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Location: Example in Chapter 22 of 'Reinforced Concrete Design' by Bray
ds


Reinforced concrete retaining wall

vo

Using either Rankine or Coulomb theory,

theta(___

the following assumptions are made:

Surface of rupture is a plane.

h
Point of resultant pressure P on back of
delta(___

wall is at one third of the distance up

from the base of the wall to the surface

of the earth at the back of the wall and
AB
P is parallel to the surface.
d heel
toe
Both Rankine and Coulomb give formula for resultant earth pressure on
back of wall as P = Ce.w.h^2/2 where Ce is a pressure coefficient.
Weight/unit vol.of retained soil w=18.8 kN/m3
Height of wall
h=4.38 m
Depth of soil surcharge
ds=0 m
Load above wall supported on stem vo=0 kN/m run
Angle of slope of soil (if any)
theta=0 degrees
Internal friction angle of soil phi=30 degrees
Angle of wall-to-soil friction delta=20 degrees
Friction factor on underside base fb=0.4
Thickness of wall
t=0.22 m
Density of wall (stem)
dt=24 kN/m3
Pressure from retained soil

Cosine of surcharge angle (theta)

Sine of friction angle (phi)
Cosine of friction angle (phi)
Cosine of wall-soil friction ()
Sine of (phi + delta)
Sine of (phi - theta)
Coulomb theory:
Factor

Pressure coefficient
Rankine theory:
Factor

ct=COS(RAD(theta))=1
sp=SIN(RAD(phi))=0.5
cp=COS(RAD(phi))=0.86603
cd=COS(RAD(delta))=0.93969
ss1=SIN(RAD(phi)+RAD(delta))
=SIN(RAD(30)+RAD(20))
=0.76604
ss2=SIN(RAD(phi)-RAD(theta))
=SIN(RAD(30)-RAD(0))
=0.5
f=cd*(1+SQR(ss1*ss2/(cd*ct)))^2
=0.93969*(1+SQR(0.76604*0.5
/(0.93969*1)))^2
=2.5226
Cec=cp^2/f=0.86603^2/2.5226
=0.29731

f=SQR(ct^2-cp^2)=SQR(1^2-0.86603^2)
=0.5
Pressure coefficient
Cer=ct*(ct-f)/(ct+f)
=1*(1-0.5)/(1+0.5)
=0.33333
Rankine pressure coefficient is chosen.

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Resultant earth force (active)
P=Ce*w*h^2/2=0.33333*18.8*4.38^2/2
=60.111 kN/m run
Horiz.component of this force
Ph=P*COS(RAD(theta))
=60.111*COS(RAD(0))
=60.111 kN/m run
Vertical component of this force Pv=P*SIN(RAD(theta))
=60.111*SIN(RAD(0))
=0 kN/m run
Pressure coefficient (surcharge) Ca=(1-sp)/(1+sp)=(1-0.5)/(1+0.5)
=0.33333
Resultant earth force (surcharge) Ps=Ca*w*ds*h=0.33333*18.8*0*4.38
=0 kN/m run
Horiz.component of this force
Psh=Ps*COS(RAD(theta))=0*COS(RAD(0))
=0 kN/m run
Vertical component of this force Psv=Ps*SIN(RAD(theta))=0*SIN(RAD(0))
=0 kN/m run
Forces and moments on wall

Maximum B.M. at base of stem

Maximum S.F. at base of stem
Weight of wall
Weight of wall plus load over

M=Ph*h/3+Psh*h/2
=60.111*4.38/3+0*4.38/2
=87.762 kNm/m
S=Ph+Psh=60.111+0=60.111 kN/m
v=h*t*dt=4.38*0.22*24=23.126 kN/m run
v=v+vo=23.126+0=23.126 kN/m run

Base

M
Soil
side

W
xx1

db
S

d
A B
heel
toe
L
Thickness of base
d=0.19 m
Length of base
L=3.124 m
Distance from A to centre of stem x=1.86 m
Depth of soil over base at toe
db=0 m
Depth of soil for passive resist. dp=1.5 m
For simplicity, the relatively-trivial effects of the self-weight and
location of any key on the pressures, etc beneath the base are ignored.
Distance from stem to front toe
x1=L-x=3.124-1.86=1.264 m
Allowable ground pressure
p=75 kN/m2
Self-weight of foundation
Sw=L*d*dt
=3.124*0.19*24
=14.245 kN/m run
Wt. of soil behind wall (earth)
wbe=(h+ds)*(x-t/2)*w
=(4.38+0)*(1.86-0.22/2)*18.8
=144.1 kN/m run

