Summary Sheet

Session Number : 5

Date : 09.04.2007
Subject Expert :
Dr. M.C. Nataraja
Professor
Department of Civil Engineering,
Sri Jayachamarajendra College of
Engineering,
Mysore – 570 006.
Phone:0821-2343521, 9880447742
E-mail: nataraja96@yahoo.com
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Design and Detailing of Counterfort
Retaining wall

Dr. M.C. NATARAJA

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 PROBLEM
-Counterfort Retaining Wall
• A R.C.C. retaining wall with counterforts is
required to support earth to a height of 7 m above
the ground level. The top surface of the backfill is
horizontal. The trial pit taken at the site indicates
that soil of bearing capacity 220 kN/m2 is available
at a depth of 1.25 m below the ground level. The
weight of earth is 18 kN/m3 and angle of repose is
30°. The coefficient of friction between concrete
and soil is 0.58. Use concrete M20 and steel
grade Fe 415. Design the retaining wall.

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Draw the following:
• Cross section of wall near the counterfort
• Cross section of wall between the counterforts
• L/s of stem at the base cutting the counterforts

Given:
fck = 20 N/mm2, fy = 415N/mm2, H = 7 m above G.L,
Depth of footing below G.L. = 1.25 m, γ = 18 kN/m3,
μ = 0.58, fb =SBC= 220 kN/m2

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 b. Check Stability of Wall
Dist. of Moment
Sr. Description of
Loads in kN e.g. from about
No. loads
T in m T in kN-m
Weight of stem 25x0.25x1x7.8 1.2 + 0.25/2
1 64.59
W1 = 48.75 =1.325

Weight of base 25x5.5x1x0.45

2 5.5/2 =2.75 170.17
slab W2 = 61.88

Weight of earth 18x4.05x1x7.8 1.45 +4.05/2

3 1975.95
over heel slab W3 = 568.62 = 3.475

ΣW
Total ΣW = 679.25
=2210.71

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 Stability of walls
Horizontal earth pressure on full height of wall
= Ph = kaH2 /2 =18 x 8.252/(3 x 2) = 204.19 kN

Overturning moment = M0
= Ph x H/3 = 204.19 x 8.25/3 = 561.52 kN.m.
Factor of safety against overturning
= ∑ M / M0 = 2210.71/561.52 = 3.94 > 1.55
 safe.

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Check for sliding

Total horizontal force tending to slide the wall

= Ph = 204.19 kN
Resisting force = ∑µ.W = 0.58 x 679.25
= 393.97 kN
Factor of safety against sliding
= ∑µ.W / Ph = 393.97/204.19
= 1.93 > 1.55 ... safe.

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Check for pressure distribution at base

Let x be the distance of R from toe (T),

 x = ∑ M / ∑ W = 2210.71 -561.52 /679.25 = 2.43 m
Eccentricity=e = b/2 - x = 5.5/2 - 2.43 = 0.32 < b/6 (0.91m)
Whole base is under compression.

Maximum pressure at toe

= pA = ∑W / b ( 1+6e/b) = 679.25/5.5 ( 1+ 6*0.32/5.5)
= 166.61 kN/m2 < f b (i.e. SBC= 220 kN/m2)

Minimum pressure at heel

= pD = 80.39 kN/m2 compression.
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Intensity of pressure at junction of stem with toe i.e. under
B
= pB = 80.39 + (166.61 - 80.39) x 4.3/5.5 = 147.8kN/m2

Intensity of pressure at junction of stem with heel i.e. under

C
=Pc= 80.39 + (166.61 - 80.39) x 4.05/5.5 = 143.9 kN/m2

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 b) Design of Toe slab
Max. BMB = psf x (moment due to soil pressure - moment
due to wt. of slab TB]

= 1.5 [147.8 x 1.22/2 + (166.61 - 147.8) x 1.2 (2/3 x 1.2)

-(25x 1.2 x 0.45 x 1.2/2) =174.57 kN-m.

