Design of retaining walls

Earth Pressure (P)

Earth pressure is the pressure exerted by the retaining material on the retaining wall. This
pressure tends to deflect the wall outward. There are two types of earth pressure and they are;
Active earth pressure or earth pressure (Pa) and Passive earth pressure (Pp). Active earth
pressure tends to deflect the wall away from the backfill. Earth pressure depends on type of
backfill, the height of wall and the soil conditions
Soil conditions: The different soil conditions are
 Dry leveled back fill
 Moist leveled backfill
 Submerged leveled backfill
 Leveled backfill with uniform surcharge
 Backfill with sloping surface
Analysis for dry back fills

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Maximum pressure at any height, p=kah
Total pressure at any height from top, P=1/2[kah]h = [kah2]/2
Bending moment at any height = M=Pxh/3= [kah3]/6
Total pressure at bottom, Pa= [kaH2]/2
Total Bending moment at bottom, M = [kaH3]/6
Where, ka= Coefficient of active earth pressure= (1-sin)/(1+sin)=tan2
= 1/kp, coefficient of passive earth pressure
= Angle of internal friction or angle of repose
=Unit weigh or density of backfill
If = 30, ka=1/3 and kp=3. Thus ka is 9 times kp
Backfill with slopping surface

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pa= ka H at the bottom and is parallel to inclined surface of backfill

Where =Angle of surcharge

Total pressure at bottom=Pa= ka H2/2
Stability requirements of Retaining Walls:
Following conditions must be satisfied for stability of wall.
1. It should not overturn
2. It should not slide
3. It should not subside i.e Max. pressure at the toe should not exceed the safe bearing capacity
of the soil under working condition
Check against overturning
Factor of safety against overturning = MR / MO 1.55 (=1.4/0.9)
Where, MR =Stabilising moment or restoring moment
MO =overturning moment
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MR>1.2 MO, DL + 1.4 MO, IL

0.9 MR 1.4 MO, IL

Check against Sliding

FOS = Resisting force to sliding/Horizontal force causing sliding
= W/Pa 1.55 (=1.4/0.9)
1.4 = ( 0.9W)/Pa
Design of Shear key:
If the wall is not safe against sliding, then a shear key is to be provided. It is provided either
below the stem or at the end of heel. It should not be provided at the end of toe. If shear key is
provided, then it should be designed taking the effect of passive pressure.
In case the wall is unsafe against sliding
pp= p tan2 (45 +/2) = p kp
where pp= Unit passive pressure on soil above shearing plane AB
If
W= Total vertical force acting at the key base
= shearing angle of passive resistance
R= Total passive force = pp x a
PA=Active horizontal pressure at key base for H+a
W=Total frictional force under flat base
For equilibrium, R + W =FOS x PA
FOS= (R + W)/ PA 1.55

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Pressure below the wall
Consider the retaining wall as shown. All forces acting on the wall are shown. The moment of all
forces at the end of toe is considered and the requirements of stability are to be established.
For stability earth pressure at the end of the heel for the entire height of wall should be
considered. The maximum and minimum pressure below the wall can be determined from the
principles of static.
Maximum pressure at the toe
Let the resultant R due to W and Pa lie at a distance x from the toe.
X = M/W, M = sum of all moments about toe.
Eccentricity of the load = e = (b/2-x)
Minimum pressure at heel

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This should not be less than zero to avoid tension at the base. From this e=b/6, resultant should
cut the base within the middle third. Otherwise the wall tends to separate from the base due to
tension.

Maximum pressure at toe

This should not be greater than SBC of soil to avoid the subsidence of wall.
Depth of foundation

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Preliminary Proportioning (T shaped wall)
Following guidelines are to be followed for initial proportioning of wall with out surcharge.
For surcharge and other cases, good text books should be followed.
Stem: Top width 200 mm to 400 mm
Base slab width b= 0.4H to 0.6H, and 0.6H to 0.75H for surcharged wall
Base slab thickness= H/10 to H/14
Toe projection= (1/3-1/4) Base width

Behaviour or structural action and design

All the three elements namely stem, toe and heel acts as cantilever slabs and hence the design
and detailing principles are same as that of conventional cantilever slabs.
Stem design: Mu=partial safety factor x (ka H3/6)

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Determine the depth d from Mu = Mu, lim=Qbd2
Determine the steel based on balanced or under reinforced design. Provide enough development
length at the junction for all bars.

Curtailment of steel
Maximum steel is needed at the base where the BM is maximum. As the BM decreases towards
the top, steel can be suitably curtailed at one or two levels. Usually steel is curtailed at one level
where the steel quantity is about 50% or 67% of the base steel.
Effective depth is Proportional to h
Bending moment is proportional to h3
Ast is αl to BM/Eff. depth and is αl to h2

Distribution steel: 0.12% Gross area for HYSD bars, 0.15% for Mild steel bars

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Temperature steel: Provide this steel at the outer face which is same as the distribution steel.
Also provide suitable development lengths for all steel meeting at the junction. Provide suitable
construction keys, drainage facilities, tile drains and weep holes as shown in the drawing. Sketch
the drawings and detail as per the requirements.

