Retaining Walls

Instructor: Dr. Raghuram

BITS Pilani
Hyderabad Campus
What is Retaining Wall?
A Retaining wall is a structure used to retain earth or other material
and to maintain ground surface at different elevation on either side
of it. Retaining wall are used to retain earth or other materials
which have the tendency to slide and repose at a particular
inclination.
They provide lateral support to the backfill , embankment or in
order to hold them in a vertical position.
Retaining Wall Components :
The main components of retaining wall are;
1)Stem
2)Toe slab
3)Heel slab
4)Counter forts
5)Shear key
Retaining Wall
Application of Retaining Wall
1)Construction of basement below ground level in buildings.
2)Wing wall and abutment in bridge work are designed as retaining wall.
3)To retain slopes in hilly terrain roads.
4)As side walls of bridge approach roads.
5)To provide lateral support to embankment.
Application of Retaining Wall

basement wall
Gravity Retaining Wall:

They rely on their self weight to

support the backfill
Cantilever Retaining Wall:
It consists of a vertical wall, heel slab and toe slab which act as
cantilever beams .
It is generally used when the height of wall is up to 6m. The
cantilever retaining wall are of three types :
T-shaped
L-shaped
T-shaped with shear key
Cantilever Retaining Wall
Reinforced;
smaller section
than gravity
walls
Cantilever Retaining Wall
Counterfort Retaining Wall
In this type of retaining wall the stem and base
slab are tied together by counterfort at suitable
interval.
Economical for heights over about 6m.
Buttress Retaining Wall
Modification of counterfort wall provided to other
side of backfill.
Terminology
Terminology
Terminology
Externally vs Internally Stabilized
Wall Types
Gravity Walls

Gravity walls depend on their mass (stone, concrete or other heavy material) to resist pressure from behind
and may have a 'batter' setback to improve stability by leaning back toward the retained soil. For short
landscaping walls, they are often made from mortarless stone or segmental concrete units (masonry units).
Gravity Walls
Gravity Walls – Concrete Cast
Gravity Walls - Segmental
Gravity Walls – Gabion Walls
Gravity Walls - Segmental
Gravity Walls – SRW
Cantilevered Walls

Cantilever retaining walls are constructed of

reinforced concrete. They consist of a relatively thin
stem and a base slab. The base is also divided into
parts, the heel and toe. The heel is the part of the b
under the backfill.
Cantilevered Walls – Diagram
Cantilevered Walls –Cast in Place
Cantilevered Walls – Precast
Piling Walls
Sheet pile retaining walls are usually used in soft
soil and tight spaces.
Sheet pile walls are made out of steel, vinyl or
wood planks which are driven into the ground.
For a quick estimate the material is usually driven
1/3 above ground, 2/3 below ground, but this may
be altered depending on the environment.
Bored pile retaining walls are built by assem
sequence of bored piles, proceeded by exca
away the excess soil.
This construction technique tends to be em
in scenarios where sheet piling is a valid
construction solution, but where the vibrati
noise levels generated by a pile driver are n
acceptable.
Piling Walls – Sheet Pile
Piling Walls – Soldier Beam
Piling Walls – Pier and Concrete Panel
Anchored Walls

An anchored retaining wall can be constructed in a

of the aforementioned styles but also includes
additional strength using cables or other stays
anchored in the rock or soil behind it.
Anchored Walls
Anchored Walls – Soil Nail Wall
Anchored Walls
Anchored Walls – MSE
Anchored Walls – Massive MSE
Retaining Wall Uses
Retaining walls are stabilizing structures that are
used for holding back earth. There are many
reasons for building these structures.
1. Improve Property’s Appearance
2. Create a Flat Area
3. Make a Slope Useful
4. Provide Hanicapped Accessibility
5. Improve Site Drainage
6. Hold Back Water
7. Simplify Maintenance
Retaining Wall Uses

1. Improve Property’s Appearance

With proper materials selection, retaining walls can become a highly attr
aesthetic feature of your property. They are wonderful devices for creati
interest features in a landscape. You have probably seen many upscale
entryways that utilize retaining walls to create a raised area for signage
frame the entrance with raised landscaping beds.
Retaining Wall Uses

2. Create a Flat Area

▪ Flat ground is almost always more useful than a steep slope.

