Counterfort retaining wall

Fardous Rababah
Martha al- Rabadi

When we use Counterfort

Retaining wall??

 When the height of the retaining wall

exceeds about 6 m, the thickness of the
stem and heel slab works out to be
sufficiently large and the design
becomes uneconomical.so we use
counterfort RW

Parts of counterfort RW

Proportioning

Stability
Before the design we must check
stability as we learned previous.

Check for sliding

Check for overturning

Check for bearing

capacity

Other two failures in

counterfort
Tearing of wall slab
tearing of wall along with
counterfort.

The main components that must be

design:

Design of Stem
Design of Toe Slab
Design of Heel slab
Design of
Counterforts

Design of Stem
The stem acts as a continuous slab
spanning longitudinally over the
counterforts.

BF

The
loads
The horizontal active soil pressure
acts as the load on the slab.
Earth pressure varies linearly
over the height The slab
deflects away from the earth
face between the counterforts

p=Kah

Maximum Bending moments for

stem
Maximum +ve B.M= pl2/16
occurring mid-way between
counterforts
Maximum -ve B.M= pl2/12
(occurring at inner face of
counterforts)
Where( I) is the clear distance between the counterforts

and (p) is the intensity of soil pressure

The bending
moment
in the stem is maximum
at the base and reduces
towards top.
Note :

Reinforcement of stem
*The main reinforcement is
provided horizontally along
the length of the wall.
*The ties are provided
horizontally for the full value
of reaction to prevent slab
separating from
counterforts.

Design of Toe Slab

designed as a cantilever slab fixed at
the front face of the stem.
H

The
loads
The toe slab is subjected to an
upward soil reaction
b

Reinforcement of
Toe
* Due to upward soil
pressure, the tension
develops on the earth face
and the reinforcement is
provided on earth face along
the length of the toe slab.

Design of Heel Slab

The heel slab is designed as a
continuous slab spanning over the
counterforts, as in the case of stem.

The
loads
The heel slab is subjected to
downward forces due to weight of
soil plus self weight of slab and an
upward force due to soil reaction.

BF

Maximum Bending moments

for Heel

Maximum +ve B.M= pl2/16

mid-way between counterforts
towards earth face
Maximum -ve B.M= pl2/12
occurring at counterforts

Where ( I) is the clear distance between the counterforts

and (p) p is the net downward force

The downward force will be

maximum at the edge of the slab
where intensity of soil pressure is
minimum.

Design of Counterforts
The compression zone with respect to the
bending of the counterforts and hence the
counterforts are designed as a T-beam or
cantilever fixed at the base slab of varying depth.

The
loads

*The counterforts are subjected 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.

T
d

Reinforcement of
counterfort
*The main steel provided

along the sloping face shall

be anchored properly at
both ends.
Note : The depth of the counterfort is
measured perpendicular to the
sloping side

In conclusion
-M
+M

COUNTERFORT
STEM

-M

HEEL SLAB
TOE

+M

example
Retaining wall with counterforts is
required to support earth to a height of
7 m above the ground level. The top
surface of the backfill is horizontal. The
trial pit taken at the site indicates that
soil of bearing capacity 220 kN/m2 is
available at a depth of 1.25 m below the
ground level. The weight of earth is 18
kN/m3 and angle of repose is 30. The
coefficient of friction between concrete
and soil is 0.58. Use concrete M20 and
steel grade Fe 415. Design the retaining
wall.

o
i
t
u
l
so
n

a. Proportioning of Wall
Components
Coefficient of active pressure = ka =
1/3
Coefficient of passive 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
(4.95 m to 5.78 m), Say b = 5.5 m
Toe projection = b/4 = 5.5/4 =

h 1= 7 m

1.25 m
b=5.5 m

 Spacing of counterforts
Provide counterforts at 3 m c/c.
Assume width of counterfort = 400
mm
clear spacing provided = l = 3 - 0.4
= 2.6 m

Details of wall

250
mm

Counter F @:
3m c/c,
400 mm

h =7
m
1

h=7.
8m

1.25
m

b=5.
5m

H=8.2
5m

1.2
m

4.05
m

b. Check Stability of Wall

h 1=
7000

250
mm

W
1

W
3

R
PA

H
8250

PA

D f=

4050
A 1200 B C
D
H/
1250
mm
mm
4
W
3
kaH
5 T X
2
e
b/
0
b/
2 Pressure distribution
3

Cross section of wall-Stability

analysis

b. Check Stability of Wall

Loads in kN

Dist. of
e.g. from
T in m

Moment
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

#.
No.

