The rectangular drain shown below is backfilled with a typical

cohesionless granular material, having a unit weight (γ) of 18 kN/m 3,

zero cohesion (C), and internal angle of friction (ϕ) of 30°. The
allowable bearing pressure of the soil is 150 kN/m2, the coefficient of
friction (μ) is 0.5, the unit weight of reinforced concrete is 24 kN/m 3,
and surcharge loads of 15 and 5 kN/m2 on both sides of the drain. The
drain has been designed to cater to a flow of 400mm depth and the
unit be taken as 9.8 kN/m3.

All drain dimensions in mm

Given the information above, design the drain wall and base
reinforcements assuming fcu = 20 N/mm2, fy = 460 N/mm2, cover to
reinforcement = 40 mm, diameter of reinforcements = 10 mm, and
thickness of walls and base = 150 mm.

Geotechnical Design

Wall pressure calculations

Ka = (1 – sinϕ) / (1 + sinϕ)
Ka = (1 – sin30°) / (1 + sin30°) = 0.333

Wall 1

Active pressure on drain wall

Active pressure at the top of the drain wall = qKa = 15 × 0.33 = 4.95
kN/m2
Active pressure at the base of the drain wall = qKa + KaγZ = 4.95 +
(0.33 × 18 × 0.85) = 4.95 + 5.049 = 9.999 kN/m 2
 Passive pressure on
drain wall

Passive pressure at the top of the drain wall = 0

Passive pressure at the base of the wall = γwZ = (9.8 × 0.55) = 5.39
kN/m2
Net pressure at the base of the wall = 9.999 – 5.39 = 4.609 kN/m 2

Wall 2
Active pressure at the top of the drain wall = qKa = 5 × 0.33 = 1.65
kN/m2
Active pressure at the base of the drain wall = qKa + KaγZ = 1.65 +
(0.33 × 18 × 0.85) = 1.65 + 5.049 = 6.699 kN/m 2

Passive pressure at the top of the drain wall = 0

Passive pressure at the base of the wall = γwZ = (9.8 × 0.55) = 5.39
kN/m2
Net pressure at the base of the wall = 6.699 – 5.39 = 1.309 kN/m 2
Total vertical load (N)
Walls (Wws) = 2(0.15 x 0.7 x 24) = 5.04 kN/m
Base (Wb) = 1.1 x 0.15 x 24 = 3.96 kN/m
Water (Ww) = 0.4 x 0.8 x 9.8 = 3.136 kN/m
Total vertical load Wws + Wb + Ww (N) = 5.04 + 3.96 + 3.136 = 12.136
kN/m

Horizontal forces on drain walls due to surcharge load and

backfill

Resultant pressure on drain wall

Wall 1 = qKaZ + (0.5 × KaγZ × Z) – (0.5 × γwZ × Z) = (15 × 0.333 ×

0.85) + (0.5 × 5.049 × 0.85) – (0.5 × 5.39 × 0.85) = 4.246 + 2.146
+ 2.291 = 4.101 kN/m
Wall 2 = qKaZ + (0.5 × KaγZ × Z) – (0.5 × γwZ × Z) = (5 × 0.33 ×
0.85) + (0.5 × 5.049 × 0.85) – (0.5 × 5.39 × 0.85) = 1.403 + 2.146
– 2.291 = 1.258 kN/m

Net horizontal force (PA) = 4.101 – 1.258 = 2.843 kN/m

Resistance to sliding
Frictional Force (Ff) = μN = 0.5 × 12.136 = 6.068 kN/m
F.O.S = Ff / PA = 6.068/2.843 = 2.134
The factor of safety 2.134 > 1.5. Therefore, the drain is very safe from
sliding.

Resistance to overturning
Taking moment about wall 1;

Sum of overturning moments (Mo) = (4.101 – 1.258) × (0.85/3) =

0.806 kNm per m
Sum of restoring moments (MR) = (W1 × 0.075m) + (Ww × 0.55m) +
(W2 × 1.025) + (Wb × 0.55) = (2.52 × 0.075) + (3.136 × 0.55)
+(2.52 × 1.025) + (3.96 × 0.55) = 0.189 + 1.725 + 2.583 + 2.178 =
6.675 kNm/m

F.O.S = MR / MO = 6.675/0.806 = 8.281

The factor of safety 8.281 > 2. Therefore, the drain is very safe from
overturning.

Bearing capacity check

Bending moment about the centerline of the base;

M = (W2 × 0.475m) + (4.101 × 0.85/3) – (W1 × 0.475m) – (1.258 ×

0.85/3) = (2.52 × 0.475m) + (4.101 × 0.85/3) – (2.52 × 0.475m) –
(1.258 × 0.85/3) = 1.197 + 1.162 – 1.197 – 0.356 = 0.806 kNm per
m
Total vertical load (N) = 12.136 kN/m
Eccentricity (e) = M/N = 0.806/12.136 = 0.066m

Check: D/6 = 1.1/6 = 0.183m

Since e < D/6, there is no tension in the drain base.

Maximum pressure in the drain base (qmax) = P/B (1 + 6e/B) =

12.136/1.1 [1 + (6 × 0.066)/1.1] = 15.005 kN/m 2
Minimum pressure in the drain base (qmin) = P/B (1 – 6e/B) =
12.136/1.1 [1 – (6 × 0.066)/1.1] = 7.061 kN/m 2

Since qmin and qmax are lower than the allowable bearing pressure of the
soil (150 kN/m2), bearing capacity check is satisfied.