Mu/bd2= 1.14 < 2.76, URS

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 b) Design of Toe slab- Contd.,
To find steel

pt=0.34% <0.96%, A st =1326 mm2, # 16 @150

However, provide # 16 @110 from shear considerations.
Area provided =1827 mm2 , pt=0.47%
Development length= 47 x 16=750 mm
Distribution steel = 0.12 x 1000 x 450/100 = 540 mm2
Provide #12 mm at 200 mm c/c.
Area provided = 565 mm2

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 (c) Design of Heel Slab

Continuous slab.
 Consider 1 m wide strip near the outer edge D
The forces acting near the edge are
Downward wt. of soil=18x7.8xl= 140.4 kN/m
Downward wt. of heel slab = 25 x 0.45 x 1= 11.25 kN/m
Upward soil pressure 80.39 kN/m2= 80.39 x 1= 80.39 kN/m
 Net down force at D= 140.4 + 11.25 - 80.39 = 71.26 kN/m
Also net down force at C = 140.4 + 11.25 - 143.9 = 7.75 kN/m

Negative Bending Moment for heel at junction of counterfort

Mu= (psf) pl2 /12 = 1.5 x 71.26 x 2.62/12 = 60.2 kN-m (At the junction of CF)

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To find steel
Mu/bd2=60.2x106/(1000x3902)= 0.39 < 2.76, URS
To find steel
pt=0.114% <0.12%GA (Min. steel), <0.96%(pt,lim.)
Provide 0.12% of GA

Ast= 0.12x1000x450/100 = 540 mm2

Provide # 12 mm @ 200 mm c/c,
Area provided = 565 mm2

pt= 100 x 565/ (1000 x 390) = 0.14 %

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Check for shear (Heel slab)
Maximum shear = Vu,max = 1.5 x 71.26 x 2.6/2 = 139 kN
For Pt, = 0.14 % and M20 concrete, ζuc= 0.28 N/mm2

ζv= Vumax/bd =0.36 N/mm2 ,

ζuc < ζv, Unsafe, Hence shear steel is needed

Using #8 mm 2-legged stirrups,

Spacing=0.87x415x100/[(0.36-0.28)x1000]
= 452 mm < (0.75 x 390 = 290 mm or 300 mm )
 Provide #8 mm 2-legged stirrups at 290 mm c/c.

 Provide for 1m x 1m area as shown in figure

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Area of steel for +ve moment
(Heel slab)

Maximum +ve ultimate moment = psf x pl2/16

= 3/4 Mu = 0.75 x 60.2= 45.15 kN-m.
Mu/bd2=Very small and hence provide minimum steel.
Ast,min= 540 mm2
 Provide # 12 mm bars at 200 mm c/c.
 Area provided = 565 mm2 > 540 mm2

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Check the force at junction of heel slab with stem
The intensity of downward force decreases due to
increases in upward soil reaction. Consider m width of
the slab at C
Net downward force= 18 x 7.8 +25 x 0.45 - 143.9 = 7.75
kN/m.  Provide only minimum reinforcement.

Distribution steel
Ast = 0.12 x 1000 x 450/100 = 540 mm2
Using # 12 mm bars, spacing = 1000 x 113/468 = 241 mm.
Provide # 12 mm at 200 mm c/c.
Area provided = 565 mm2

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(d) Design of Stem (Vertical Slab).
Continuous slab spanning between the counterforts and
subjected to earth pressure.
The intensity of earth pressure
= ph = ka γh =18 x 7.8/3=46.8 kN/m2
Area of steel on earth side near counterforts :
Maximum -ve ultimate moment,
Mu = 1.5 x ph l2/12 = 1.5 x 46.8 x 2.62/12 = 39.54 kN.m.
Required d = √ (39.54 x 106/(2.76 x 1000)) = 119 mm
However provide total depth = 250 mm
Mu/bd2= 39.54x106/1000x3902=1.1 < 2.76, URS

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To find steel: Pt=0.34% <0.96%,
Ast=646 mm2, #12 mm @ 170 mm c/c,
However provide #12 mm @ 110 mm c/c,
Area provided = 1027.27 mm2,Pt= 0.54 %.