Description of
loads

Total

W = 679.25

W
=2210.71

Stability of walls
Horizontal earth pressure on full height of
wall
= Ph = kaH2 /2 =18 x 8.252/(3 x 2) =
204.19 kN
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 > 2
safe.

Check for sliding

Total horizontal force tending to
slide the wall
= Ph = 204.19 kN
Resisting force = .W = 0.58 x
679.25
= 393.97 kN
Factor of safety against sliding
= .W / Ph = 393.97/204.19

 Check for pressure distribution at base

Let x be the distance of R from toe (T),
x = M / W = 2210.71 -561.52 /679.25 = 2.43 m
Eccentricity=e = b/2 - x = 5.5/2 - 2.43 = 0.32 < b/6
(0.91m)
Whole base is under compression.
Maximum pressure at toe
= pA = W / b ( 1+6e/b) = 679.25/5.5 ( 1+ 6*0.32/5.5)
= 166.61 kN/m2 < f b (i.e. SBC= 220 kN/m2)
Minimum pressure at heel
= pD = 80.39 kN/m2 compression.

 Intensity of pressure at junction of stem

with toe i.e. under B
= pB = 80.39 + (166.61 - 80.39) x 4.3/5.5
= 147.8kN/m2
Intensity of pressure at junction of stem
with heel i.e. under C
=Pc= 80.39 + (166.61 - 80.39) x 4.05/5.5
= 143.9 kN/m2

250 mm

H
8250

R
PA

1250

1200 mm
B

4050 mm

b/2

450

166.61 153.9 147.8 143.9

kN/m2
5500 mm

80.39
kN/m2

b) Design of Toe slab

Max. BMB = psf x (moment due to soil pressure moment due to wt. of slab TB]
= 1.5 [147.8 x 1.22/2 + (166.61 - 147.8) x 1.2 (2/3 x
1.2)
-(25x 1.2 x 0.45 x 1.2/2) =174.57 kN-m.

To find steel
A st =1326 mm2, # 16 @150
However, provide # 16 @110 from shear
considerations.
Area provided =1827 mm2
Distribution steel = 0.15 x 1000 x 450/100 = 540
mm2
Provide #12 mm at 200 mm c/c.
Area provided = 565 mm2

Check for Shear for toe

pE = 80.39 + (166.61 - 80.39) (4.3 + 0.39)/5.5
= 153.9kN/m2
Net vertical shear
= (166.61 + 153.9) x 1.2/2 - (25 x 0.45 x 0.81)
=120.7 kN.
Net ultimate shear = Vu.max = 1.5 x 120.7 =181.05
kN.
v= 181.05x 1000/1000x390 =0.46 MPa
pt = 100 x 1827/ (1000 x 390) = 0.47 %
uc = 0.36 + (0.48 - 0.36) x 0.22/0.25
= 0.47N/mm2 > vsafe

(c) Design of Heel Slab

Continuous slab.
The forces acting near the edge are
Downward wt. of soil=18x7.8xl= 140.4 kN/m
Downward wt. of heel slab = 25 x 0.45 x 1=
11.25 kN/m
Upward soil pressure 80.39 kN/m2= 80.39 x 1=
80.39 kN/m
Net down force at D= 140.4 + 11.25 - 80.39 =
71.26 kN/m
Also net down force at C = 140.4 + 11.25 - 143.9
= 7.75 kN/m
Negative Bending Moment for heel at junction of
counterfort

l
e
e
h
n
o
s
e
c
For
slab

166. 15 14 14
61 3.9 7.8 3.9
kN/
5500
m2
mm

7.75
kN/m
71.26
kN/m

80.3
9
kN/
m2

To find steel
Mu/j*d*b=60.2x106/(1000x390x0.8)=540
Ast= 540 mm2
Provide # 12 mm @ 200 mm c/c,
Area provided = 565 mm2

Check for shear (Heel slab)

Maximum shear = Vu,max = 71.26 x 2.6/2 = 139

kN
For M20 concrete, uc= 0.28 N/mm2

v= Vumax/jbd =0.36 N/mm2 ,

uc < v, Unsafe, Hence shear steel is needed

Using #8 mm 2-legged stirrups,

Spacing=0.87x415x100/[(0.36-0.28)x1000]
= 452 mm < (0.75 x 390 = 290 mm or 300
mm )
Provide #8 mm 2-legged stirrups at 290 mm
c/c.

