1415 N 32nd, Fort Smith, AR 72904

Ph: 800-736-9089 Fax:479-785-0633

To: Engineers:
Thank you very much for your interest in our products and solutions. The purpose of this calculator is to
show the simplicity and ease of designing Terra Aqua Gabions gravity retaining walls. We are using the
familiar Excel environment to illustrate each step of the calculations used in the gabion gravity retaining
walls design analysis for verification.
Additional calculations may have to be performed including and not limiting to global stability
analysis (by Geotechnical Engineer), seismic forces (by Seismic Engineer) and hydraulic forces
(by Hydraulic Engineer). Please check local, State and Federal requirements. The calculator assumes
drained uniformed retained and foundation soil properties. The calculations should be reviewed, checked
and certified by a Professional Engineer. To the best of our knowledge, the calculator and information
was prepared accurately. Terra Aqua is not responsible for the reliability and validity of the geotechnical
parameters assumed in the calculations. The calculator is intended to provide design assistance to the
engineer for the purpose of designing with Terra Aqua products.
Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or if you are in need of any assistance.
We will assist you in anyway we can.
Colin Glass
Terra Aqua Gabions
5/30/2007
TERRA AQUA GABIONS GRAVITY RETAINING WALL CALCULATIONS
PROJECT NAME: PROJECT #:
LOCATION: SECTION:
GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEER: REPORT #:
NOTES: DRAWING #:
DATE:
Descriptions symbols Input Units Notes
Values
Backfill slope angle above wall 5.700
Angle of internal friction 32.000
Angle of wall friction 18.000
Inclination angle to vertical plane 6.000
Cohesion C 0 psf ignore cohesion
Surcharge q 100.000 pcf
Soil density 120.000 pcf
Gabion density g 100.000 pcf
Height of wall H 12 ft
Width of base B 7.5 ft
Embedment d 2.000 ft
Allowable soil bearing capacity qa 1000.000 psf to be determined by Geotechnical
Engineer
GABION RETAINING WALL
X Y
Row # Width Height offset Area X Moment Y Moment
(ft) (ft) (from toe) (ft) (ft) (ft) (ft) (ft) (ft)
15 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000
14 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000
13 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000
12 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000
11 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000
10 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000
9 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000
8 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000
7 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000
6 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000
5 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000
4 3.0 3.0 4.50 9.000 6.000 54.000 10.500 94.500
3 4.5 3.0 3.00 13.500 5.250 70.875 7.500 101.250
2 6.0 3.0 1.50 18.000 4.500 81.000 4.500 81.000
1 7.5 3.0 0.00 22.500 3.750 84.375 1.500 33.750
12.0 63.000 4.607 290.250 4.929 310.500
1 COULOMB'S THEORY
-6
-3
0
3
6
9
12
15
18
21
24
27
30
33
36
39
42
45
-3 0 3 6 9 12 15 18 21 24 27 30 33 36
Y

X
GABION RETAINING WALL
ROW 1
ROW 2
ROW 3
ROW 4
ROW 5
ROW 6
ROW 7
ROW 8
ROW 9
ROW 10
ROW 11
ROW 12
ROW 13
ROW 14
ROW 15
EMBEDMT
BACKFILL
Active earth pressure Ka = Cos(+)
coefficient Cos cos(-) 1+ Sin(+) Sin(-)
cos(-) cos(+)
= 0.621
0.989 0.978 1+ 0.766 0.443
0.978 0.979
= 0.621
2.462
= 0.252
Ignore vertical components
& cohesion
Horizontal active soil thrust Phs = 0.5Ka H Cos(- )
= 2131.454 lb/ft
Horizontal active surcharge Phq = Ka q H Cos(- )
thrust
= 296.035 lb/ft
Total horizontal thrust Pha = Phs + Phq
= 2427.489 lb/ft
2 Check Overturning:
Overturning moment Mo = Phs H/3-BSin + Phq H/2-BSin
= 2131.454 3.216 + 296.035 5.216
= 8398.963 ft-lb / ft
Weight of Gabion Wg = A g
= 6300.000 lb / ft
Horizontal distance to Wg Xg = Y Sin + X Cos
= 0.515 + 4.582
= 5.097 ft
Resisting moment Mr = Wg Xg
= 32111.607 ft-lb / ft
Overturning factor of safety SFo = Mr
Mo
3.823 2.000 O.K
3 Check Sliding
Total vertical weight W = Wg
= 6300.000 lb/ft
Frictional force F = W Tan
= 6300.000 0.625
= 3936.677
Siding factor of safety SFs = F
Pha
1.622 1.500 O.K
4 Check the Eccentricity of Resultant Force
(Resultant is in middle one third)
Eccentricity e = 0.5 B - ( Mr - Mo)
W
= 3.750 - 3.764
= -B/6 e +B/6
-1.250 -0.014 1.250
O.K O.K
5 Check Bearing
Meyerhof
Applied bearing pressure P = W
B - 2e
= 6300.000
7.500 - 0.028
= 843.128 psf 1000.000 O.K
Additional calculations may have to be performed including and not limiting to global stability analysis
(by Geotechnical Engineer), seismic forces (by Seismic Engineer) and hydraulic forces (by Hydraulic
Engineer). Please check local, State and Federal requirements. The calculator assumes drained uniformed
retained and foundation soil properties. The calculations should be reviewed, checked and certified by a
Professional Engineer. To the best of our knowledge, the calculator and information was prepared accurately.
Terra Aqua is not responsible for the reliability and validity of the geotechnical parameters assumed in the
calculations. The calculator is intended to provide design assistance to the engineer for the purpose of
designing with Terra Aqua products.