DESIGN AND DETAILING

OF RETAINING WALLS
Learning
g Outcomes:

After this present you will be able to do the

complete design and detailing of different types of
retaining walls
walls..

Cantilever Retaining wall

with shear key

Batter
Drainage Hole
Toe

Classification of
Retaining walls
Cantilever retaining wall-RCC
(Inverted T and L)
Counterfort retaining wall-RCC
Buttress wall
wall-RCC
RCC

Classification of Retaining
walls
Backfill

Tile
drain

Gravity RW

Backfill

L-Shaped RW

T-Shaped RW

Backfill
Counterfort

Counterfort RW

Buttress

Weep
hole

Buttress RW
4

Earth Pressure (P)

Earth pressure is the pressure
exerted by the retaining material
on the retaining wall
wall. This
pressure tends to deflect the wall
outward.
Types of earth pressure :
Active earth pressure or earth
pressure (Pa) and
Passive earth pressure (Pp).
Active earth pressure tends to
deflect the wall away from the
backfill.

GL

Pa

Variation of Earth pressure

Factors affecting earth

pressure
Earth pressure depends on type of
backfill the height of wall and the
backfill,
soil conditions
Soil conditions: The different soil
conditions are

Dry leveled back fill

Moist leveled backfill
Submerged leveled backfill
Leveled backfill with uniform
surcharge
Backfill with sloping surface

Analysis for dry back

fills
Maximum pressure at any height, p=k
p kah
Total pressure at any height from top,
pa=1/2[kah]h = [kah2]/2
Bending moment at any height
M=paxh/3= [kah3]/6
Total pressure, Pa= [kaH2]/2
Total Bending moment at bottom,
M = [kaH3]/6

GL

h
H
GL

Pa

M
kaH
H=stem height
7

 Where, ka= Coefficient of active earth pressure

= (1-sin)/(1+sin)=tan
(1 sin)/(1+sin)=tan2

= 1/kp, coefficient of passive earth

pressure

= Angle of internal friction

=Unit weigh
g or density
y of backfill
If = 30, ka=1/3 and kp=3. Thus ka is 9 times kp

Backfill with sloping surface

pa= ka H at the bottom
and is parallel to inclined
surface of backfill

GL

cos cos 2 cos 2

ka= cos

2
2
cos + cos cos

Where =Angle of
surcharge
Total pressure at bottom
=Pa= ka H2/2

Stability requirements of RW
Following conditions must be
satisfied
f d for
f stability
bl
off wall
ll
It should
h ld nott overturn
t
It should not slide
i.e Max. pressure at the toe should
not exceed the safe bearing
capacity of the soil under working
condition
10

Check against overturning

Factor of safety against
overturning
g
= MR / MO 1.55 (=1.4/0.9)
Where,
MR =Stabilising
S bili i
moment
or restoring moment
MO =overturning
overturning moment

11

Check against Sliding

FOS against sliding

= Resisting force to
g/
force
sliding/Horizontal
causing sliding
= W/Pa 1.55
(=1.4/0.9)
Friction W
SLIDING OF WALL
12

Design of Shear key

In case the wall is
unsafe against
sliding

H
H+a

A R

PA

B
=45 + /2

pp

ka(H+a)

pp= p tan2 (45

+/2)
= p kp
where pp= Unit
passive pressure
on soil
il above
b
shearing plane AB
p= Earth pressure
at BC
R=Total passive
resistance=ppxa
13

Design of Shear keykeyContd.,,

If W= Total vertical force acting at the key
base
= shearing angle of passive resistance
R=
R Total
T t l passive
i
fforce = pp x a
PA=Active horizontal pressure at key base for
H+a
W=Total frictional force under flat base
For equilibrium, R + W =FOS x PA
FOS= (R + W)/ PA 1.55

14

M i
Maximum
pressure at the
h toe

x1

x2

W4

W1

W2

Pa
R
W3

T
x

b/6
b

Pmax

H/3

b/2

Pmin.