R
1250
45
0

1200
A
B
mm

4050
mm
b/2

Area for
stirrups

4050
mm
C

3000

TOE

D
260 HEEL
0
x1

139
SFD

y1
7.75
kN/m

71.2
8
Net down force kN/m
dia.

Shear analysis
and Zone of
shear steel

 Check the force at junction of heel slab with

stem
The intensity of downward force decreases due to
increases in upward soil reaction. Consider m
width of the slab at C
Net downward force= 18 x 7.8 +25 x 0.45 - 143.9
= 7.75 kN/m. Provide only minimum
reinforcement.
Distribution steel
Ast = 0.15 x 1000 x 450/100 = 540 mm2
Using # 12 mm bars, spacing = 1000 x 113/468
= 241 mm.
Provide # 12 mm at 200 mm c/c.

(d) Design of Stem (Vertical

Slab).
Continuous slab spanning between the counterforts
and subjected to earth pressure.
The intensity of earth pressure
= ph = ka h =18 x 7.8/3=46.8 kN/m2
Area of steel on earth side near counterforts :
Maximum -ve ultimate moment,
Mu = ph l2/12 = 46.8 x 2.62/12 = 39.54 kN.m.
Required d = (39.54 x 106/(2.76 x 1000)) = 119
mm
However provide total depth = 250 mm
Mu/jbd= 39.54x106/0.87x1000x390=1.1

 Ast=646 mm2, #12 mm @ 170 mm c/c,

However provide #12 mm @ 110 mm c/c,

As the earth pressure decreases towards the

top, the spacing of the bars is increased with
decrease in height.

Max.ult. shear = Vumax = 46.8 x 2.6/2 = 91.26 kN

For M20 concrete uc= 0.5 N/mm2
v= Vumax/0.87bd =91.28 x1000/
(0.87x100X190)=0.48 N/mm 2,

(e) Design of Counterfort

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
= 18 x h2 x 3 x 1/6 = 9 h2
B.M. at any depth h = 9h2xh/3 = 3h3
B.M. at the base at C= 3 x 7.83 = 1423.7 kN.m.
Counterfort acts as a a cantilever beam

 The effective depth is taken

at right angle to the
reinforcement.
tan = 7.8/4.05 =1.93, =
62.5,

h
=7.8
m

d = 4050 sin - eff. cover

= 3535 mm > > 1390 mm

Mu/jbd=2135.6x106/
(0.87x400x3535)

=Ast=1696mm2

4.0
5m

Ast.min = 0.15xbxd
Provided 4- # 22 mm + 4 - # 22 mm,
Area provided = 3041 mm2
The height h where half of the reinforcement can be
curtailed is approximately equal to H= 7.8=2.79 m
Curtail 4 bars at 2.79-Ldt from top i.e, 2.79-1.03 =1.77m
from top.

Design of Horizontal Ties

The direct pull by the wall on counterfort for
1 m height at base
= kah x c/c distance =1/3x18 x 7.8 x 3 =
140.4 kN
Sperating force=140.4 KN
Using # 8 mm 2-legged stirrups, Ast = 100
mm2
spacing = 1000 x 100/583 = 170 mm c/c.
Provide # 8 at 170 mm c/c.
Since the horizontal pressure decreases with h, the
spacing of stirrups can be increased from 170 mm
c/c to 450 mm c/c towards the top.

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 bet. CFs = 71.28 x 3 = 213.78 kN.
Required Ast =213.78 x 103/(0.87 x 415) = 888 mm2
Using # 8 mm 2-legged stirrups , A st = 100 mm2
spacing = 1000 x 100/888 = 110 mm c/c.
Provide # 8 mm 2-legged stirrups at 110 mm c/c.
Increase the spacing of vertical stirrups from 110 mm c/c
to 450 mm c/c towards the end C

 DRAWING AND DETAILING

 Cross section between

counterforts

0200mm
COUNTERFORT

7000

250
mm
STEM

#12@20
0
#12@20
0

1200
1250
45
mm
0

#16@12
TOE
0

#12@20
0

8250
mm

4050
mm

#12@20
0

HEEL

Cross section through

counterforts
25
0
#1m
2@m
#1
400
2@
#1
2@
200

8- 1.7
#2 7m
82
2 #8@11
0-450,
850
##8@17
VS
220-450,
12 110
12
HS
4
50
00

#1
5 m #1 #1
6@
2@
2@
0 300

Section through stem at the

junction of Base slab

Backfill

0.2
5l

0.3
l

With straight bars

Cross section of heel slab

u
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y
k
n
a
Th