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Analysis and Behavior of Retaining Wall on Black Cotton Soil by

Using Software ‘PLAXIS 2D’
Rahul R. Kshatriyaa, Pramod S. Satheb, Pooja S. Kankarejc
a
Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Matoshri College of Engineering and Research Centre, Nashik, 422105, India.
b
Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Matoshri College of Engineering and Research Centre, Nashik, 422105, India.
c
Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Matoshri Asarabai Polytechnic, Nashik, 422105, India.

Abstract

The analysis was done of Retaining wall rested on black cotton soil and the height 6m & 8m was considered for analysis. By using software
‘PLAXIS 2D’, the results were obtained. Four cases were studied and their comparison with each other is shown. The aim of this study is to
determine shear force on retaining wall & bending moment on retaining wall rested and constructed on black cotton soil. Two models were
prepared for analysis of retaining wall with piles and retaining wall without piles. By getting the output and results from ‘PLAXIS 2D’, it
was observed that, the retaining wall rested on black cotton soil without pile is less stable than the retaining wall rested on black cotton soil
with piles.

Keywords: PLAXIS 2D software, retaining wall, black cotton soil

1. Introduction

Sweeping soil is found in different pieces of the ecosphere. In India, this expansive soil is known as Black
cotton soil. Around 30% to 40% of land in India is occupied by black cotton soil. In Maharashtra, most of area is
covered with Black cotton soil, which is not suitable for the infrastructure projects such as roadways, railways,
airports, buildings, retaining wall, etc.
Retaining wall is used to stop lateral movement and also to retain water and earth material. To prevent
overturning and sliding of structure, base slab serves as permanent support. The cantilever retaining wall is free
at top and rigid at bottom. A shear key can be installed at the bottom of slab to prevent sliding action. Such type
of structure is commonly used.
The bearing limit of heap relies upon the heap bearing limit of the basic material such heaps are often known as
point bearing piles. Where the depth of hard rock is 5 m to 55 m, piles are used. Piles prevent vertical displacement
of foundation, provision of piles foundation is economical in such BC soil, bearing limit of heaps diminishes as
the length and distance across of heaps diminishes. Design of retaining wall is done by taking reference of book
‘Foundation analysis and design’ of Joseph E Bowels. Results were obtained by using software ‘PLAXIS 2D’. In
this study, model was made by ‘PLAXIS 2D’ with fifteen nodded elements. In this case, retaining wall is modeled
in ‘PLAXIS 2D’ as plate bending member which gives both structural and geotechnical design variable. The
Retaining wall is rested on BC soil ofdepth of 3 m and basalt is considered below the layer ofblack cotton soil.

2. Inputs for Model

Table 1: Input properties of soil

Parameter Name Black Cotton Soil Back fill Basalt

Material Model Model Mohr-Coulomb Mohr-Coulomb Jointed Rock
Type of Material Behaviour Type Drained Drained Non-Porous
3 3
Dry Unit Weight ᵞ unsat 18.350 kN/m 18 kN/m 27.86kN/m3
3 3
Saturated Unit Weight ᵞ sat 19.120 kN/m 20 kN/m ---
Youngs Modulus Eref 65250 kN/m2 2 x 104kN/m2 23.34 x 107 kN/m2
Poissons Ratio Μ 0.250 0.3 0.15
Cohesion C 30.0 kN/m2 1 kN/m2 1061 kN/m2
Friction Angle Φ 17.0 35 30

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Table 2: Input properties for retaining wall and piles

Parameter Name 6m Retaining Wall 8m Retaining Wall Piles

Materials Model Model Linear Elastic Linear Elastic Linear Elastic
Value of Axial stiffness EA 1.32E7 1.76E7 1.1E7

Inertial Stiffness EI 0.0396E7 0.0938E7 0.023E7

Poisson Ratio Μ 0.15 0.15 0.15

3. Modeling with PLAXIS andDeformation Mesh

15 nodded triangular elements were used for a Plane strain model. Table 1 and table 2 were used for the
properties of the Foundation soil, Backfill soil, retaining wall and piles. Retaining wall is modeled as plate
bending member in this case. ‘ Very fine’ type of mesh is selected. The ‘PLAXIS 2D’ software generates the
initial stress condition just after defining the geometry for the model and determining the boundary conditions
and properties of the materials, and then only model gets completed.

