the dynamic interac-
tion of flexible retaining walls.
In the aspect of comparison of the load difference of
rigid-flexible retaining walls. Ahmadi and Bezuijen (2018)
compared and analyzed the difference in the load between
the rigid wall and the flexible wall. Derksen et al. (2017)
modeled the geogrid reinforced earth retaining wall to study
the failure mechanism of the reinforcement and support
structure. Liu et al. (2015) established the overall deforma-
tion calculation model of the secant pile wall on the basis of
the shear displacement method.
Although the above methods and research have better
solved the calculation of the force and deformation of the
flexible retaining wall, the support structure with tensile
reinforcement is rarely involved. The presence of tensile
reinforcement will make the force and deformation of the
retaining wall more complex.
This article takes the emerging corrugated steel retain-
ing wall as an example, simplifying to a cantilever beam
assumed to conform to the Winkler elastic foundation beam
under a series of hypothetical conditions. And the formula of
deflection v(x) of corrugated steel retaining wall is derived.
The general solution is obtained based on non-homogeneous
linear differential equations through reasonable simplifica-
tion. Then, find out the special solutions for the case of the
Winkler cantilever elastic foundation beam. Theoretically,
the law of deflection and deformation of corrugated steel
retaining wall is obtained.
2 Corrugated Steel Retaining Wall Overview
For the fill slope, after the slope is completed, apply a ver-
tical steel column on the inside, constructing corrugated
steel retaining wall on the outside. After the retaining wall
is completed, connect the retaining wall to the vertical steel
bar with tensile reinforcement. The retaining wall layout is
shown in Fig. 1. When applying each layer of tensile rein-
forcement, backfill a layer of soil and compact it until all
areas are backfilled. Because the retaining wall is a flexible
structure, the backfill load behind the wall is better dispersed
on the tensile reinforcement through the deformation of the
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624 International Journal of Steel Structures (2022) 22(2):622–631

Then according to the moment of inertia calculation

formula:
A 𝜆 √
( )2

∫ ∫
dy
Ix = y2 dA = 𝛿y2 1 + dx (2)
dx
0 0

Bringing the function expression of y and simplifying it:

𝜆 √
)]2 )]2
∫
2𝜋 2𝜋A 2𝜋
[ ( [ (
Ix = 𝛿 Asin x . 1+ cos x dx (3)
𝜆 𝜆 𝜆
0

3.2 Calculation of Deflection Deformation

of Corrugated Steel Retaining Wall
Fig. 1  Schematic diagram of the longitudinal section of corrugated
steel retaining wall 3.2.1 Calculation Model Simplification

retaining wall. It makes full use of the tensile strength of
steel and greatly improves the bearing capacity.
Corrugated steel used in corrugated steel retaining walls
is mostly sinusoidal in cross-section, Fig. 2 shows the com-
mon corrugated steel with a wave height of 50 mm and a
pitch of 150 mm.
3 Solution of Elastic Foundation Beam
for Retaining Wall Deflection
3.1 Calculation of the Moment of Inertia
of Corrugated Steel
The corrugated steel function waveform diagram is shown
in Fig. 3. Calculating the moment of inertia of cross-section
by wave integral method, the specific process is as follows:
The cross-section of the corrugated steel is a sinusoid,
and the function expression is as follows:
The theoretical derivation of this paper is based on the fol-
lowing assumptions:
(1) Corrugated steel and lacing are linear elastomers and
conform to uniform, continuous, isotropic material
mechanics assumptions;
(2) The earth pressure distribution behind the wall obeys
the distribution law of the Rankin’s earth pressure of
the cohesive soil, excluding the internal friction angle
between the corrugated steel and the fill;
(3) The deformation of corrugated steel retaining wall is a
plane strain problem;
(4) The inner steel column does not undergo flexural defor-
mation, regardless of the friction between the lacing
and the soil. The flexural deformation of the retaining
wall is all coordinated by the elongation of the steel
bar;
(5) Since the tensile bars are vertically spaced nearly, they
can be regarded as vertically distributed loads.