Structural Design

Design of the Walls

Since the horizontal force due to surcharge load and backfill on Wall 1
> Wall 2, we adopt Wall 1 parameters for design. Using the centroid
formula of a parallelogram for the pressure diagram of wall 1 to
determine the distance (x) from the centroid to the base of the wall
and distance (y) from the centroid to the top of the wall;

x = 0.85 [((4.609 + (2 x 4.95)) / (3(4.609 + 4.95))] = 0.43m

Thus, y = 0.85 – 0.43 = 0.42m

Taking moment at the top of the drain wall due to the active force;
M = 4.101 x 0.42 = 1.722 kNm per m

Taking moment at the base of the drain wall due to the active force;
M = 4.101 x 0.43 = 1.763 kNm per m

Since the moment at the base of the drain wall is greater than that at
the top, we adopt the moment at the base for design.
At ultimate limit state;
M = 1.4 × 1.763 = 2.468 kNm per m

Flexural Design (Bending)

Given: Thickness of wall (h) = 150mm, Cover = 40mm, f cu = 20
N/mm2, fy = 460N/mm2, Rebars = 10mm

Effective depth (d) = 150 – 40 – (10/2) = 105 mm

K = M/(fcubd2) = (2.468 x 106) / (20 x 1000 x 1052) = 0.0112 (K <

0.156)
la = 0.5 + (0.25 – k/0.9)0.5 = 0.5 + (0.25 – 0.0112/0.9)0.5 = 0.987
Since 0.987 > 0.95, la = 0.95

As,req = M/(0.95fy.la.d) = (2.468 x 106) / (0.95 × 460 x 0.95 x 105) =

56.62 mm2/m
ASmin = (0.13bh)/100 = (0.13 x 1000 x 150) / 100 = 195 mm 2

cc

Steel ratio check

4.0 > (100ASprov / bh) > 0.13
4.0 > (100 x 260) / (1000 x 150) > 0.13
4.0 > 0.17 > 0.13 (Steel ratio is satisfied)

Shear check
Ultimate design shear force on drain wall (V) = (1.4 × 4.101) = 5.741
kN/m

Shear stress (v) = V/bd = (5.741 × 1000) / (1000 × 105) = 0.055

N/mm2

Shear strength (vc) = 0.632 × (100As/bd)1/3 × (400/d)1/4 × (fcu/25)1/3

vc = 0.632 × [(100 × 260)/(1000 × 105)]1/3 × (400/302)1/4 ×
(20/25)1/3 = 0.632 × 1.3529 × 1.3971 × 0.9283 = 1.109 N/mm 2
Since v < vc, no shear reinforcement required.

Design of the base

The pressure distribution diagram on the base at serviceability limit
state is shown below;
qmin = 7.061 kN/m2
qmax = 15.005 kN/m2

Pressure distribution on the drain base

At the ultimate limit state;

qmin = 7.061 x 1.4 = 9.885 kN/m 2

qmax = 15.005 x 1.4 = 21.007 kN/m2
On investigating the maximum design moment at point A;

Water = 1.4 × [9.8 × 0.4 × 0.8 × (0.8/2 + 0.15) = 2.415 kNm/m

Base = 1.4 × [24 × 0.15 × 0.8 × (0.8/2 + 0.15) = 2.218 kNm/m
Earth pressure = [9.885 × 1.1 × (1.1/2)] + [(21.007 – 9.885) × 1.1 x
0.5 × (1.1/3)] = 8.223 kNm/m

Net moment = 8.223 – 2.415 – 2.218 = 3.59 kNm/m

On investigating the maximum design moment at point B;

Water = 2.415 kNm/m

Base = 2.218 kNm/m
Earth pressure = [9.885 × 1.1 × (1.1/2)] + [(21.007 – 9.885) × 1.1
× 0.5 × (2 × 1.1/3)] = 10.466 kNm/m

Net moment = 10.466 – 2.415 – 2.218 = 5.833 kNm per m

Since net moment at B > moment at A, we adopt 5.8833 kNm for

design.

Flexural Design (Bending)

Given: Thickness of base(h) = 150 mm, Cover = 40 mm, fcu = 20
N/mm2, fy = 460 N/mm2, Size of rebars = 10mm

Effective depth (d) = 150 – 40 – (10/2) = 105mm

K = M/(Fcubd2) = (5.833 × 106) / (20 × 1000 × 1052) = 0.0265 (K <

0.156)
la = 0.5 + (0.25 – k/0.9)0.5 = 0.5 + (0.25 – 0.0265/0.9)0.5 = 0.97

Since 0.97 > 0.95, La = 0.95

ASreq = M/(0.95Fy.La.d ) = (5.833 × 106) / (0.95 × 460 × 0.95 × 105)

= 133.82 mm2/m
ASmin = (0.13bh)/100 = (0.13× 1000 × 150) / 100 = 195 mm 2
Provide Y10 @ 300mm c/c (ASprov = 260 mm2/m)

Shear Check
Calculating the maximum shear force at any section of the drain base;

Water = 1.4 × (9.8 × 0.4 × 0.8) = 4.39 kN/m

Base = 1.4 × (24 × 0.15 × 0.8) = 4.032 kN/m
Earth pressure = 0.5 × (21.007 + 9.885) × 0.8 = 12.356 kN/m

Net shear force = 12.356 – 4.39 – 4.032 = 3.934 kN/m

Shear stress (v) = V/bd = (3.934 × 1000) / (1000 × 105) = 0.037

N/mm2

Shear strength (Vc) = 0.632 × (100As/bd)1/3 × (400/d)1/4 × (fcu/25)1/3 =

0.632 × (100 × 260)/(1000 × 105)]1/3 × (400/302)1/4 × (20/25)1/3 =
0.632 × 1.3529 × 1.3971 × 0.9283 = 1.109 N/mm 2

Since v < Vc, no shear reinforcement required.