National University of Singapore

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

CE5108
EARTH RETAINING STRUCTURES

Semester 1 2016/17

Part 1
Fundamentals and Basic Design & Analysis

GOH Siang Huat

Introduction - 1
 My Office and Contact Information
Two Locations
1. 12 Kent Ridge Road, S119221 (Centre for Protective Technology)
2. Room E2-04-10 (Engineering Block E2, Level 4, Room 10)
Telephone : 6516 8663
Email : gohsianghuat@nus.edu.sg
Please email / call to make appointment before coming!

Map showing location of

the Centre for Protective
Technology

Introduction - 2
 Module Overview
 Part 1 (S.H. Goh)
 Fundamentals, Earth Pressure Theories,
Design Philosophies (including EC7),
Gravity (Rigid) Retaining Structures,
Flexible Walls (Cantilever + Single-Prop)

 Part 2 (Prof Harry Tan)

 Deep Excavations, Multi-propped
Walls, Finite Element Modeling and
Analysis
Introduction - 3
 Course Outline (Part 1 by GSH)
Fundamentals and Basic Design
 Introduction
Brief historical review, broad overview of different types of retaining
structures

 Earth pressure theories

Different earth pressure theories and their mathematical derivations,
relationship between soil movement and earth pressure, selection and
acquisition of soil parameters, influence of groundwater seepage

 Gravity (rigid) retaining structures

Limit equilibrium analysis of gravity retaining walls, limit state design
approach, design to EC7 requirements for different limit states

 Flexible retaining structures

Limit equilibrium analysis of cantilever and single-propped sheet pile
walls, design to EC7 requirements, influence of soil arching effects

Introduction - 4
 Broad Learning Outcomes
 Appreciate and understand the significance of the different
types of lateral earth pressures and their application in the
analysis of retaining walls.

 Able to apply mathematical and soil mechanics concepts to

derive basic earth pressure equations.
 Able to analyze simple retaining structures, such as rigid
gravity structures, cantilever walls and singly-propped wall
using common earth pressure theories with limit
equilibrium approach.
 Understand and appreciate the key features of basic design
philosophies for earth retaining structures.
 Able to analyse and design gravity (rigid) structures, flexible
cantilever walls and singly-propped walls based on EC7
code requirements.

Introduction - 5
 Continual Assessment (CA) and Exam Components

 Continuous assessment (CA) for Part 1 (GSH)

1 quiz (10%) + homework assignments (10%)
21 Sept 2017

 Continuous assessment (CA) for Part 2 (Prof Harry Tan)

1 mini project (20%)

 Final Exam (60%) (open book)

Introduction - 6
 Reading Materials
 Beyond the Lecture Notes/Slides
 Published Books
Craig’s Soil Mechanics 8th Edition
(Knappett and Craig)
Earth Pressure and Earth-
Retaining Structures 3rd Edition
(Clayton, Woods, Bond and Milititsky)
or other soil mechanics textbooks
from the library
 Notes and related materials from
Introduction - 7
the internet