2𝜋
( )
y = Asin x (1) The retaining wall can be simplified by the assumptions
𝜆 (1), (3), (4) into a vertical elastic foundation beam as shown
In the formula: A—wave height of the cross-section of in Fig. 4.
corrugated steel (mm). λ—wavelength of the cross-section
of corrugated steel (mm). δ—the thickness of the corrugated
steel(mm).

Fig. 2  Ripple schematic diagram of corrugated steel retaining wall

cross-section Fig. 3  Corrugated steel cross-section function waveform diagram

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International Journal of Steel Structures (2022) 22(2):622–631 625

Fig. 4  Schematic diagram of simplification and deformation of the Fig. 5  Analysis of the force of the unit extension length retaining wall
elastic foundation beam along the vertical direction

3.2.2 Calculation of Flexural Deformation The differential equation of the deflection curve of the
beam can be obtained as follows:
The retaining wall with the unit extension length (1 m)
EIv�� (x) = M(x) (7)
is calculated. The load distribution law of the backfill of
the wall obeys Rankin’s active earth pressure distribution In the formula: E—the modulus of elasticity of the
of the cohesive soil. Assuming that its distribution law is retaining wall (Pa). I—the moment of inertia of the cor-
f(x), defining x is the direction from top to bottom and its rugated steel retaining wall (­ m4). The calculation can be
specific distribution law is derived below. done by using formula (3). Two derivatives are continuously
The calculation formula of Rankin’s active earth pres- requested at both ends:
sure of cohesive soil is presented as follows:
EIv(4) (x) = g(x) - f(x) = Kv(x) − f(x) (8)
� 𝜑� � 𝜑� √
Ea = 𝛾ztg2 45◦ − − 2ctg 45◦ − = 𝛾zKa − 2c Ka
2 2 Dividing both sides by EI:
(4)
K f(x)
In the formula: γ—the severity of the soil (N/m3); z— v(4) (x) = v(x) − . (9)
the depth of any calculated point in the soil (m); φ—earth EI EI
friction angle (°); c—the soil cohesion (Pa); Ea—active Move items:
earth pressure coefficient
K f(x)
( 𝜑) v(4) (x) − v(x) = − . (10)
Ka = tg2 45◦ − EI EI
2
The above equation is a fourth-order non-homogeneous
Then the earth pressure distribution is presented as linear equation system, and the homogeneous characteristic
follows: equation is:
(5)
√
f(x) = 𝛾xKa − 2c Ka K
T4 − =0 (11)
EI
As stated in hypothesis (5), the force of the lacing is a
continuous load distributed in the vertical direction, and Characteristic values are:
the size is proportional to the deflection of the retaining ( ) 41
wall. The force situation is shown in Fig. 5. Assuming that K (12)
T1,2 = ±
the distribution expression is g(x) and the deflection of the EI
retaining wall is v(x), then:
( ) 41
K (13)
g(x) = Kv(x) (6) T3,4 = ± i
EI
So the homogeneous solution of the equation is:

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626 International Journal of Steel Structures (2022) 22(2):622–631

(
K
)1
4
(
K
)1
4 Boundary conditions:
x − x
v1 (x) = C1 e + C2 e
EI EI

( ) 14 ( ) 41 (14) x = 0, v�� (x) = 0; v��� (x) = 0.

K K
+ C3 sin( x) + C4 cos( x) x = h, v(x) = 0; v� (x) = 0.
EI EI
Among them: h—the height of the retaining wall.
Since f(x) is only a linear function of x, it is less than 4
Bring the boundary conditions into formula 18 and order
times, solving the fourth derivative at the same time at both ( )1
ends of Eq. (10), then. A = EIK 4
、B = K1  , then

1
� B AKa e−Ah h𝛾 + AKa sin (Ah)h𝛾 + AKa cos (Ah)h𝛾
� �
C1 = − � � �
2A cos (Ah) eAh + e−Ah + 2
√ √ √
− 2Ae−Ah Ka c − 2Asin(Ah) Ka c − 2Acos(Ah) Ka c +Ka 𝛾e−Ah − Ka 𝛾 sin (Ah) + Ka 𝛾 cos (Ah)
��

