CE 433, Fall 2006

Retaining Wall Design Example

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Design a reinforced concrete retaining wall for the following conditions.

surcharge = qs = 400psf

Fill: = 32o Unit wt = 100 pcf HT = 18 ft

tf wtoe tstem wheel Natural Soil: = 32o allowable bearing pressure = 5000psf

Development of Structural Design Equations. In this example, the structural design of the three retaining wall components is performed by hand. Two equations are developed in this section for determining the thickness & reinforcement required to resist the bending moment in the retaining wall components (stem, toe and heel). Equation to calculate effective depth, d: Three basic equations will be used to develop an equation for d. (1) M u = M n a M n = As f y d , 2 (2) C = T , 0.85 f a b = As f y ,
' c

a M u = As f y d [ Eqn1] 2 f c' As = 0.85 ab [ Eqn 2] fy

(3) strain compatibility :

0.003 s + 0.003 a 0.003 = , = 1 a / 1 d d s + 0.003 a/d 0.319 0.235 0.196

Assuming 1 = 0.85 (true for fc <= 4,000 psi) s 0.005 0.00785 0.010

and choosing a value for s in about the middle of the practical design range,

a = 0.235, d Substituting Eqn. 2 into Eqn. 1:

a = 0.235 d

[ Eqn 3]

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Retaining Wall Design Example

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f' a M u = 0.85 c ab f y d fy 2

And substituting Eqn. 3 into the above:

M u = 0.85 f c' 0.235 d ' 2 0.235d b f y d = (0.90)(0.85)(0.235)(0.883) f c b d fy 2

0.883d

M u = 0.159 f c' b d 2 [ Eqn. 4]

Equation for area of reinforcement, As. The area of reinforcement required is calculated from Eqn. 1:

a M u = As f y (d = ) = 0.90 As f y 0.883 d 2

M u = 0.795 As f y d

[Eqn. 5]

Design Procedure Example (after Phil Ferguson, Univ. Texas) 1. Determine HT. Usually, the top-of-wall elevation is determined by the client. The bottom-of-wall elevation is determined by foundation conditions. HT = 18 feet. 2. Estimate thickness of base (footing). tf 10% HT (12" minimum) tf = 0.1 (18' x 12"/') = 21.6"

use tf = 22"

3. Design stem (tstem, Asstem). The stem is a vertical cantilever beam, acted on by the horizontal earth pressure.
h = 18ft 22in/12in/ft h =16.17ft

tf = 22in
wtoe tstem wheel

ka h

k a qs

CE 433, Fall 2006

Retaining Wall Design Example

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calc. d: Pfill = 1 (k a h) h (1 ft out of page) 2 1 sin 1 sin(32 o ) ka = = = 0.31 1 + sin 1 + sin(32 o ) 1 = (0.31)(100 pcf )(16.17 ft ) 2 (1 ft ) = 4060 lb 2

Pfill

Psur = k a q sur h (1 ft ) = 0.31 (400 psf )(16.17 ft )(1 ft ) = 2010 lb h h M u = (Earth Pressure LoadFactor)( Pfill )( ) + (Live LoadFactor)(Psur )( ) 3 2 ft ft 16.17 16.17 ) + (1.6)(2010 lb )( ) = 61.0 k ft M u = (1.6)(4060 lb )( 3 2 Eqn. 4 : M u = 0.159 f c' b d 2
Use fc = 3000 psi, b = 12 throughout retaining wall (design 12-wide strip)
in ) = 0.159 (3 kso )(12" ) d 2 , d = 11.3 in ft 1 t stem = 11.3 in + 2 in cover + (1.0 in ) = 13.8 in , (assume #8 bars ) 2 in in in d = 14 2 0.5 = 11.5 in 61.0 k ft (12

use t stem = 14 in

calc. As: Eqn. 5 : M u = 0.795 As f y d Use fy = 60ksi

61.0 k ft (12 in ) = 0.795 ksi As (60 ksi )(11.5 in ), ft As = 1.33 in 2

As of one #8 bar = 0.79 in 2 in 2 in in bar 12 = 7.13 , 2 ft bar in 1.33 ft of wall 0.79 use #8 @ 6 in