Design example-1
Design a cantilever retaining wall (T type) to retain earth for a height of 4m. The backfill is
horizontal. The density of soil is 18kN/m3. Safe bearing capacity of soil is 200 kN/m 2. Take the
co-efficient of friction between concrete and soil as 0.6. The angle of repose is 30 degrees.
Use M20 concrete and Fe 415 steel.
Solution
Data: h' = 4m, SBC= 200 kN/m2, γ= 18 kN/m3, μ=0.6, φ=30°
To fix the height of retaining wall, H
H= h' +Df
Depth of foundation

1.23m say 1.2m , therefore H= 5.2m

Proportioning of wall
Thickness of base slab= (1/10 to 1/14) H, 0.52m to 0.43m, say 450 mm
Width of base slab=b = (0.5 to 0.6) H, 2.6m to 3.12m say 3m
Toe projection= pj= (1/3 to ¼)H, 1m to 0.75m say 0.75m
Provide 450 mm thickness for the stem at the base and 200 mm at the top
Design of stem
To find Maximum bending moment at the junction
Ph= ½ x 1/3 x 18 x 4.752=67.68 kN
M= Ph h/3 = 0.333 x 18 x 4.753/6 = 107.1 kN-m
Mu= 1.5 x M = 160.6 kN-m
Taking 1m length of wall,
Mu/bd2= 1.004 < 2.76, URS (Here d=450- effective cover=450-50=400 mm)
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To find steel
Pt=0.295% <0.96%
Ast= 0.295x1000x400/100 = 1180 mm2
#PROVIDE Y12 @ 90 < 300 mm and 3d ok
Ast provided= 1266mm2
Development length
Ld=47 φbar =47 x 12 = 564 mm
Curtailment of bars
Curtail 50% steel from top
(h1/h)2 =½
(h1/4.75)2 =½, h1 = 3.36m
Actual point of cutoff= 3.36-Ld =3.36-47 φbar = 3.36-0.564 = 2.74m from top.
Spacing of bars = 180 mm c/c < 300 mm and 3d ok
Distribution steel
= 0.12% GA = 0.12x450 x 1000/100 = 540 mm 2
#PROVIDE Y10 @ 140 < 450 mm and 5d ok
Secondary steel for stem at front (Temperature steel)
0.12% GA = 0.12x450 x 1000/100 = 540 mm2
#PROVIDE Y10 @ 140 < 450 mm and 5d ok
Check for shear
Max. SF at Junction = Ph=67.68 kN
Ultimate SF= Vu=1.5 x 67.68 = 101.52 kN
Nominal shear stress =τv=Vu/bd = 101.52 x 1000 / 1000x400 = 0.25 MPa
To find τc : 100Ast/bd = 0.32%, τc= 0.38 MPa
τv< τc Hence safe in shear.
Stability analysis

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Distribution steel
Same, #10 @ 140 < 450 mm and 5d ok
Check for shear at junction (Tension)
Net downward force causing shear = 142.3kN. Critical section for shear is at the face as it is
subjected to tension.
Maximum shear =V=105.17 kN, VU, max= 157.76 kN, τv =0.39 MPa
pt=100x1058/(1000x400)=0.27%
τuc =0.37 MPa
Allowable shear force= 0.37x 1000 x 400 =148kN, slightly less than V U, max. May be ok
Design of toe
To find the maximum bending moment

Mu= 1.5 x 28.67 =43 kNm

Mu/bd2= 0.27< 2.76, URS
Pt=0.085% Very small, provide 0.12%GA
Ast= 540 mm2
#PROVIDE Y10 @ 140 < 300 mm and 3d ok
Development length:
Ld=47 φbar =47 x 10 = 470 mm
Check for shear:
Since the soil pressure introduces compression in the wall, the critical section is taken at a
distance d from junction.
Net shear force at the section= (120.6+110.04)/2 x 0.35 -0.45x0.35x25=75.45kN
V=75.46 kN, VU,max=75.45x1.5=113.18 kN

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τv=113.17x1000/(1000x400)=0.28 MPa
pt=0.25%
τuc =0.37 MPa
V,allowable = 0.37x 1000 x 400 =148 kN > VU,max, ok
Construction joint
A key 200 mm wide x 50 mm deep with nominal steel
#PROVIDE Y10 @ 250, 600 mm length in two rows
Drainage:
100 mm dia. pipes as weep holes at 3m c/c at bottom
Also provide 200 mm gravel blanket at the back of the stem for back drain.
Sketch
Following section will be asked in the examination.
1. Cross section of wall
2. Longitudinal section of wall for about 2m
3. Sectional plan of the base slab
4. Longitudinal section of stem near the base slab

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