Elements of Soil Mechanics, 8th Edition

Exercises 7.2 & 7.5

The worksheets in this spreadsheet illustrate the use of the Factor of Safety and the
Eurocode 7 EQU and GEO limit state design methods for the design of gravity retaining
walls.

Although the spreadsheet contains the data for Exercises 7.2 & 7.5 from the book, the
data may be changed so that the reader can see the effect of varying the soil properties,
retained height etc.

Instructions:

1. As the routines call data from the partial factors spreadsheet, a dialog box asking
whether to update the data will appear. To use the default Eurocode 7 partial factor
values, click "Don't Update". If, however, you have changed values in the partial factors
spreadsheet, click "Update".

2. Select Data input sheet and enter data. Results are displayed on other sheets.

Ian Smith, Sept 2005
The worksheets in this spreadsheet illustrate the use of the Factor of Safety and the
Eurocode 7 EQU and GEO limit state design methods for the design of gravity retaining
Although the spreadsheet contains the data for Exercises 7.2 & 7.5 from the book, the
data may be changed so that the reader can see the effect of varying the soil properties,
1. As the routines call data from the partial factors spreadsheet, a dialog box asking
whether to update the data will appear. To use the default Eurocode 7 partial factor
values, click "Don't Update". If, however, you have changed values in the partial factors
2. Select Data input sheet and enter data. Results are displayed on other sheets.
Depth to underside of base d
base
= 0.00 m
Thickness of base t
base
= 1.00 m
Height of wall above foundation h
wall
= 5.00 m
Breadth of base b
base
= 2.50 m
Breadth of top b
top
= 1.80 m
Concrete weight density
conc
= 23.50
kN/m
3
Water weight density
water
= 9.81
kN/m
3
Retained fill
Weight density
fill.dry
= 18.00
kN/m
3
Shearing resistance
fill
= 35.00
Effective cohesion c'
fill
= 0.00 kPa
Foundation soil
Weight density
fdn
= 18.00
kN/m
3
Shearing resistance
fdn
= 35.00
Effective cohesion c'
fdn
= 0.00 kPa
Applied surcharge q = 0.00 kPa
Enter values into blue fields.
Design Results:
EQU: Overturning 2.74 (OK)
GEO: Sliding: DA1, Cbntn 1: 2.76 (OK)
GEO: Sliding: DA1, Cbntn 2: 2.27 (OK) (Governs)
surcharge, q
b
base
h
wall
t
base
b
top
d
base
2
3
1
Lumped Factor of Safety
1. Sliding
Backfill
Active earth pressure coefficient Ka
d.fill
= 0.271
Angle of interface friction
d
= 23.45
Weight density
d.fill
= 18.000
Self-weight of wall:
Wall area 1, W
1
G
vk.1
= 32.90
Wall area 2, W
2
G
vk.2
= 169.20
Wall area 3, W
3
G
vk.3
= 58.75
Total: G
vk.wall
= 260.85
Active earth pressures
@ foundation
Active lateral earth pressure (fill) p
fdn1
= 24.39
Active lateral earth pressure (fndtn soil) p
fdn2
= 0.00
@ base
Active lateral earth pressure p
base
= 0
Active thrust behind wall (permanent - unfavourable)
Active earth pressure 1 P
a1
= 60.97
Active earth pressure 2 P
a2
= 0.00
Total horizontal thrust H
d
= 60.97
Sliding resistance
Horizontal resistance R
hd.base
= 113.15
Factor of safety against sliding = F
s
= 1.86
2. Overturning
Disturbing
Lever arms:
P
a
due to fill L
Pa
= 1.67
Moments:
Destabilising mmt due to fill M
dst1.b
= 101.62
Stabilising
Lever arms:
Wall area 1 L
wall1
= 0.47
Wall area 2
L
wall2
= 1.60
Wall area 3
L
wall3
= 1.25
Moments:
Stabilising mmt due to Area 1 M
stb1
= 15.35
Stabilising mmt due to Area 2 M
stb2
= 270.72
Stabilising mmt due to Area 3 M
stb3
= 73.44
Total stabilising moment M
stb
= 359.51
Factor of safety against overturning = F
o
= 3.54
1. Geometry
Wall dimensions:
height of sloping portion, h
sloping
h
sloping
= 4.00
Wall area 1, A
1
Area
1
= 1.40
Wall area 2, A
2
Area
2
= 7.20
Wall area 3, A
3
Area
3
= 2.50
Total: A
wall
= 11.10
2. Representative actions
Self-weight of wall:
Wall area 1, W
1
G
vk.1
= 32.90
Wall area 2, W
2
G
vk.2
= 169.20
Wall area 3, W
3
G
vk.3
= 58.75
Total: G
vk.wall
= 260.85
3. Characteristic material properties
Concrete weight density
k.conc
= 23.50
kN/m
3
Retained fill
Weight density
k.fill.dry
= 18.00
kN/m
3
Shearing resistance
k.fill
= 35.00
Effective cohesion c'
k.fill
= 0.00 kPa
Foundation soil
Weight density
k.fdn
= 18.00
kN/m
3
Shearing resistance
k.fdn
= 35.00
Effective cohesion c'
k.fdn
= 0.00 kPa
EQU Limit State - Overturning
1. Partial factors
On unfavourable actions/action effects
Permanent actions
G
= 1.10
Variable actions
Q
= 1.50
On favourable actions/action effects
Permanent actions
G.fav
= 0.90
Variable actions
Q.fav
= -
On material properties/resistances
Coefficient of shearing resistance