▪ A retaining wall can convert a slope into a flat level area. This can allo
the construction of structures that otherwise couldn't be built on such a
property, like a parking lot, sports field, or building.
Retaining Wall Uses
3. Make a Slope Useful
▪In many places around the world, whole
mountainsides are cut into a series of steps supported
by a series of retaining walls. Called terracing, this
technique turns land that is too steep to grow crops
into useful farm land.

▪You can utilize this technique on your commercial

property, too. Terracing can prevent erosion on steep
areas, and can make a steep landscape far easier —
and less costly — to maintain.
Retaining Wall Uses

4. Provide Handicapped Accessibility

▪Retaining walls are often used to create gently sloped ramps for whe
access
Retaining Wall Uses
5. Improve Site Drainage
▪ Sometimes a retaining wall can be very useful in
directing water on a property. They are also often
used to address slope issues near bodies of water.
▪ If you are considering building one for this purpose, be
aware that there are many local and state regulations
that must be followed. It’s a good idea to find out what
the permitting requirements are before even starting to
work on the design for such a project.
Retaining Wall Uses
6. Improve Site Drainage
▪A seawall is a specialized type of retaining wall that
separates land from water.
▪Others function to protect the shore from erosion, to
keep the shoreline from shifting, or to create a harbor
or docking area for boats. Don’t forget, though —
permitting requirements apply here as well!
Retaining Wall Uses
7. Simplify Maintenance
▪It is a lot easier to maintain a flat area than to have to
prune, mow, or plant a slope. They also provide a
natural separation between turf and beds. Over time,
these easy-care features can shave significant
amounts from the cost of landscape maintenance.
 Min 0.3 m

Retained
Height (H)

0.1 H

D
0.1 H
0.1 H

Footing
0.5 H-0.7 H
Key
 Min 0.3 m

Retained
Height (H)

D
0.12 H 0.12 H
to 0.17 H to 0.17 H

0.5 H-0.7 H
 At rest Lateral Pressure acting can exit and
develop in three different
Wall in Rigid categories:-
Condition

A) At Rest State
Active If Wall is absolute Rigid , Earth
Pressure Pressure at Rest Will Develop.

Passive
Pressure B) At Active State
If wall deflect away from backfill ,
Active Pressure will develop.

C) At Passive State
To counter active pressure on wall,
Passive Pressure will develop
toward to backfill
 Active Pressure
Mass of wall acts Caused by mass of
downward retained wall

Passive Pressure
caused by Earth
Resistance if wall
Tend

Ground
Friction at interface of Pressure or
Soil Reaction
base and ground
 Active Pressure
Caused by mass of
Mass of earth retained wall
Mass of wall acts
on heel acts
downward downwards

Passive Pressure
caused by Earth
Resistance if wall
Tend

Ground
Friction at interface of Pressure or
Soil Reaction
base and ground
Stability considerations
 Stability Check
1.Stability against overturning:
1
𝑃𝑝 = 𝐾𝑝 𝛾2 𝐷2 +2𝑐2′ 2 𝐾𝑝 𝐷
2
Where,
𝛾2 = unit weight of soil in front of the heel and under
the base slab
𝐾𝑝 = Rankine passive earth pressure
coefficient=tan2 ሾ45 + ∅′2 ]
𝑐2′ ,∅′2 = cohesion and effective soil friction angle,
respectively
 Stability Check
2.Stability against overturning:
𝛴𝑀𝑅
𝐹𝑆(𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑛𝑖𝑛𝑔) =
𝛴𝑀𝑂
Where,
𝛴𝑀𝑅 = sum of the moments of forces tending to overturn about point C
𝛴𝑀𝑂 = sum of the moments of forces tending to resist overturning about
point C
𝐻′
𝛴𝑀𝑂 =𝑃ℎ 3
Where 𝑃ℎ =𝑝𝑎 cos 𝛼

