Chapter 2.

Design of Cantilever wall

In this chapter, the design of cantilever wall and its overall analysis is described.
Assignment
Design a cantilever wall with a height of 4,0 m and analyze it by EN 1997-1 (EC 7-1, Design
approach 1). The terrain behind the structure is horizontal. The ground water table is 2,0 meters deep.
Behind the wall acts a strip surcharge with a length of 5,0 meters and with a magnitude of 10 kN/m2.
The foundation soil consists of MS Sandy silt, stiff consistency, S r < 0,8 , allowable bearing capacity
is 175 kPa. The soil behind the wall will consist of S-F Sand with trace of fines, medium dense soil.
The cantilever wall will be made of reinforced concrete of class C 20/25.

Scheme of the cantilever wall - Assignment

Solution:
For solving this problem, we will use the GEO5 program, Cantilever wall. In this text, we will
explain solving this example step by step.
In the frame Settings click on Select and then choose analysis setting Nr. 3 Standard
EN 1997 DA1.

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Dialog window Settings list

In the frame Geometry choose the wall shape and enter its dimensions.

Frame Geometry
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In the frame Material enter the material of the wall.

Frame Material Input of material characteristics of the structure

Then, define the parameters of soil by clicking Add in the frame Soils. Wall stem
is normally analyzed for pressure at rest. For pressure at rest analysis, select Cohesionless.

Dialog window Add new soils

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Note: The magnitude of active pressure depends also on the friction between the structure and soil.
The friction angle depends on the material of construction and the angle of internal soil friction

(3

normally entered in the interval 1 2

ef

Table with the soil parameters

Angle of

Cohesion

Angle of

of soil

friction

Soil

Profile

Unit weight

internal

(Soil classification)

[m ]

[kN m 3 ]

friction

ef []

cef [kPa ]

0,0 4,0

17,5

28,0

0,0

18,5

from 4,0

18,0

26,5

30,0

17,5

S-F Sand with trace of

fines, medium dense soil

structure soil

= []

MS Sandy silt, stiff

consistency, S r < 0,8

In the frame Terrain choose the horizontal terrain shape.

Frame Terrain

The ground water table is at a depth of 2,0 meters. In the frame Water select the type of water
close to the structure and its parameters.

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Frame Water
In the next frame define Surcharge. Here, select permanent and strip surcharge on the terrain
acting as a dead load.

Dialog window New surcharge

In the frame FF resistance select the terrain shape in front of the wall and then define other
parameters of resistance on the front face.

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Frame FF resistance

Note: In this case, we do not consider the resistance on the front face, so the results will be
conservative. The FF resistance depends on the quality of soil and allowable displacement of the
structure. We can consider pressure at rest for the original soil, or well compacted soil. It is possible to
consider the passive pressure if displacement of structure is allowed. (for more information, see HELP
F1)

Then, in the frame Stage settings choose the type of design situation. In this case,
it will be permanent. Also choose the pressure acting on the wall. In our case, we will choose active
pressure, as the wall can move.

Frame Stage settings

Note: Wall stem is dimensioned always on earth pressure at rest, i.e., the wall cant be moved.
The possibility of evaluating the stem and the wall of the active pressure is considered only in
exceptional cases - such as the effects of the earthquake (seismic design situation with partial coefficient
equals 1.0).
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Now, open up the frame Verification, where you analyze the results of overturning and slip
of the cantilever wall.

Frame Verification

Note: The button In detail in the right section of the screen opens a dialog window with detailed
information about the analysis results.
Analysis results:
The verification of slip is not satisfactory, utilization of structure is

Overturning: 52,8 %

M vzd = 208,33 > M kl = 109,97 [kNm/m]

SATISFACTORY.

Slip: 124,6 %

H vzd = 65 ,78 < H pos = 81,94

NOT OK.

[kN/m]

Now we have several possibilities how to improve the design. For example, we can:
-

Use better soil behind the wall

Anchor the base

Increase the friction by bowing the footing bottom

Anchor the stem

These changes would be economically and technologically complicated, so choose the easiest
alternative. The most efficient way is to change the shape of the wall and introduce a wall jump.

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Change of the design: change of the geometry of the wall

Return to the frame Geometry and change the shape of the cantilever wall. For increasing
the resistance against slip we introduce a base jump.

Frame Geometry (Changing dimensions of cantilever wall)

Note: A base jump is usually analyzed as an inclined footing bottom. If the influence of the base jump
is considered as front face resistance, then the program analyses it with a straight footing bottom, but
FF resistance of the construction is analyzed to the depth of the down part of the base jump
(More info in HELP F1)

Then analyze the newly designed construction for overturning and slip.

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Frame Verification
Now, the overturning and slip of the wall are both satisfactory.
Then, in the frame Bearing capacity, perform an analysis for design bearing capacity
of the foundation soil 175 kPa.

Frame Bearing capacity

Note: In this case, we analyze the bearing capacity of the foundation soil on an input value, which we
can get from geological survey, resp. from some standards. These values are normally highly
conservative, so it is generally better to analyze the bearing capacity of the foundation soil in the

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program Spread footing that takes into account other influences like inclination of load, depth of
foundation etc.

Next, in the frame Dimensioning chose wall stem check. Design the main reinforcement
into the stem 10 pcs. 12 mm, which satisfies in point of bearing capacity and all design principles.

Frame Dimensioning

Then, open up the frame Stability and analyze the overall stability of the wall. In our case,
we will use the method Bishop, which result in conservative results. Perform the analysis
with optimization of circular slip surface and then leave the program by clicking OK.
Results or pictures will be shown in the report of analysis in the program Cantilever wall.

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Slope stability program

Conclusion/ Result of analysis bearing capacity:

M vzd = 218,52 > M kl = 108,16 [kNm/m]

Overturning: 49,5 %

Slip: 64,9 %

Bearing capacity: 86,3

Rd = 151,06 > = 175,00

Wall stem check: 78,7 %

M Rd = 169,92 > M Ed = 133,71 [kNm]

SATISFACTORY

Overall stability: 40,8 %

Method Bishop (optimization)

SATISFACTORY

H vzd = 99,27 > H pos = 64,47

[kN/m]
[kPa]

SATISFACTORY
SATISFACTORY
SATISFACTORY

This cantilever wall is SATISFACTORY.

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