CE 437/537, Spring 2011 Retaining Wall Design Example 1/8

Design a reinforced concrete retaining wall for the

psf
following conditions. surcharge = qs = 400

f'c = 3000 psi

Fill: = 32o
fy = 60 ksi 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.
M u = M n
a
M n = As f y d
2
a
M u = As f y d [ Eqn 1]
2

C = T , 0.85 f c' a b = As f y
f c'
As = 0.85 ab [ Eqn 2]
fy

0.003 s + 0.003 a 0.003

strain compatibility : = , = 1
a / 1 d d s + 0.003
Assuming 1 = 0.85,
s a/d
0.005 0.319
0.00785 0.235
0.010 0.196
and choosing a value for s in about the middle of the practical design range,
a
= 0.235, a = 0.235 d [ Eqn 3]
d
CE 437/537, Spring 2011 Retaining Wall Design Example 2/8

Substituting Eqn. 2 into Eqn. 1:

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

And substituting Eqn. 3 into the above:

f c' 0.235 d
M u = 0.85 0.235d b f y d
fy 2

0.883d

Inserting the material properties: f'c = 3 ksi and fy = 60 ksi, and b = 12in (1-foot-wide
strip of wall, in the direction out of the paper).
k
M u = 0.90(0.85) 3ksi (12 in )(0.235)(0.883)d 2 M u = 5.71 in d 2

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

M u = As f y 0.883d = 0.90 As 60 ksi 0.883 d M u = 47.7 ksi As d

Design Procedure (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. tf 7% to 10% HT (12" minimum)

Tf = 0.07 (18' x 12"/') = 15.1" use tf = 16"
CE 437/537, Spring 2011 Retaining Wall Design Example 3/8

3. Design stem (tstem, Asstem). The stem is a vertical cantilever beam, acted on by the
horizontal earth pressure.

ft in in/ft
h = 8 16 /12
ft
h =16.67
h

tf = 16in
ka h ka qs
wtoe tstem wheel

calc. d:
1
Pfill = ( 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
Pfill = (0.31)(100 pcf )(16.67 ft ) 2 (1 ft ) = 4310 lb
2

Psur = k a q sur h (1 ft ) = 0.31 ( 400 psf )(16.67 ft )(1 ft ) = 2070 lb

h h
M u = ( Earth Pressure LoadFactor)( Pfill )( ) + ( Live LoadFactor)(Psur )( )
3 2
ft ft
16.67 16.67
M u = (1.6)(4310 lb )( ) + (1.6)(2070 lb )( ) = 65.9 k ft
3 2

k
Mu = 5.71 in d2
k
in
65.9 k ft (12 ) = 5.71 in d 2 , d = 11.8in
ft
1
t stem = 11.8in + 2 in cover + (1.0 in ) = 14.3in , ( assume #8 bars ) use t stem = 15in
2
d = 15 2 0.5 = 12.5in
in in in
CE 437/537, Spring 2011 Retaining Wall Design Example 4/8

calc. As:
M u = 47.7 ksi As d
in
65.9 k ft (12 ) = 47.7 ksi As (12.5in ), As = 1.33 in 2
ft

As of one #8 bar = 0.79 in 2

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

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).
12in
Neglect soil resistance in front of the
wall.

Fresist 18
ft
set = Fsliding
FS
FS = Factor of Safety = 1.5 for sliding
Fresist = (Vertical Force)(coefficient of friction)
Fresist = WT (tan natural soil )
tf = 16in
tan natural soil = tan(32 o ) = 0.62
WT = W fill + Wstem + W found 15in

lb
W fill = (100 pcf )(16.67 ft )( wheel )(1 ft ) = 1670 wheel
ft
12 in + 15in 1 ft
Wstem = (150 pcf )(16.67 ft )( in
(1 ft ) = 2810 lb
2 12 )
16 15
W found = (150 pcf )( ft )( wheel + ft + 3 ft )(1 ft ) = 200 plf wheel + 850
12 12

Fsliding = Pfill + Psur

1
Pfill = (0.31 100 pcf )(18 ft ) 2 (1 ft ) = 5020 lb
2
Psur = (0.31 400 psf )(18 ft )(1 ft ) = 2230 lb
Fsliding = 5020 lb + 2230 lb = 7250 lb
CE 437/537, Spring 2011 Retaining Wall Design Example 5/8

lb lb lb lb
1670 ft wheel + 2810 + 200 ft wheel + 850 (0.62)
7250lb =
1.5
1.5 lb
7250lb = 3660lb + 1870 wheel , wheel = 7.42 ft , use wheel = 7.5 ft
0.62 ft