1
� B AKa eAh h𝛾 − AKa sin(Ah)h𝛾 + AKa cos(Ah)h𝛾
� �
C2 = − � � �
2A cos(Ah) eAh + e−Ah + 2
√ √ √
− 2AeAh Ka c + 2Asin(Ah) Ka c − 2Acos(Ah) Ka c −Ka 𝛾eAh − Ka 𝛾 sin (Ah) − Ka cos(Ah)𝛾
��

1
� B AKa eAh h𝛾 − AKa e−Ah h𝛾 − 2AKa sin(Ah)h𝛾
� �
C3 = � � �
Ah
2A cos(Ah) e + e −Ah +2
Ah
√ −Ah
√ √
Ka c + 4Asin(Ah) Ka c −Ka 𝛾eAh − Ka 𝛾e−Ah − 2Ka cos(Ah)𝛾
��
− 2Ae Ka c + 2Ae

1
� B AKa eAh h𝛾 + AKa e−Ah h𝛾 + 2AKa cos(Ah)h𝛾
� �
C4 = − � � �
2A cos(Ah) eAh + e−Ah + 2
√ √ √
− 2AeAh Ka c − 2Ae−Ah Ka c − 4Acos(Ah) Ka c −Ka 𝛾eAh + Ka 𝛾e−Ah − 2Ka 𝛾sin(Ah)
��

K (4) f(4) (x)

v(8) (x) − v (x) = − . (15)
EI EI According to the actual situation, after calculating the
values of C­ 1, ­C2, ­C3, ­C4 and I, the flexural deformation
According to the relationship between the distributed of the retaining wall can be obtained by bringing them
force and the deflection, ω(x) is the fourth integral of f(x), into (18). It is worth noting that the proportional coef-
so v(8) (x) = 0 , and because f(4) (x) = 0 , then v(4) (x) = 0 is ficient K is introduced when the resistance of the lacing is
obtained, so a special solution can be obtained as: proportional to the change of the retaining wall. It is only
f(x) necessary to bring the displacements and corresponding
v2 (x) = (16) coordinates of the different points measured in the actual
K
into the expression, and solve the K value corresponding
The combination of formula 14 and 16 is available, and the to each position, and then fit and correct it.
general solution of the differential equation is: In addition, the relationship between the force and
)1 )1 ( ) 41 ( ) 41
(17)
( (
K 4
x − K 4
x K K f(x)
v(x) = C1 e EI + C2 e EI + C3 sin( x) + C4 cos( x) + .
EI EI K

Therefore, the final expression is: deformation shows that the K value is a parameter related
� �1 � �1 � � 41 � � 41
√
K 4
x − K 4
x K K 𝛾xKa − 2c Ka (18)
v(x) = C1 e EI + C2 e EI + C3 sin( x) + C4 cos( x) +
EI EI K

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International Journal of Steel Structures (2022) 22(2):622–631 627

Table 1  Parameter values of materials

Category Density (kg/m3) Shear modulus (Pa) The bulk modulus (Pa) Cohesion (Pa) Tensile strength (Pa) Friction
angle
(°)

The foundation soil 1900 15.7 × ­106 21.84 × ­106 44 × ­103 100 25

Concrete 2360 8.89 × ­109 6.67 × ­109 6.59 × ­106 1.43 × ­106 48
Backfill soil 1830 12.1 × ­106 19.23 × ­106 28 × ­103 10 21

Table 2  Specifications and parameters of corrugated steel plate

Waveform Wave from Wave height Arc radius Density (kg/m3) Modulus of Polar moment of The thickness of
parameters (mm) (mm) (mm) elasticity (Pa) inertia ­(mm4) the plate (mm)
(mm)

150*50*3 150 50 25 7850 2.10 × ­1012 1052.56 3

Table 3  Material parameters of the pile

Modulus of Poisson's ratio Cross-sectional Polar moment of Y moment of X moment of The tangential The normal
elasticity (Pa) area ­(m2) inertia ­(m4) inertia ­(m4) inertia ­(m4) stiffness (N/m) stiffness (N/m)