𝑀𝑣 = 𝑃𝑣 𝐵 = 𝑃𝑎 sin 𝛼𝐵
Where B= width of base slab
Stability Check
3.Stability against overturning:

𝑀1 +𝑀2 +𝑀3 +𝑀4 +𝑀5 +𝑀6

𝐹𝑆(𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑛𝑖𝑛𝑔) = 𝐻′
𝑃𝑎 cos 𝛼 3
−𝑀𝑣
Stability Check
4.Stabilty against sliding:
𝛴𝐹𝑅′
𝐹𝑆(𝑠𝑙𝑖𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔) =
σ 𝐹𝑑
Where
𝛴𝐹𝑅′ = sum of the horizontal resisting forces
𝛴𝐹𝑑 = sum of the horizontal driving forces

𝑆 = 𝜎 ′ tan 𝛿 ′ + 𝐶𝑎′
Where
𝛿 ′ = angle of friction between the soil and the base slab
𝐶𝑎′ = adhesion between the soil and the base slab
Stability Check
5.Stabilty against sliding:
𝑅′ = 𝑠 𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑎 𝑜𝑓 𝑐𝑟𝑜𝑠𝑠 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 = 𝑠 𝐵 𝑋 1 =B𝜎 ′ tan 𝛿 ′ +B𝑐𝑎′
B𝜎 ′ =σ 𝑉
𝛴𝐹𝑅′ = (σ 𝑉 tan 𝛿 ′ + B𝑐𝑎′ +𝑃𝑝
σ𝐹𝑑 = 𝑃𝑎 cos 𝛼
( ෌ 𝑉) 𝑡𝑎𝑛 𝛿′ + B𝑐𝑎′ +𝑃𝑝
𝐹𝑆 𝑠𝑙𝑖𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 =
𝑃𝑎 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝛼

( ෌ 𝑉) 𝑡𝑎𝑛(𝐾1 ∅′2 )+ B𝐾2 𝑐2′ +𝑃𝑝

𝐹𝑆 𝑠𝑙𝑖𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 =
𝑃𝑎 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝛼
Stability Check
1 2 ′2
𝑃𝑝 = 𝐾𝑝 𝛾2 𝐷1 +2𝑐2 𝐾𝑝 𝐷1
2
Where
2 ∅′2
𝐾𝑝 =tan ሾ45 + ]
2
Stability Check
6. Bearing pressure under the footing
R =σ 𝑉 + 𝑃ℎ
𝑀𝑛𝑒𝑡 = 𝛴𝑀𝑅 − σ 𝑀0
𝑀𝑛𝑒𝑡
𝐶𝐸 = 𝑋ത =
σ𝑉
𝐵
e= − 𝐶𝐸
σ𝑉 𝑀𝑛𝑒𝑡 𝑦 2
q= ±
𝐴 𝐼
Where
𝑀𝑛𝑒𝑡 = 𝑚𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡
Stability Check
7. Bearing pressure under the footing
𝐵
σ𝑉 𝑒(σ 𝑉) σ𝑉 6𝑒
2
𝑞𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 𝑞𝑡𝑜𝑒 = + 1 = (1+ )
(𝐵)(1) 𝐵3 𝐵 𝐵
12