Pressure below the

Retaining Wall
15

 Let the resultant R due to W and Pa

lie
e at a distance
d sta ce x from
o the
t e toe.
toe
X = M/W,
M = sum of all moments about toe.
Eccentricity of the load = e = (b/2-x) < b/6
Minimum pressure at heel=
>Zero.

Pmin

W
=
b

6e
1 b

For zero pressure, e=b/6, resultant should cut

the base within the middle third.
third
Maximum pressure at toe= < SBC of soil.
W 6e
Pmax =
1+

b
b

16

Depth of foundation
Rankines
R ki fformula:
l
Df =

SBC 1 sin
1 + sin

SBC 2
ka
=

Df

17

Preliminary Proportioning
(T shaped wall)
Stem: Top width 200 mm
to 400 mm
Base slab width b= 0.4H to
0.6H, 0.6H to 0.75H for
f
surcharged wall
Base
B
slab
l b thickness=
thi k
H/10
to H/14
Toe projection= (1/3-1/4)
(1/3 1/4)
Base width

200

tp= (1/3-1/4)b

H/10
H/14

b 0.4H
b=
0 4H tto 0.6H
0 6H

18

Behaviour or structural action

Behaviour or
structural action
and design of
stem, heel and toe
slabs are same as
that of any
cantilever slab.

19

Dist
Dist.
from
top

h1
Ast/2

h2

h1c

Every
alternate
bar cut

Ldt
Ast

h2
Ast/2

Ast
Provided

Ast

C
Cross
section
ti

C t il
Curtailment
t curve
20

Design of Heel and Toe

1 Heel slab and toe slab should also be
1.
designed as cantilever. and determine
the maximum bending moments at the
junction.
2 Determine
2.
D t
i
the
th reinforcement.
i f
t
3. Also check for shear at the junction.
4. Provide enough development length.
21

Design
g of stem
As(min)=14/fy bd
1.34As =
Development length (Stem
steel)

22

Check for shear

23

x1

x2

W4

W1

W2

Pa
R

T
x

b/6
b

0.75m 0.45m
Pmax
120.6
T/m2

H/3

W3
b/2
1.8m

24.1
22.6

Pmin.
30.16
T/m2

97.99

Forces acting
on the wall
and the
pressure
below the wall

P
Pressure
below
b l
th
the R
Retaining
t i i W
Wallll
24

Design of heel

120.6
T/m2

30.16
T/m2
25

Design of toe slabslab-Contd.,

Ch
Check
k for
f shear:
h
att d from
f
junction
j
ti
(at xx as wall is in compression)

x
d
x

Ldt

26

Other deatails
Construction joint
Drainage

27

28

Design
g and Detailing
g of

Counterfort Retaining
wall
ll

Counterfort Retaining
g wall

When H exceeds about 6m,

Stem and heel thickness is more
More bending and more steel
Cantilever T type-Uneconomical
Cantilever-T
type Uneconomical
Counterforts-Trapezoidal section
1.5m -3m c/c

CF

Stem
Base Slab

CRW
30

Parts of CRW
Same as that of Cantilever Retaining wall
Plus Counterfort

Stem

Counterforts

Heel

Toe
Base slab

C
Cross
section
ti

Pl
Plan

31

Design of Stem
The stem acts as a continuous slab
Soil pressure acts as the load on the
slab.
Earth pressure varies linearly over the
height
The slab deflects away from the earth
f
face
between
b t
the
th counterforts
t f t
The bending moment in the stem is
maximum at the base and reduces
towards top.
top

BF

p=Kah

32

Maximum Bending moments for

stem
Maximum + B.M= pl2/16
(occurring mid-way between
counterforts)
and
Maximum - B.M= pl2/12
(occurring at inner face of
counterforts)
f
)

Where l
l is the clear distance
between the counterforts

and p is the intensity of soil

pressure
33

Design of Toe Slab

The base width=b =0.6 H to 0.7 H
The projection=1/3 to 1/4 of base
width.
The toe slab is subjected to an upward
soil reaction and is designed as a
cantilever slab fixed at the front face of
the stem.
stem
Reinforcement is provided on earth
face along the length of the toe slab.
In case the toe slab projection is large
i.e. > b/3, front counterforts are
provided above the toe slab and the
slab is designed as a continuous
horizontal slab spanning between the
front counterforts.