= 1.25
Effective cohesion
c
= 1.25
Weight density

= 1.00
2. Design geometry
Retained height of fill H

= 5.00
3. Design material properties:
Backfill
Angle of shearing resistance
d.fill
= 29.26
Effective cohesion c'
d.fill
= 0.00
Active earth pressure coefficient Ka
d.fill
= 0.286
Weight density
d.fill
= 18.000
Foundation soil
Angle of shearing resistance
d.fdn
= 29.26
Effective cohesion c'
d.fdn
= 0.00
Angle of interface friction
d.fdn
= 29.26
Active earth pressure coefficient Ka
d.fdn
= 0.286
Weight density
d.fdn
= 18.000
4. Design actions
Self-weight of wall (permanent - favourable)
Wall area 1, W
1
G
vd.1
= 29.61
Wall area 2, W
2
G
vd.2
= 152.28
Wall area 3, W
3
G
vd.3
= 52.88
Total: G
vd.wall
= 234.77
Active earth pressures
@ foundation
Active lateral earth pressure (fill) p
fdn1
= 25.74
Active lateral earth pressure (fndtn soil) p
fdn2
= 25.74
@ base
Active lateral earth pressure p
base
= 25.74
Active thrust behind wall (permanent - unfavourable)
Active earth pressure 1 G
hd1
= 70.79
Active earth pressure 2 G
hd2
= 0.00
Active thrust due to surcharge (variable - unfavourable)
Surcharge pressure 1 Q
hd1
= 0.00
Surcharge pressure 2 Q
hd2
= 0.00
5. Design effect of actions
Lever arms:
P
a
due to fill, G
hd1
L
Ghd1
= 1.67
P
a
due to fndtn soil, G
hd2
L
Ghd2
= 0.00
P
a
due to surcharge, Q
hd1
L
Qhd1
= 2.50
P
a
due to surcharge, Q
hd2
L
Qhd2
= 0.00
Moments:
Destabilising mmt due to fill M
dst1
= 117.98
Destabilising mmt due to fndtn soil M
dst2
= 0.00
Destabilising mmt due to surcharge, Q
hd1
M
dst3
= 0.00
Destabilising mmt due to surcharge, Q
hd2
M
dst4
= 0.00
Total destabilising moment M
dst
= 117.98
Effect of actions E
dst
= 117.98
6. Design resistance
Lever arms:
Wall area 1 L
wall1
= 0.47
Wall area 2
L
wall2
= 1.60
Wall area 3
L
wall3
= 1.25
Moments:
Stabilising mmt due to Area 1 M
stb1
= 13.82
Stabilising mmt due to Area 2 M
stb2
= 243.65
Stabilising mmt due to Area 3 M
stb3
= 66.09
Total stabilising moment M
stb
= 323.56
7. Verification of overturning resistance
Overdesign factor
Ratio of resistance to effects = 2.74
Degree of utilisation
Proportion of available resistance used = 36%
7. Verification of overturning resistance
Overdesign factor
Ratio of resistance to effects = 2.74
Degree of utilisation
Proportion of available resistance used = 36.5%
red= from Partial Factors table
GEO Limit State - Sliding Design Approach 1, Combination 1
A1+M1+R1
1. Partial factors
On unfavourable actions/action effects
Permanent actions
G
= 1.35
Variable actions
Q
= 1.50
On favourable actions/action effects
Permanent actions
G.fav
= 1.00
Variable actions
Q.fav
= -
On material properties/resistances
Coefficient of shearing resistance

= 1.00
Effective cohesion
c
= 1.00
Weight density

= 1.00
Bearing resistance
Rv
= 1.00
Sliding resistance
Rh
= 1.00
2. Design geometry
Retained height of fill H

