GLE/CEE 330: Soil

Mechanics

Earth Retaining Structures

Geological Engineering
University of Wisconsin-Madison

(Select Images from Coduto)

 Learning Objectives

• Discuss different types of retaining structures

• Describe simplified design procedures

 Slopes and Retaining Structures
Options for grade changes….

Earth
Pressure
Failure
surface

Slopes Retaining Structures

• Is there enough room (right of way)? • What is lateral pressure distribution?
• How steep can we make the slope? • How much will the wall move?
• Effects of… • How do I design the wall structure?
• water, vegetation, surface loads..
Types of Retaining Structures
 Mechanically Stabilized
Massive Gravity Wall Earth (MSE) Wall

Geosynthetic
reinforcement

Cantilevered Gravity Wall

Sheet Pile Walls
 Soldier Pile Wall Timber lagging Driven soldier piles

Soil Nail – Shotcrete Wall

What is the earth pressure distribution???
Role of the geotechnical engineer…
• What is the earth pressure distribution?
• What are resultant forces on wall?
• Static equilibrium (overturning analysis, sliding analysis)
• Bearing capacity analysis
• Settlement analysis “active” earth
• Special loading (e.g., earthquakes) pressure

“passive” earth
pressure

friction

Bearing pressure
Example – Cantilevered wall with flat sand backfill, check for
overturning and sliding

Sand Direct Shear Results on Sand

g = 100 pcf
Test sf (psf) tf (psf)
1 500 320
20’ Active
2 1000 639
Failure
wedge 3 2000 1278

1400
2’ g c= 150 pcf 45+f/2

Shear Stress (psf)

1200
1000
800
3’ 2’ 10’ f = 32.6 deg.
600
400 c=0
15’ 200
0
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500
Normal Stress (psf)
 Sand
g = 100 pcf

20’

P = force per unit width

2’ g c= 150 pcf
  32.6
 
3’ 2’ 10’ K a  tan 2  45    0.30
 2
15’  x   z K a  zK a
  x  max  100 pcf  20' 0.30  600 psf
1
P   x  max H
2
1 lb
P   600 psf  20'  6000
2 ft
 •Check Factor of Safety for Overturning
20’ •Moment equilibrium about Point A

Wf

Ws P

2’
A Wb
Resisting moments
FS =
3’ 2’ 10’ Driving moments
Wb Lb  Ws Ls  W f L f
15’ FS 
PL p

FS 
150 15 2 7.5  15018 2 4  100101810
 6000  6.7 
FS  5.8
Plenty safe!
 •Check Factor of Safety for Sliding

P
Wt

F = Wttand
Resisting forces
Let d=15 FS =
Driving forces

Wt tan 
FS 
P
FS 
 15015 2  15015 215015 2  tan15
 6000 
FS  1.25
A bit low!! What could we do??