34

Design of Heel Slab

The heel slab is designed as a continuous

slab spanning over the counterforts and is
subjected to downward forces due to weight of
soil plus self weight of slab and an upward force
due to soil reaction.

Maximum +ve B.M= pl2/16

(mid-way between counterforts)
And
Maximum -ve B.M= pl2/12
(occurring at counterforts)

BF

35

Design of Counterforts
The counterforts are subjected
j
to
outward reaction from the stem.
This produces tension along the outer
sloping face of the counterforts.
The inner face supporting the stem is
in compression. Thus counterforts are
designed as a T-beam of varying
depth.
depth
The main steel provided along the
sloping face shall be anchored properly
at both ends.
ends
The depth of the counterfort is
measured perpendicular to the sloping
side.

T
d

36

Behaviour of Counterfort
RW
-M

Important points

+M

Loads on Wall
COUNTERFORT
STEM

Deflected shape
Nature of BMs
Position of steel

-M

Counterfort details
Counterfort

HEEL SLAB
TOE

+M

37

a. Proportioning
p
g of Wall
Components
Coefficient of active pressure = ka = 1/3
Coefficient of passive pressure
pressure= kp = 3
The height of the wall above the base

= H = 7 + 1.25 = 8.25 m.

Base width = 0.6 H to 0.7 H

h1=
7m

(4.95 m to 5.78 m), Say b = 5.5 m

Toe projection = b/4 = 5.5/4 = say 1 .2 m

1 25 m
1.25

Assume thickness of vertical wall = 250 mm

Thickness of base slab = 450 mm

b=5.5 m

38

S
Spacing
i
off counterforts
f
l = 3.5 (H/)0.25 = 3.5 (8.25
25//18
18))0.25 =
2.88 m
c/c spacing = 2.88 + 0.40 = 3.28 m
say 3 m

Provide counterforts at 3 m c/c.

Assume width of counterfort = 400 mm
clear spacing provided = l = 3 - 0.4 =
2.6 m
39

Details of wall
250 mm
CF: 3m
CF
3 c/c,
/
400 mm
h1=7

h 78m
h=7.8

H=8.25 m

d
1.25m

1.2 m

4.05m

b=5 5 m
b=5.5
40

b. Check Stability of Wall

Loads in kN

Dist. off
Di
e.g. from
T in m

Moment
M
about
T in kN-m

Weight of stem
W1

25x0.25x1x7.8
= 48.75

1.2 + 0.25/2
=1.325

64.59

Weight of base
slab W2

25x5.5x1x0.45
= 61.88

5.5/2 =2.75

170.17

Weight of earth
over heel slab W3

18x4.05x1x7.8
= 568.62

1.45 +4.05/2
= 3.475

1975.95

Sr.
No.

Description of
loads

Total

W = 679.25

W
=2210.71
41

250 mm
W1

W3
H
8250

h1= 7000
W
R
PA
Df= 1250

1200 mm

450

4050 mm

PA
D

H/3

W2
T

kaH

e
b/3

b/2
Pressure distribution

Cross section of wall-Stability

wall Stability analysis
42

Stability of
walls
Horizontal earth pressure on full height
off wall
ll
= Ph = kaH2 /2 =18 x 8.252/(3 x 2) =
204 19 kN
204.19
Overturning moment = M0
= Ph x H/3 = 204.19 x 8.25/3 = 561.52
kN.m.
Factor of safety against overturning
= M / M0 = 2210.71/561.52 = 3.94 >
1 55
1.55
safe.

43

Check for sliding

Total horizontal force tending to slide the
wall
= Ph = 204
204..19 kN
Resisting force =
..W = 0.58 x 679
679..25
= 393
393..97 kN
Factor of safety against sliding
=
..W / Ph = 393
393..97
97//204
204..19
= 1.93 > 1.55 ... safe.
safe.

