Retaining Wall

Design Retaining Walls
Retaining walls
A retaining wall is a structure built for the purpose of holding back or
retaining or providing one-sided lateral confinement of soil or other
loose material. The loose material being retained pushes against the
wall, tending to overturn and slide it. Retaining walls are used in
many design situations where there are abrupt changes in the ground
slope. Such situations occurred when the width of an excavation, cut,
or embankment is restricted by conditions of ownership, use of the
structure, or economy.
Types of retaining walls:
These structures are commonly used in construction projects
and may be classified generally as:
1. Gravity retaining walls.
3. Cantilever retaining walls.
4. Counter fort retaining walls.
1. Gravity Retaining Walls
- Used for walls up to 10 t0 12 ftin height
Gravity retaining walls are constructed with

plain concrete or stone masonry. They depend
on their own weight and any soil resting on the
masonry for stability. This type of construction
is not economical for high walls.
In many cases, a small amount of steel may be used for the

construction of gravity walls, thereby minimizing the size of the
wall sections. Such walls are generally referred to as semi-
gravity walls.
2 Semigravity Retaining Walls
The depend on their own weights plus the weight of some soil behind the
wall to provide stability
3. Cantilever Retaining Walls
Are made of reinforced concrete that consists of a thin stem and base slab.
This type of wall is economical to a height of about 25ft (8m).
Stem the vertical wall
Heel - the part that tends to be lifted
Toe - The outside part of the footing

that is pressed down into the soil
3. Cantilever Retaining Walls
3. Counter fort Retaining Walls:
Are similar to cantilever walls. At

regular intervals, however, they
have thin vertical concrete slabs
known as counter forts that tie the
wall and the base slab together.
The purpose of counter forts is to
reduce the shear and the bending
moments. To design retaining wall
properly, an engineer must know
the basic soil parameters, which
are the unit weight, angle of
friction, and cohesion.
3. Butress Retaining Walls:
Drainage
One of the most important items in designing and constructing successful
retaining walls is the prevention of water accumulation behind the wall. If
water is allowed to build up there, the result can be great lateral water pressure
against the wall
Retaining walls
Loads on retaining walls:
Downward load due to the own weight of the wall and base, and the
weight of the soil resting directly on the base (considered as dead load
and subjected to load factor1.4). In addition to any surcharge that may
exist, (considered as live load and subjected to load factor1.7).
Lateral pressure produced by the soil retained behind the wall and
that in front of the toe and the key, (considered as live load and subjected
to load factor1.7).
Upward pressure developed below the base as a result of the
applied downward and lateral load, (they are subjected to load
factor1.7).
Horizontal frictional force developed on the plane of contact
between the base and the soil below as the retaining wall tends to
slide forward.
Retaining walls
Lateral pressure on retaining wall:
The actual pressures that occur behind retaining walls are quite difficult
to estimate because of the large number of variables. On the assumption
that soil is dry and granular (noncohesive), and its surface is horizontal
and free from any surcharge, the lateral pressure exerted by the soil on
retaining wall is termed active earth pressure (Pa)
Retaining walls
pa Ca wh
The pressure developed by the soil in front of the wall and the key, if
provided, as the wall leans against the soil is termed passive earth
pressure.
p p C p wh'
Where Ca and Cp are the approximate coefficients of active and passive

pressure is the unit weight of the soil, h is the distance from the
surface to the point of question.
If the backfill be horizontal, the value of Ca and Cp are:
1 sin
Ca
1 sin
Where: is the angle of internal friction of soil.
1 sin
Cp
1 sin
Retaining walls
The total active horizontal pressure is given by:

C a wh 2
Ha
2
If there is surcharge pressure, the total horizontal
surcharge pressure acting to the wall is given by:
H s C aWh
This force acts through the centroid of the uniform pressure

distribution diagram, i.e. at h/2 above the bottom of the base.
Note: In building the wall may be restrained, so C o (at rest) is
used.
Retaining walls
Stability requirement
To check stability of retaining wall, the following steps are necessary:

Check for overturning about its toe.
F .S overturning
MR
2.0
MO
Check for sliding failure along its base.
F .S s liding
FR
1.5
Fd
To have a good sliding resistance, the key be used below the base of
retaining wall.
Check for bearing capacity of soil.
q m a x q all
Check for over all instability (slope instability).
FOOTING SOIL PRESSURES
Because of lateral forces, the resultant of the horizontal and

vertical forces R intersects the soil underneath the footing
as an eccentric load, causing greater pressure at the toe
DESIGN OF SEMIGRAVITY RETAINING WALL
ESTIMATING THE SIZES OF CANTILEVER RETAINING WALLS
Stem Thickness
Stems are theoretically thickest at their bases because the
shears and moments are greatest there.
-the thickness range of 7-12% of the overall heights of the
retaining walls
- The minimum thickness at the top of the stem is 8 in,
with 12 in preferable.
Base Thickness
-the final thickness of the base will be determined on the
basis of shear and moments.
- For estimating total thickness fall between 7-10% of the
overall wall height
Base Length notes

-About 40-60%of the overall wall height
Stem
The values of shear and moment at the base of the stem
due to lateral earth pressures are computed and used to
determine the stem thickness and necessary reinforcing.
Because the lateral pressure\s are consider to be live load
forces, a load factor of 1.7 is used
- Temperature and shrinkage reinforcement must be

provided
Factor of Safety Against Overturning
Moments are taken about the toe of the unfactored overturning
and righting forces. The FSOT should be at least 2.
- The backfill on the toe is usually neglected because it may very

well eroded
Factor of Safety Against Sliding
The estimated sliding resistance

(R) is divided by the total
horizontal force. The passive
pressure against the wall is
probably neglected, and the
unfactored loads are used.
- The FSSliding should be at least
1.5
Heel design
The major force applied to the heel is the downward
weight of the backfill behind the wall. The load consists
of soil and concrete, a load factor of 1.4 is used for
making calculations.
Toe Design
The toe is assumed to be a beam cantilevered from the front
face of the stem. The loads it must support include the weight
of the cantilever slab and the upward soil pressure beneath
-The pressure is primarily cause by the lateral force H, a load
factor of 1.7 is used for the calculations.
END
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Design Retaining Walls

Gravity retaining walls are constructed with

In many cases, a small amount of steel may be used for the

Stem the vertical wall

Heel - the part that tends to be lifted

Toe - The outside part of the footing

Are similar to cantilever walls. At

Where Ca and Cp are the approximate coefficients of active and passive

The total active horizontal pressure is given by:

This force acts through the centroid of the uniform pressure

To check stability of retaining wall, the following steps are necessary:

Because of lateral forces, the resultant of the horizontal and

Base Length notes

- Temperature and shrinkage reinforcement must be

- The backfill on the toe is usually neglected because it may very

Factor of Safety Against Sliding

The estimated sliding resistance

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