3.1 The models were made for following four cases

Case 1: 6m retaining wall in which stem is kept 0.5m away from toe, back fill of full height, front fill is
present of 2m height, rested on black cotton soil without piles.
Case 2: 6m retaining wall in which stem is kept 0.5m away from toe, back fill of full height, front fill is
present of 2m height, rested on black cotton soil with piles.
Case 3: 8m retaining wall in which stem is kept 0.5m away from toe, back fill of full height, front fill is
present of 2m height, rested on black cotton soil without piles.
Case 4: 8m retaining wall in which stem is kept 0.5m away from toe, back fill of full height, front fill is
present of 2m height, rested on black cotton soil with piles

Fig 1: Case 1 (6m) - Deformation mesh

6m retaining wall is in passive state in Case 1. Deformations mesh 0.005412m.

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Fig 2: Case 2 (6m) - Deformation mesh

6m retaining wall is in stable state in Case 2. Deformation mesh is 0.005331m.

Fig 3: Case 3 (8m) - Deformation mesh

8m retaining wall of Case 3 is in active state. Deformation mesh is 0.007779m.

Fig 4: Case 4 (8m) – Deformation mesh

8m retaining wall of Case 4 is in stable state. Deformation mesh is 0.007641m.

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4. Result for 6m retaining wall

4.1Comparative result for shear force for stem (6m)

Table 3: Shear force for stem for depth of fills (6m)

Depth (m) 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.0 6.0

SF1 (kN) -0.057 -0.825 7.68 16.40 24.36 31.85
SF2 (kN) 1.35 2.98 11.09 23.42 40.96 62.08

Shear force for stem (6m)

80
Shear force (Kn)

60
40
SF1 (kN)
20
SF2 (kN)
0
-20 1 2 3 4 5 6
Depth (m)

Fig 5: Comparative curves for shear force for stem for depth of fills (6m)

4.2 Comparative result for bending moment for stem (6m)

Table 4: Bending moment on stem for depth of filling (6m)

Depth (m) 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.0 6.0

BM1 (kN-m) -0.0249 0.545 -8.23 -24.05 -49.71 -84.53
BM2 (kN-m) -0.718 -2.83 -13.42 -32.27 -66.93 -119.68

Bending moment for stem (6m)

50
bending moment (Km-m)

0 BM1
1 2 3 4 5 6 (kN-m)
-50
BM2
-100
(kN-m)
-150
Depth (m)

Fig 6: Comparative curve for bending moment for stem for depth of fills (6m)

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5. Result for 8m retaining wall

5.1 Comparative result for shear force for stem (8m)

Table 5: Shear force on stem for depth of fills (8m)

Depth (m) 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.0 6.0 7.0 8.0
SF1 (kN) 0.134 -0.941 7.32 17.32 27.40 37.96 48.50 67.51
SF2 (kN) 1.36 3.49 13.25 26.98 44.48 66.98 92.60 125.90

Shear force for stem (8m)

150
Shear force (Kn)

100

50 SF1 (kN)
SF2 (kN)
0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
-50
Depth (m)

Fig 7: Comparative curves for shear force for stem for depth of fills (8m)

5.2 Comparative result for bending moment for stem (8m)

Table 6: Bending moment on stem for depth of fills (8m)

Depth (m) 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.0 6.0 7.0 8.0
- -
BM1 (kN-m) 0.4928 -7.33 -25.20 -57.48 -98.76 -155.3
0.03602 238.77
-
BM2 (kN-m) -0.699 -3.45 -16.41 -39.00 -74.42 -131.0 -208.1
323.14

Bending moment for stem (8m)

50
bending moment (Km-m)

0
-50 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
BM1
-100 (kN-m)
-150
-200 BM2
-250 (kN-m)

-300
-350
Depth (m)

Fig 8: Comparative curve for bending moment for stem for depth of fills (8m)

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6. Conclusions

 After comparing Case 1 and Case 2, it was found that, provision of bearing piles below the retaining
wall and up to the Basalt rock, reduces the deformation.
 By comparing Case 3 and Case 4, it was observed that, provision of bearing piles below the
retaining wall and up to the Basalt rock, reduces the deformation.
 Also, it was observed that, results of Case 1 are in Passive state. As, this case is without bearing
piles.
 It was found that, results of Case 2 and Case 4 are in Stable state. As, these both cases are with
bearing piles.
 By providing bearing piles to retaining wall of 6m height, shear force on stem was increased, but it
changes it’s state from passive to stable.
 After providing bearing piles to retaining wall of 8m height, shear force on stem was increased, but
it changes it’s state from active to stable.
 It was seen that, by providing bearing piles to retaining wall of 6m height, bending moment on stem
goes on increasing from bottom to top, as it changes state from passive to stable.
 It was observed that, by providing bearing piles to retaining wall of 8m height, bending moment on
stem goes on increasing from bottom to top, as it changes state from active to stable.
 Overall, providing bearing piles to retaining wall gives stability to structure and reduces
deformation.

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