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Retaining Wall Design Example

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4. Choose Heel Width, wheel Select wheel to prevent sliding. Use a key to force sliding failure to occur in the soil (soil-to-soil has higher friction angle than soil-to-concrete). Assume wtoe = 3ft

Neglect soil resistance in front of the wall.

ft Fresist 18 = Fsliding FS FS = Factor of Safety = 1.5 for sliding Fresist = (Vertical Force)(coefficient of friction)

12in

set

Fresist = WT (tan natural soil ) tan natural soil = tan(32 ) = 0.62

o

tf = 22in 14in

WT = W fill + Wstem + W found

W fill = (100 pcf )(16.17 ft )( wheel )(1 ft ) = 1620

lb wheel ft

12 in + 14 in 1 ft Wstem = (150 pcf )(16.17 ft )( )(1 ft ) = 2627 lb in 2 12 22 14 W found = (150 pcf )( ft )( wheel + ft + 3 ft )(1 ft ) = 275 plf wheel + 1146 12 12
Fsliding = P fill + Psur P fill = Psur 1 ( 0 .31 100 pcf )(18 ft ) 2 (1 ft ) = 5030 lb 2 = ( 0 .31 400 psf )(18 ft )(1 ft ) = 2240 lb

Fsliding = 5030 lb + 2240 lb = 7270 lb

lb lb lb lb 1620 ft wheel + 2627 + 275 ft wheel + 1146 (0.62) 7270 lb = 1.5 lb 1.5 7270 lb = 3773lb + 1895 wheel , wheel = 7.42 ft , ft 0.62

use wheel = 7.5 ft

CE 433, Fall 2006

Retaining Wall Design Example

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5. Check Overturning.
18 ft 18 ft M over = Pfill ( ) + Psur ( ) 2 3 M over = 5.03k (6 ft ) + 2.24 k (9 ft ) = 50.3k ft M resist = W fill ( 7.5 ft 14 ft + 3 ft ) + 2 12 1.17 ft ) + Wstem (3 ft + 2 11.67 ft ) + W found ( 2

18

ft

tf = 22in
3' 14" 7.5'

M resist = (1.62 klf 7.5 ft )(7.92 ft ) + (2.63 k )(3.585 ft ) + (0.275 klf 7.5 ft + 1.146 k )(5.835 ft ) M resist
Wfill = 12.13k = 124.1k ft Wfound = 3.21k

M resist 124.1k ft = = 2.47 > 2.0 = FS over , OK M over 50.3 k ft

6. Check Bearing.
v at end of toe =
WT = W fill + W stem WT M L + 2 , equation is valid only if e < bL bL 6 6 + W found

WT = 12.13 k + 2.63 k + 3.21k = 17.97 k M = Moment about centroid of foundation M = M over W fill (5.835 ft M = 50.3 k ft 7.5 ft 1.17 ft ) + W stem (7.5 ft + 5.835 ft ) + W found (0) 2 2 12.13 k ( 2.087 ft ) + 2.63 k ( 2.25 ft ) = 31.0 k ft

Check that e < L/6:

e= m 31.0 k ft L 11.67 ft L ft = = 1 . 73 , = = 1.95 ft , e < , OK k WT 6 6 6 17.97

v =

17.97 k 31.0 k ft + = 2.91ksf < 5.0 ksf = allowable bearing capacity, OK (1 ft )(11.67 ft ) 1 (1 ft )(11.67 ft ) 2 6

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Retaining Wall Design Example

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7. Heel Design.

