COUNTERFORT RETAINING WALLS

JAFAR ABDULQADER
 Introduction

Retaining walls: are structures used to provide stability for earth

or other material where conditions disallow the mass to assume
its natural slope, and are commonly used to hold back or support
soil banks, coal and water.
  Types of Retaining Walls

Retaining walls are classified, based on the method of achieving stability,

into six principal types:

1- The gravity wall depends on its weight.

2- The cantilever wall depends on cantilever action.
3- Counterfort wall, counterfort is behind the wall and subjected to tensile
forces
4- Buttressed retaining wall is similar to counterfort except that the bracing
in front of the wall in compression.
5- Semigravity retaining wall, intermediate between true gravity cantilever
with small reinforcement large thicknesses.
6- Crib walls: pieces of precast concrete, metals or timber.
Generally, the design of counterforts is economical when it is over
7m in height.
The use of counterforts will be determined taking into
consideration relative costs of:
- Forms.
- Concrete quantities.
- Reinforcing steel.
- Labor.
 Design Procedure for the Retaining Wall

1- Selection of type of retaining wall.

2- Selection of tentative dimensions.
3- Analyzing for stability.
4- Analyzing for structural requirements.
 Common Proportions of Retaining Walls

Retaining wall design proceeds with the selection of tentative

dimensions, which are then analyzed for stability and structural
requirements and revised as required. Since this is a trial process,
several solutions to the problem may be obtained, all of which are
satisfactory.
It is preferable to use batter to effect some saving in materials.
 Example

Analyze the retaining wall shown in figure for overturning and

sliding stability, note that the wall is backfilled with cohesive soil.
 Solution
1  sin 
Ka = = 0.33
1  sin 

Ka γH = 0.33x18x11 = 65.3 kN/m2

Pa = 0.5 ka γ H2 = 359.2 kN
Wall Proportioning
Checking Stability (Ignoring Counterfort Weight)
Checking Stability Against Overturning

Moment
Part Weight of Part, kN Arm, m
kN. m

1 10.3x0.3x24 1.95 140.4

2 =74 2.3 52.0

10x0.2x0.5x24
3 3.8 2600
=24
4 10x(3.9+3.7)/ 2x18 3 432

=684 ∑Mr = 3292

6x1x24

=144
Fv = 849
M overturning = Pa x 11/3 = 359.2 x11/3 = 1317 kN. m

F.S = ∑Mr / ∑Mo = 3292 / 1317 = 2.5

F.S: Factor of Safety

Mo: Overturning moment
Mr: resisting moment

x = ∑M / ∑Fv = 1975 / 933 = 2.12m from toe.

e = B/2 – x = 6/2 – 2.12 = 0.88m

B/6 = 6/6 = 1 > 0.88 ok.

Note:
The base slab dimension should be such that the resultant of the
vertical loads fall within the middle one-third. If the resultant falls
outside, the toe pressures will be very large, only a part of the
footing will be effective.
Check Stability Against Sliding
C = 20 kN/m2
Φ = 30
C' = 0.75C = 0.75x20 = 15 kN/m2
Friction Force = Fr = C'B + Fv tan Φ

= 20x6 + 849 tan 30=610 kN

F.S = 610 / 359.2 = 1.7 OK.
Design of Counterfort Retaining Wall
Checking shear:
Check shear at toe: -
q min = Fv (1  6e )
max B B

q min = 849 (1 - 6x0.88 )

6 6
= 17 kN/m2

q max = 849 (1 + 6x0.88 )

6 6
= 266 kN/m2

Slope = 266  17 = 41.5

6
Shear at d from face of support

= 266-41.5x1.17 = 217 kN. V =

266  217 x 1.17
= 282 2
Vult= 282x1.4 = 1395

Φ Vc =
0.85 20 = 0.63 N/mm2
6
0.63x1000 x630
  397  395kN
1000
Check shear at Stem: -

q = γH ka = 18x10x0.33 = 59.4
M = 0.03 qHL

= 0.03x59.4x10x5=89.1 kN.m

V = 0.2qH = 0.2x59x10 = 118 kN.

Vult = 118X1.4 = 165.2 kN

ΦVC =0.63x450x1000 = 286 kN > Vu OK.

Check of Horizontal Strip: -
Using Hungtinton solution:

q = 59.4 kN q/2 = 29.7 kN

L
V = 29.7 = 29.7 x 4.6 = 68.3 kN
2 2
Vult = 68.3 x 1.4 = 96 kN

Section Capacity = 0.63x300x1000 = 189 kN > 96 kN OK.

Check Shear of Counterfort: -

q= q = 59.4 = 29.7 kN
2 2
V = 29.7 x10 x 5 = 742.5 kN
2
Vult = 742.5 x 1.4 = 1039.5

ΦVc = 0.635x400x4100 = 1041 kN OK.

Check Shear on Heel: -
Pressure at outer edge = 168.4 kN

Pressure at 1m. inside = 127.0 kN

Average pressure = 168.4  127 = 147.7

2
4.6
V = 147.8 x = 340 kN
2
Shear at d from face of counterfort
340
Slope = = 147.8
2.3
147.8x0.63 = 93.1 kN

V = 340-93.1 = 247 kN

Vult = 247x1.4 = 346 kN

ΦVc = 0.635x630x1000 = 400 > Vult OK

Flexural Design:-
Moment at Toe:
Stress at Face of Wall = 266-41.5x1.8 = 191 kN

Moment = 191x1.8x0.9+(266-191) x 1.8 x 1.2 = 390 kN. m

2
Mult = 390x1.4 = 546 kN.m
Mu = 546 x10 6  = 0.0036
= 1.53 
bd 2 0.9 x1000 x630 2

As = 0.0036x630x1000= 2268 mm2 use Y25@200

Moment at Stem:
Horizontal Moment:
2
q = 59.4 kN/2 = 29.7  M= 29.7 x 5 = 74 kN. m
10
Mult = 74x1.4 = 104

Mu = 104 x106  = 0.0033

= 0.72 
bd 2 0.9 x1000 x 400 2

As = 0.0036x1000x400= 1320 mm2 use Y20@200

Moment at Stem:
Vertical Moment:

M = 0.03 qHL = 0.03x59.4x10x5 = 89.1 kN. m

Mult = 89.1x1.4 = 125 kN. m

Mu = 125 x106  = 0.0033

= 0.87 
bd 2 0.9 x1000 x 400 2

As = 1320 use Y20@200

Moment of Counterfort

M = 59.4x 10 x 10 x 5 = 4950 kN. m

2 3
Mult = 4950x1.4 = 6930 kN. m

Mu = 6930 x10 6  = 0.0033

= 1.14 
bd 2 0.9 x 400 x 4100 2

As = 5412 mm2 use 11Y25

Moment at Heel
2
M = 147.7 x 4.6 = 312.5 km. m
10
Mult = 312.5x1.4 = 437.5 kN. m

Mu = 437.5 x106  = 0.0033

= 1.225 
bd 2 0.9 x1000 x630 2

As = 0.0033x1000x630= 2079 mm2 use Y25@200

General Details