= 5.00
3. Design material properties:
Backfill
Angle of shearing resistance
d.fill
= 35.00
Effective cohesion c'
d.fill
= 0.00
Weight density
d.fill
= 18.000
Active earth pressure coefficient Ka
d.fill
= 0.218
Foundation soil
Angle of shearing resistance
d.fdn
= 35.00
Effective cohesion c'
d.fdn
= 0.00
Weight density
d.fdn
= 18.000
Angle of interface friction
d.fdn
= 35.00
Active earth pressure coefficient Ka
d.fdn
= 0.218
4. Design actions
Self-weight of wall (permanent - favourable)
Wall area 1, W
1
G
vd.1
= 32.90
Wall area 2, W
2
G
vd.2
= 169.20
Wall area 3, W
3
G
vd.3
= 58.75
Total: G
vd.wall
= 260.85
Active earth pressures
@ foundation
Active lateral earth pressure (fill) p
fdn1
= 19.62
Active lateral earth pressure (fndtn soil) p
fdn2
= 19.62
@ base
Active lateral earth pressure p
base
= 19.62
Active thrust behind wall (permanent - unfavourable)
Active earth pressure 1 G
hd1
= 66.22
Active earth pressure 2 G
hd2
= 0.00
Active thrust due to surcharge (variable - unfavourable)
Surcharge pressure 1 Q
hd1
= 0.00
Surcharge pressure 2 Q
hd2
= 0.00
5. Design effect of actions
Total horizontal thrust H
d
= 66.22
Effect of actions E
hd
= 66.22
6. Design resistance
Friction on underside of base
Vertical action (total) V
d
= 260.85
Horizontal resistance R
hd
= 182.65
7. Verification of sliding resistance
Overdesign factor
Ratio of resistance to effects = 2.76
Degree of utilisation
Proportion of available resistance used = 36%
Design Approach 1, Combination 1
7. Verification of sliding resistance
Overdesign factor
Ratio of resistance to effects = 2.76
Degree of utilisation
Proportion of available resistance used = 36.3%
red= from Partial Factors table
GEO Limit State - Sliding Design Approach 1, Combination 2
A2+M2+R1
1. Partial factors
On unfavourable actions/action effects
Permanent actions
G
= 1.00
Variable actions
Q
= 1.30
On favourable actions/action effects
Permanent actions
G.fav
= 1.00
Variable actions
Q.fav
= -
On material properties/resistances
Coefficient of shearing resistance

= 1.25
Effective cohesion
c
= 1.25
Weight density

= 1.00
Bearing resistance
Rv
= 1.00
Sliding resistance
Rh
= 1.00
2. Design geometry
Retained height of fill H

= 5.00
3. Design material properties:
Backfill
Angle of shearing resistance
d.fill
= 29.26
Effective cohesion c'
d.fill
= 0.00
Weight density
d.fill
= 18.000
Active earth pressure coefficient Ka
d.fill
= 0.286
Foundation soil
Angle of shearing resistance
d.fdn
= 29.26
Effective cohesion c'
d.fdn
= 0.00
Weight density
d.fdn
= 18.000
Angle of interface friction
d.fdn
= 29.26
Active earth pressure coefficient Ka
d.fdn
= 0.286
4. Design actions
Self-weight of wall (permanent - favourable)
Wall area 1, W
1
G
vd.1
= 32.90
Wall area 2, W
2
G
vd.2
= 169.20
Wall area 3, W
3
G
vd.3
= 58.75
Total: G
vd.wall
= 260.85
Active earth pressures
@ foundation
Active lateral earth pressure (fill) p
fdn1
= 25.74
Active lateral earth pressure (fndtn soil) p
fdn2
= 25.74
@ base
Active lateral earth pressure p
base
= 25.74
Active thrust behind wall (permanent - unfavourable)
Active earth pressure 1 G
hd1
= 64.35
Active earth pressure 2 G
hd2
= 0.00
Active thrust due to surcharge (variable - unfavourable)
Surcharge pressure 1 Q
hd1
= 0.00
Surcharge pressure 2 Q
hd2
= 0.00
5. Design effect of actions
Total horizontal thrust H
d
= 64.35
Effect of actions E
hd
= 64.35
6. Design resistance
Friction on underside of base
Vertical action (total) V
d
= 260.85
Horizontal resistance R
hd
= 146.12
7. Verification of sliding resistance
Overdesign factor
Ratio of resistance to effects = 2.27
Degree of utilisation
Proportion of available resistance used = 44%
Design Approach 1, Combination 2
7. Verification of sliding resistance
Overdesign factor
Ratio of resistance to effects = 2.27
Degree of utilisation
Proportion of available resistance used = 44.0%
red= from Partial Factors table
This spreadsheet has been downloaded from the website that supports
Smith's Elements of Soil Mechanics, 8th Edition
Published by Blackwell Publishing, May 2006
ISBN: 1-4051-3370-8
Visit the website:
http://sbe.napier.ac.uk/esm
Purchase the book:
(Blackwell Publishing website)
http://sbe.napier.ac.uk/esm
Please note:
This spreadsheet is an aid for learning and should really only be
used in conjunction with the relevant section in the book.

It is not intended for use in geotechnical design.

Ian Smith, May 2006