2.1 × ­1012 0.3 0.7854 9.82 × ­10–2 4.91 × ­10–2 4.91 × ­10–2 1.3 × ­1011 1.3 × ­109

only to the length, cross-sectional area, elastic modulus, Table 4  Parameter values of tensile reinforcement
the vertical and lateral spacing of the tensile reinforce- Modulus Tensile Cross- Unit Unit The
ment. It has nothing to do with the specifications and of elastic- strength sectional cement cement perim-
materials of the retaining wall used. Therefore, under ity (Pa) (Pa) area ­(m2) slurry bond (Pa) eter of the
the premise that the tensile reinforcement specification is stiffness cement
(N/m) slurry
known in practice, the K value is certain regardless of the outer ring
scale of the project. This value can be obtained by taking (m)
the experience value from a summary of a large number
2 × ­1010 1 × ­1012 1.0 2 × ­1010 1 × ­1010 1.0
of engineering foundations.

Parameter selection of backfill soil, foundation soil and

4 Numerical simulation of Corrugated Steel
Retaining Wall
4.1 Model Building
FLAC3D software was used for modeling and grid divi-
sion. The direction of the numerical model was defined as
X positive direction perpendicular to the retaining wall, Y
positive direction perpendicular to the retaining wall, and
Z positive direction vertically downward. Elastomer model
was used for corrugated steel retaining wall, and Mohr–Cou-
lomb model was used for backfill soil, foundation soil and
concrete.
concrete is shown in Table 1:
The length and width of the corrugated steel retaining
wall established is 12 m and 9 m (1.2 m of which are embed-
ded in concrete to secure the corrugated steel retaining wall).
The material of the corrugated steel retaining wall is steel.
The specification parameters of corrugated steel and related
values of materials are shown in Table 2.
Fixed reinforcement columns shall be set up at a distance
of 0.5 m from the post-excavation boundary behind the wall,
parallel to the X-axis, with a spacing of 0.6 m along the
Y-axis. The cross-sectional area of the reinforcement column
is round, which connects and fixes the tensile reinforcement.

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628
Fig. 6  Overall schematic diagram of excavation model
Fig. 7  Schematic diagram of steel column and tensile reinforcement
After comprehensive consideration, the selected parameters
of the fixed steel column are shown in Table 3 below.
One end of the tensile reinforcement is connected to a
fixed steel column and the other end is connected to a cor-
rugated steel wall. The type of connection is rigid and there
is no prestress in the reinforcement. Cable unit is used for
simulation and relevant parameters are selected as shown
in Table 4:
Input command flow on the foundation soil with fixed
operation on the front, back, left and right as well as the
bottom to carry out excavation and assign the value of the
excavated material to the null shell model. In order to avoid
boundary effect after excavation, enough space is reserved
around the excavation, as shown in Fig. 6. At the same time,
20 steel columns fixed in the soil are set inside the excavated
part, and the horizontal distance between the steel columns
is 0.6 m. Tensile steel bars are set between each steel column
and the corrugated steel retaining wall. There are 26 tensile
steel bars in each layer, and the distance between layers is
0.3 m, starting from the height of 1.5 m, as shown in Fig. 7.
4.2 Result Analysis
A measuring point was set at a transverse distance of 0.3 m
to measure the deformation of the corrugated steel retaining
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International Journal of Steel Structures (2022) 22(2):622–631
Fig. 8  Displacement of retaining wall along the X direction
Fig. 9  Local enlargement of x-direction displacement
wall. The measuring point was set in three layers at a height
of 1.5 m, 5.1 m and 8.4 m respectively. t.
4.2.1 Deformation Analysis of Sinusoidal Corrugated Steel
Retaining wall
4.2.1.1  Displacement Characteristics of  Sinusoidal Corru-
gated Retaining Wall  The main displacement studied in the
theoretical formula is the displacement of the retaining wall
along the X direction, so we mainly analyze and study the
displacement of corrugated steel retaining wall along the X
direction, Then we verify the numerical simulation results
with the theoretical formula. The flexural deformation of the
corrugated steel retaining wall in the Y direction is verified
by multiple points.
(1) Displacement of retaining wall along the X direction.
The displacement values obtained from the numerical
simulation of corrugated steel retaining wall in the Figs. 8,
9 and 10 above are compared with those calculated by the
theoretical formula. Four points along the Y direction were
uniformly selected for verification, and each point verified
International Journal of Steel Structures (2022) 22(2):622–631 629