As the earth pressure decreases towards the top, the

spacing of the bars is increased with decrease in height.

Max.ult. shear = Vumax = 1.5 x 46.8 x 2.6/2 = 91.26 kN

For Pt, = 0.54 % and M20 concrete ζuc= 0.5 N/mm2

ζv= Vumax/bd =91.28 x1000/(100X190)=0.48 N/mm2,

Shear steel is not needed and hence safe.

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(e) Design of Counterfort
At any section at any depth h below the top, the total
horizontal earth pressure acting on the counterfort
= 1/2 kay h2x c/c distance between counterfort
= 18 x h2 x 3 x 1/6 = 9 h2

B.M. at any depth h = 9h2xh/3 = 3h3

B.M. at the base at C= 3 x 7.83 = 1423.7 kN.m.

Ultimate moment = Mu= 1.5 x 1423.7 = 2135.60 kN.m.

Counterfort acts as a T-beam.

Even assuming rectangular section,
d =√(2135.6 x 106(2.76 x 400)) = 1390 mm
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Ast.min = 0.85 bd/fy = 0.85 x 400 x 3535/415 = 2896 mm2

 Provided 4- # 22 mm + 4 - # 22 mm,
 Area provided = 3041 mm2
pt = 100 x 3041/(400 x 3535) = 0.21 %

The height h where half of the reinforcement can be

curtailed is approximately equal to √H= √7.8=2.79 m

Curtail 4 bars at 2.79-Ldt from top i.e, 2.79-1.03 =1.77m

from top.

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 Design of Horizontal Ties
The direct pull by the wall on counterfort for 1 m height at
base
= kaγh x c/c distance =1/3x18 x 7.8 x 3 = 140.4 kN
Area of steel required to resist the direct pull
= 1.5 x 140.4 x 103/(0.87 x 415) = 583 mm2 per m height.
Using # 8 mm 2-legged stirrups, Ast = 100 mm2
spacing = 1000 x 100/583 = 170 mm c/c.
 Provide # 8 at 170 mm c/c.
Since the horizontal pressure decreases with h, the
spacing of stirrups can be increased from 170 mm c/c to
450 mm c/c towards the top.

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 Design of Vertical Ties
The maximum pull will be exerted at the end of heel slab
where the net downward force = 71.26 kN/m.

Total downward force at D

= 71.26 x c/c distance bet. CFs = 71.28 x 3 = 213.78 kN.

Required Ast = 1.5 x 213.78 x 103/(0.87 x 415) = 888 mm2

Using # 8 mm 2-legged stirrups , Ast = 100 mm2
spacing = 1000 x 100/888 = 110 mm c/c.

Provide # 8 mm 2-legged stirrups at 110 mm c/c.

Increase the spacing of vertical stirrups from 110 mm c/c to
450 mm c/c towards the end C
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DRAWING AND DETAILING

COUNTERFORT RETAINING WALL

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 Examination Problems

July 2006
• Single bay Fixed Portal Frame
• Combined footing (Beam and slab type)

December 2006
• T-shaped Cantilever Retaining wall
• Combined footing (Type not mentioned)
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Exam Problem (Dec. 2006)
Design a T shaped cantilever retaining wall to retain earth
embankment 3.2 m high above the ground level. The
unit weight of the earth is 18 kN/m2 and its angle of
repose is 30 degrees. The embankment is horizontal at
it top. The SBC of soil is 120 kN/m2 and the co-efficient
of friction between soil and concrete is 0.5. Use M20
concrete and Fe 415 steel. Draw the following to a
suitable scale:
1. Section of the retaining wall
2. Reinforcement details at the inner face of the stem.
60 Marks
Data: h1=3.2 m, µ=0.5, γ=18 kN/m2, ө=30º, SBC= 120
kN/m2,
M20 Concrete and Fe 415 steel
Find H= h1 + Df
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