Max. load on heel is due to the weight of heel + fill + surcharge as the wall tries to tip over. Flexure:
W = Wheel + W fill + Wsur

W = 1.2(150 pcf )(

22 ft )(1 ft ) 12 + 1.2(100 pcf )(16.17 ft )(1 ft ) + 1.6(400 plf )

wu Vu Mu 22in 7.5ft

W = 2.91klf M u = ( wu L) L wu L2 2.91klf (7.5 ft ) 2 = = = 81.8 k ft 2 2 2

Eqn. 4 : M u = 0.159 f c' b d 2 81.8 k ft (12 in ) = 0.159 (3 ksi )(12" ) d 2 , ft d = 13.1in for flexure

Shear: Vu = wu (7.5 ft ) = 2.91klf (7.5 ft ) = 21.8 k

Vc = (0.75) 2 f c' bw d = (0.75) 2 3000 psi (12 in ) d

setVu = Vc ,

ACI Code [Link] &[Link]

21,800 lb = (0.75) 2 3000 psi (12 in ) d , d = 22.1in for shear , controls

Shear controls the thickness of the heel. 1 t heel = 22.1in + 2in cover+ in = 24.6in (assume #8 bar), 2 Reinforcement in heel: Eqn 5 : M u = 0.795 As f y d
81 .8 k ft (12 0.79 in ) = 0.795 As (60 ft
ksi

use t heel = 25.0in

1 )( 25 .0 "2 " " ), As = 0.915 in 2 2 use #8 @ 9"

in 2 bar (12 in ) = 10 .4 in , ft in 2 0.915 ft

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Retaining Wall Design Example

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8. Toe Design.

Earth Pressure at Tip of Toe: W Mu , where M u is the factored moment about the centroid of the foundation v = u bL 1 bL2 6 Wu = 1.2(W fill + Wstem + W found ) + 1.6 (Wsur )
Wu = 1.2(12.13k + 2.63k + 3.21k ) + 1.6(0.4 ksf )(18 ft )(1 ft ) = 33.1k , (did not recalc foundation wt )
3' 1.17' 7.5'

M u = 1.6 M over 1.2(Wsoil 2.083 + Wstem 1.0 )

ft ft

M u = 1.6(50.3 k ft ) 1.2 12.13 k (2.083 ft ) + 2.63 k (2.25 ft ) = 43.1k ft 33.1k 43.1k ft v = ft (1 )(11.67 ft ) 1 (1 ft )(11.67 ft ) 2 6 ksf v A = 2.83 + 1.90 ksf = 4.73 ksf

v = 2.83 ksf
C

1.90 ksf

= 0.93 ksf

v = 0.93
B

ksf

4.73 ksf 0.93 ksf + (8.67 ft ) = 3.75 ksf ft 11.67

d for flexure:
M u = (3.75 ksf )(3 ft )(1 ft )( 3 ft 1 2 ) + (0.98 ksf )(3 ft )(1 ft )( 3 ft ) = 19.8 k ft 2 2 3

Eqn 4 : M u = 0.159 f c' b d 2 19.8 k ft (12 in ) = 0.159 (3 ksi )(12" ) d 2 , d = 6.46 in for flexure ft

d for shear: Assume theel = ttoe = 25.0in Critical section for shear occurs at "d" from face of stem, d = 25.0" 3"cover-1/2"=21.5"

critical sec tion

= 0.93 ksf +

4.73 ksf 0.93 ksf 18 (8.67 ft + ft ) = 4.25 ksf ft 12 11.67

Vu =

1 21.5 (4.73 ksf + 4.25 ksf )(3 ft ft )(1 ft ) = 6.74 k 2 12 Vc = (0.75)2 3000 psi (12 in )(21.5 in ) = 22,200 lb > Vu , OK

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Retaining Wall Design Example

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Reinforcement in toe: Eqn 5 : M u = 0.795 As f y d

20.5 k ft (12 0.79 in ) = 0.795 As (60 ksi ) (21.5 in ), As = 0.232 in 2 ft

in 2 bar (12 in ) = 41in , try smaller bars, say #4 ft in 2 0.232 ft in 2 bar (12 in ) = 10.3in ft in 2 0.232 ft 0.20 use #4 @ 9"