Fig. 10  Displacement of retain-
ing wall at measuring points
along the X direction

Table 5  Displacement error Point in the Depth of displace- The calculated value of retain- Actual value of retaining Relative
table of corrugated steel Y direction ment point (m) ing wall displacement (mm) wall displacement (mm) error (%)
retaining wall
2.9 1.5 1.732 1.727 0.29
5.1 2.701 2.704 0.11
5.6 1.5 3.039 3.037 0.06
5.1 7.329 7.361 0.44
9.8 1.5 2.841 2.854 0.46
5.1 6.509 6.497 0.18
12.8 1.5 2.144 2.173 1.35
5.1 5.661 5.678 0.30

the displacement at depth of 1.5 m and 5.1 m (the corrugated
steel retaining wall at depth of 8.4 m was partially embed-
ded in concrete, so the theoretical formula was not used for
verification). In the calculation, the K value is only related
to the length, cross-sectional area, elastic modulus, vertical
and transverse spacing of the tensile reinforcement, so the
empirical value of K is obtained based on a large number
of engineering data. In this model, the value of K is about
5.2mpa. The results are shown in Table 5.
It can be concluded from the analysis results that the error
between the actual displacement value in numerical simula-
tion and the theoretical formula of corrugated steel retaining
wall is within a reasonable range, The theoretical formula is
consistent with the engineering practice, which can provide
guidance value for the practical engineering and has a cer-
tain practical significance.
5 Conclusion
Based on the above summary and analysis of "solving the
deflection of retaining wall of elastic foundation beam", the
following three conclusions can be drawn.
(1) The corrugated steel retaining wall can use its flexible
deformation to distribute the load on the wall to the ten-
sile reinforcement, thus improving the bearing capacity
of the retaining wall to a certain extent.
(2) The function relationship between the deflection of the
retaining wall and the position of the monitoring point
in the vertical direction can be expressed by Eq. (18).
The deflection curves show different characteristics
according to the coefficients C1, C2, C3, and C4. The
unknown coefficient K is only related to the size and
arrangement of the tensile reinforcement.
(3) Eq. (18) can only solve the flexural deformation of the
retaining wall under the filling load, it doesn’t consider
the “squeeze” and “expansion” of the corrugation itself
on the cross-section and the lateral bending between the
two vertical rows of the retaining wall. Further research
in this area is needed.
(4) The calculated value of the theoretical formula is con-
sistent with the actual project, and the error is within a
reasonable range, which has a certain guiding signifi-
cance for the actual project.
Acknowledgements  This work was partially supported by the National
Natural Science Foundation of China (Fund No. 41790443 and
41807245 and 41927806), Qinghai Natural Science Foundation (Nos.

13

630
2019-ZJ-7050), Shaanxi Natural Science Foundation (Nos. 2019JQ-
218), Key R&D Program of Shaanxi Province, (Nos. 2018ZDXM-
SF-024). The authors would like to acknowledge the financial support
of the National Key Research and Development Program of China
(2018YFC1504903); The authors would like to acknowledge the finan-
cial support of the "Safe, efficient, green and intelligent" science and
technology demonstration project of Yongtaiwen Expressway overhaul-
Trenchless treatment technology for vehicle bumping at bridgehead on
the deep soft foundation of Expressway under large traffic flow.
Author contribution  Conceptualization: Jianqiang X, Jiangbo X. Data
collection: DF, ZY. Graph drawing: JL. Resources: HW, LT. Writing—
original draft: Jianqiang X, YL. Writing—review and editing: Jiangbo
X, XY, HL.
Data availability  The data used to support the findings of this study are
available from the corresponding author upon request.
Declarations  Miyata, Y., Bathurst, R. J., & Miyatake, H. (2015). Performance of
Conflict of interest  The authors declare that there’re no conflicts of
interest regarding the publication of this paper.
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