σ𝑉 6𝑒
Similarly 𝑞𝑚𝑖𝑛 = 𝑞ℎ𝑒𝑒𝑙 = (1 − )
𝐵 𝐵
𝑞𝑢 𝑖𝑠 𝑏𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑐𝑎𝑝𝑎𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑜𝑖𝑙
1
𝑞𝑢 = 𝑐2′ 𝑁𝑐 𝐹𝑐𝑑 𝐹𝑐𝑖 + q𝑁𝑞 𝐹𝑞𝑑 𝐹𝑞𝑖 + 𝛾2 𝐵′ 𝑁𝛾 𝐹𝛾𝑑 𝐹𝛾𝑖
2
Where
q= 𝛾2 D
B’=B-2e
1−𝐹𝑞𝑑
𝐹𝑐𝑑 = 𝐹𝑞𝑑 −
𝑁𝐶 𝑡𝑎𝑛∅′2
Stability Check
8.Bearing pressure under the footing :
′ 𝐷
𝐹𝑞𝑑 = 1 + 2𝑡𝑎𝑛𝐶(1- ∅2 )
𝐵′
𝐹𝛾𝑑 =1
𝜑0 2
𝐹𝑐𝑖 = 𝐹𝑞𝑖 =(1 − 0 )
90
0
𝜑 2
𝐹𝛾𝑖 = (1 − ′ 0 )
∅2
0 −1 𝑃𝑎 cos 𝛼
𝜑 =tan ( σ )
𝑉
𝑞𝑢
𝐹𝑆(𝑏𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑐𝑎𝑝𝑎𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦) =
𝑞𝑚𝑎𝑥
Q. Design steps to calculate factor of safety with
respect to overturning, sliding, and bearing
capacity?

𝛾2

∅′ 2
STEP 1:

Section Area Weight/unit Moment arm Moment

No. length from point C (m) (KN-m/m)
(KN/m) (force and distance/force
(Weight x Moment arm)
and perpendicular
distance)
1. X1
LxB 𝛾xA 𝛾 x A x X1
2. 1/2xBxH 𝛾xA X2
𝛾 x A x X2
3. LxB 𝛾xA X3
𝛾 x A x X3
4. LxB 𝛾xA X4
𝛾 x A x X4
5. 1/2xBxH 𝛾xA X5
𝛾 x A x X5
Step 2: The Overturning Moment:

𝐻′
MO=P ( )h
3
FSoverturning=∑MR/MO
Step 3: Factor of Safety against Sliding :
From eq.1,
′ ′
FS(sliding) = σV tan(∅ 2 𝐾1 )+B c 2 𝐾2 +𝑃𝑝
𝑃𝑎 𝑐𝑜𝑠α
1
Pp = K 𝛾 D 2 + 2 c ′ 2 Kp D
2 p 2

2 ∅′ 2
Where, Kp= tan (45+ ( ) )
2
Step 4: Factor of Safety against Bearing
capacity Failure:

𝐵 σ𝑀 −σ𝑀
e= - 𝑅 𝑂
2 σV

qtoe heel = σV (1 ±6𝑒)

B 𝐵
Step 5: The ultimate bearing capacity of the soil can
be determined as follow:

1
qu= c’2NcFcdFci + qNqFqdFqi + 𝛾2
2
B’ 𝑁γ 𝐹γ𝑑 𝐹γ𝑖
from table we will get Nc 𝑁𝑞 𝑁γ values
where, q= γ2 D
B’= B - 2e
(1−𝐹𝑞𝑑 )
𝐹𝑐𝑑 = 𝐹𝑞𝑑 - ′
𝑁𝑐 tan(∅ 2 )
𝐷
𝐹𝑞𝑑 = 1 + 2tan ∅′ 2 (1−sin ∅′ 2 )2 ( )
𝐵′
𝐹γ𝑑 =1
ᴪ° 2
Fci = Fqi = (1 − ) ) ; where ᴪ = tan-1(𝑃𝑎𝑐𝑜𝑠𝛼)
90° σV
F𝛾 i = (1 - ᴪ )2
∅′ 2
𝑞𝑢
FS(bearing capacity) =
𝑞𝑡𝑜𝑒
Drainage from Backfill

As the result of rainfall or other wet conditions, the backfill material for
a retaining wall may become saturated, thereby increasing the pressure
on the wall and perhaps creating an unstable condition.For this reason,
adequate drainage must be provided by means of weep holes or
perforated drainage pipes