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Wt. of soil behind wall (slope)
wbs=w*(x-t/2)^2*TAN(RAD(theta))/2
=18.8*(1.86-0.22/2)^2*TAN(RAD(0))/2
=0 kN/m run
Total weight of soil behind wall wb=wbe+wbs=144.1+0=144.1 kN/m run
Weight of soil at front of wall
wf=db*(x1-t/2)*w
=0*(1.264-0.22/2)*18.8
=0 kN/m run
Total earth pressure (active)
Pab=Ce*ct*w*(h+d)^2/2
=0.33333*1*18.8*(4.38+0.19)^2/2
=65.439 kN/m run
Horiz.component of this force
Pabh=Pab*COS(RAD(theta))
=65.439*COS(RAD(0))
=65.439 kN/m run
Vertical component of this force Pabv=Pab*SIN(RAD(theta))
=65.439*SIN(RAD(0))
=0 kN/m run
Total earth pressure (surcharge) Psb=Ca*w*ds*(h+d)
=0.33333*18.8*0*(4.38+0.19)
=0 kN/m run
Horiz.component of this force
Psbh=Psb*COS(RAD(theta))
=0*COS(RAD(0))
=0 kN/m run
Vertical component of this force Psbv=Psb*SIN(RAD(theta))
=0*SIN(RAD(0))
=0 kN/m run
Total load on soil beneath base
T=v+Sw+wb+wf+Pabv+Psbv
=23.126+14.245+144.1+0+0+0
=181.47 kN/m run
Overturning moment due
to earth pressure
Mt=Pabh*(h+d)/3+Psbh*(h+d)/2
=65.439*(4.38+0.19)/3+0*(4.38
+0.19)/2
=99.686 kNm/m run
Force u/s base (earth pressure)
St=Pabh+Psbh=65.439+0=65.439 kN/m run
Clockwise moments about A due to
weight of soil behind wall
Mcb=(3*wbe+2*wbs)*(x-t/2)/6
=(3*144.1+2*0)*(1.86-0.22/2)/6
=126.09 kNm/m
Clockwise moments about A due to
vert.component of earth pressure Mcbv=(Pabv+Psbv)*(x-t/2)
=(0+0)*(1.86-0.22/2)
=0 kNm/m
Total clockwise moments about A
Mc=v*x+Mt+Sw*L/2+Mcb+Mcbv+wf*(L-(x1-t/2)/2)
=23.126*1.86+99.686+14.245*3.124/2+126.09+0+0
*(3.124-(1.264-0.22/2)/2)
=291.04 kNm/m
Distance to centroid of load
y=Mc/T=291.04/181.47=1.6038 m

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e T
y

A B
heel
toe
Eccentricity
e=y-L/2=1.6038-3.124/2=0.041767 m
Centroid of load lies within middle third. Pressure varies from
pa at A to pb at B.
A B
pa _
pb
_

_
Base area modulus

z=1*L^2/6
=1*3.124^2/6
=1.6266 cu.m per metre run
Pressure at A
pa=T/(L*1)-T*e/z
=181.47/(3.124*1)-181.47*0.041767
/1.6266
=53.43 kN/m2
Pressure at B
pb=T/(L*1)+T*e/z
=181.47/(3.124*1)+181.47*0.041767
/1.6266
=62.75 kN/m2
Maximum pressure is at B
pmax=pb=62.75 kN/m2
As pmax does not exceed p ( 62.75 kN/m2=< 75 kN/m2),
pressure beneath base is within specified limit.
Shear forces and bending moments on base