44

Check for pressure distribution at base

Let x be the distance of R from toe (T),
x =M/W
Eccentricity=e = b/
b/2
2 - x < b/
b/6
6
Whole base is under compression.
compression.
Maximum pressure at toe
= pA = W / b ( 1+6e/b) =
Minimum
u p
pressure
essu e at heel
ee

45

IIntensity
t
it off pressure att junction
j
ti
off stem
t
with
ith toe
t
i.e. under B
Intensity of pressure at junction of stem with heel
i.e. under C

46

250 mm

H
8250

R
PA

1250

1200 mm
B

4050 mm

450

166.61
166
61 153.9
153 9 147.8
147 8 143.9
143 9
kN/m2

b/2
80.39
kN/ 2
kN/m

5500 mm
47

b) Design of Toe slab

Max. BMB = psf x (moment due to soil pressure moment due to wt. of slab TB]

48

Check for Shear

Critical section for shear: At distance d (=
(
390 mm) from the face of the toe

49

Counterfort RW

-M

+M

COUNTERFORT

STEM

-M
HEEL SLAB
TOE

+M
50

((c)) Design
g of Heel Slab

166.61 153.9 147.8 143.9

kN/m2

80.39
kN/m2

5500
mm

7.75
kN/m
71.26
kN/m
C

Forces on heel slab

D
51

450

1200
A
B
mm

4050
mm
b/2

Area for
stirrups

4050
mm
TOE

D
3000

1250

2600 HEEL
x1

139
SFD

1
y1
71.28
kN/m

7.75
kN/m

Shear analysis and

Zone of shear steel

Net down force dia

dia.
52

(d) Design of Stem (Vertical

Slab).
C
Continuous
ti
slab
l b spanning
i
b
between
t
th
the
counterforts and subjected to earth pressure.
The intensity of earth pressure
= ph = ka h
Area of steel on earth side near counterforts :
Maximum -ve ultimate moment,
Mu = ph l2//12
Required d

53

( ) Design
(e)
D i off Counterfort
C
t f t
At any section at any depth h below the top, the
total horizontal earth pressure acting on the
counterfort
= 1/2 kay h2x c/c distance between counterfort
Counterfort acts as a TT-beam.
Even assuming rectangular section,

54

The effective depth is taken at

right angle to the reinforcement.

h =7.8 m

d
4.05m

55

Design of Horizontal Ties

Th
The direct
di
t pull
ll by
b the
th wall
ll on counterfort
t f t for
f 1m
height at base
= kah x c/c distance =1/3x18 x 7.8
7 8 x 3 = 140.4
140 4
kN
Area of steel required
q
to resist the direct p
pull
= 140.4 x 103/(0.5fy) = 583 mm2 per m height.
Using 8 mm 2-legged stirrups, Ast = 100 mm2
spacing = 1000 x 100/583 = 170 mm c/c.
Since the horizontal pressure decreases with h,
th spacing
the
i
off stirrups
ti
can be
b increased
i
d

56

Design of Vertical Ties

The maximum pull will be exerted at the end of
heel slab where the net downward force = 71.26
kN/m.
Total downward force at D
= 71.26 x c/c distance.
Required Ast = 1.5 x 213.78 x 103/(0.87 x 415) =
888 mm2
Using 8 mm 2-legged stirrups , Ast = 100 mm2
spacing
p
g = 1000 x 100/888
/
= 110 mm c/c.
/
Increase the spacing of vertical stirrups towards
the end C
57

250 mm
STEM

0-200mm
COUNTERFORT

7000
8250 mm

12@200
12@200

1250

1200 mm

4050 mm

450
TOE
16@120

12@200

12@200

HEEL

Cross section between counterforts

58

250 mm

12@400

8-22

#12@200

1.77m

#8@110-450, VS

#12@
@
110-300

8250

8 - # 22
#8@170-450, HS

1250

1200 mm
450
#16@120

#12@200

#12@200

Cross section through counterforts

59

STRAIGHT
BARS

Backfill

STEM

B kfill
Backfill

0.3l
0.25 l

With straight bars

With cranked
bars

Section through stem at the junction of Base slab

slab.
60

Lateral pressure against retaining wall

d
due
tto surcharge
h
loads
l d

61

62

63

64

65

66

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68