Pressure under back of wall

pwa=pa+(pb-pa)*(x-t/2)/L
=53.43+(62.75-53.43)*(1.86-0.22
/2)/3.124
=58.651 kN/m2
Pressure under front of wall
pwb=pa+(pb-pa)*(x+t/2)/L
=53.43+(62.75-53.43)*(1.86+0.22
/2)/3.124
=59.307 kN/m2
Downward S.F. on heel
Sad=dt*d*(x-t/2)+wb
=24*0.19*(1.86-0.22/2)+144.1
=152.08 kN/m
Upward S.F. on heel
Sau=(pa+pwa)*(x-t/2)/2
=(53.43+58.651)*(1.86-0.22/2)/2
=98.071 kN/m
Downward B.M. on toe
Mbd=(dt*d*(x1-t/2)+wf)*(x1-t/2)/2
=(24*0.19*(1.264-0.22/2)+0)
*(1.264-0.22/2)/2
=3.0363 kNm/m
Downward B.M. on heel
Mad=(3*wbe+4*wbs+3*dt*d*(x-t/2))*(x-t/2)/6
=(3*144.1+4*0+3*24*0.19*(1.86-0.22/2))
*(1.86-0.22/2)/6
=133.07 kNm/m

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Total S.F. on toe (plus is up)
Swb=((pwb+pb)/2-dt*d)*(x1-t/2)-wf
=((59.307+62.75)/2-24*0.19)
*(1.264-0.22/2)-0
=65.165 kN/m
Total S.F. on heel (plus is up)
Swa=Sau-Sad=98.071-152.08
=-54.011 kN/m
Total B.M. on toe (plus is up)
Mwb=(2*pb+pwb)*(x1-t/2)^2/6-Mbd
=(2*62.75+59.307)*(1.264-0.22
/2)^2/6-3.0363
=37.982 kNm/m
Total B.M. on heel (plus is up)
Mwa=(2*pa+pwa)*(x-t/2)^2/6-Mad
=(2*53.43+58.651)*(1.86-0.22/2)^2
/6-133.07
=-48.592 kNm/m
Resistance to sliding

Frictional resistance
F=fb*T=0.4*181.47=72.59 kN/m run
Rankine coeff.of passive pressure Kp=(TAN(RAD(45)+RAD(phi/2)))^2
=(TAN(RAD(45)+RAD(30/2)))^2
=3
Passive resistance
R=0.5*Kp*w*dp^2=0.5*3*18.8*1.5^2
=63.45 kN/m
FoS sliding (frict.resist.only)
FOSF=F/St=72.59/65.439=1.1093
WARNING: Factor of safety against sliding (considering frictional
resistance only) is less than 1.5.
FoS sliding (friction/cohesion + passive) FOSF=(F+R)/St
=(72.59+63.45)/65.439
=2.0789
Resistance to overturning

Rotation assumed to occur about lowest forward edge of base (i.e. toe).
Restraining moments:
Due to soil behind wall
Mre=wbe*(L-(x-t/2)/2)+wbs*(L-(x-t/2)/3)
=144.1*(3.124-(1.86-0.22/2)/2)+0
*(3.124-(1.86-0.22/2)/3)
=324.09 kNm/m
Due to base,wall and soil on toe Mrw=v*x1+Sw*L/2+wf*(x1-t/2)/2
=23.126*1.264+14.245*3.124/2+0
*(1.264-0.22/2)/2
=51.483 kNm/m
Due to vert.comp.of earth pres.
Mrv=(Pabv+Psbv)*(x1+t/2)
=(0+0)*(1.264+0.22/2)
=0 kNm/m
Total restraining mt.(with Mrv)

Mr1=Mre+Mrw+Mrv=324.09+51.483+0
=375.57 kNm/m
ditto
(without Mrv)
Mr2=Mre+Mrw=324.09+51.483
=375.57 kNm/m
Total overturning moment
Mot=Mt=99.686 kNm/m
Safety factors against overturning:
Including vert.comp.of pressure
FOSOT1=Mr1/Mot=375.57/99.686
=3.7675
Ignoring vert.comp.of pressure
FOSOT2=Mr2/Mot=375.57/99.686
=3.7675

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Office: 5485

theta(___

soil

side

AB
heel
C
toe

Design Summary

Moment at base of stem 87.762 kNm

Shear at base of stem 60.111 kN
Moment at c-c (toe)
Shear at c-c (toe)

37.982 kNm
65.165 kN

Moment at c-c (heel)

Shear at c-c (heel)

-48.592 kNm
-54.011 kN

No750