5. Check Overturning. 12in

18 ft 18 ft
M over = P fill ( ) + Psur ( )
3 2
M over = 5.02 k (6 ft ) + 2.23k (9 ft ) = 50.2 k ft 18
ft

7.5 ft 15
M resist = W fill ( + ft + 3 ft ), assume wtoe = 3 ft
2 12
1.25 ft tf = 16in
+ Wstem (3 ft + )
2
11.75 ft 3' 15" 7.5'
+ W found ( )
2
M resist = (1.67 klf 7.5 ft )(8 ft ) + ( 2.81k )(3.625 ft ) + (0.20klf 7.5 ft + 0.85k )(5.875 ft )

12.53k 2.35k

M resist = 124.2 k ft

M resist 124.2 k ft
= = 2.47 > 2.0 = FSover , OK
M over 50.2 k ft

6. Check Bearing.

WT M L
v at end of toe = + , equation is valid only if e <
bL bL2 6
6
WT = W fill + Wstem + W found
WT = 12.45 k + 2.81k + 2.35 k = 17.69 k
7.5 ft 1.25 ft
M = M over W fill (5.875 ft ) + Wstem (7.5 ft + 5.875 ft ) + W found (0)
2 2
M = 50.2 k ft 12.53k ( 2.125 ft ) + 2.81k ( 2.25 ft ) = 29.9 k ft

Check that e < L/6:

m 29.9 k ft ft L 11.75 ft L
e= = k
= 1. 68 , = = 1.96 ft , e < , OK
WT 17.69 6 6 6
CE 437/537, Spring 2011 Retaining Wall Design Example 6/8

17.69 k 29.9 k ft
v = + = 2.80 ksf < 5.0 ksf = allowable bearing capacity, OK
ft
(1 )(11.75 ) ft 1 ft
(1 )(11.75 ft ) 2
6

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
16
W = 1.2(150 pcf )( ft )(1 ft ) wu
12 Vu
+ 1.2(100 pcf )(16.67 ft )(1 ft ) 16
in
Mu
+ 1.6( 400 plf ) 7.5
ft

klf
W = 2.88
wu L2 2.88klf (7.5 ft ) 2
Mu = = = 81.0 k ft
2 2

k 2
M u = 5.71 d
in
in k
81.0 k ft (12 ) = 5.71 d 2 , d = 13.0in for flexure
ft in
Shear:
Vu = wu (7.5 ft ) = 2.88 klf (7.5 ft ) = 21.6 k

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

setVu = Vc , 21,600lb = (0.75) 2 3000 psi (12 in ) d , d = 21.9 in for shear, controls

Shear controls the thickness of the heel.

1
t heel = 21.9 in + 2 in cover + in = 24.4 in (assume #8 bar ), use t heel = 21.5 in
2

Reinforcement in heel:
M u = 47.7 ksi As d
in
81.0 k ft (12 ) = 47.7 ksi As (21.9 in ), As = 1.07in 2
ft
in 2
0.79
bar (12 in ) = 8.83 in , use #8 @ 8"
in 2 ft
1.07
ft
CE 437/537, Spring 2011 Retaining Wall Design Example 7/8

8. Toe Design.
Earth Pressure at Tip of Toe:

Wu Mu
v =
bL 1 2
bL
6
Wu = 1.2(W fill + Wstem + W found ) + 1.6 (Wsur )
Wu = 1.2(12.53k + 2.81k + 2.35k ) + 1.6(0.4 ksf )(18 ft )(1 ft ) = 32.7 k , (did not recalc foundation wt b.c. neglible change)
M u = 1.6 M over 1.2(Wsoil 2.125 ft + Wstem 1.0 ft ) 3' 1.25' 7.5'
[ ]
M u = 1.6(50.2 k ft ) 1.2 12.53k ( 2.125 ft ) + 2.81k (1 ft ) = 45.0k ft

32.7 k 45.0k ft
v = +
(1 ft )(11.75 ft ) 1 (1 ft )(11.75 ft ) 2
6
ksf
vA = 2.78 + 1.96ksf = 4.74 ksf
A B C
vC = 2.78ksf 1.96ksf = 0.82 ksf
4.74 ksf 0.82 ksf
vB = 0.82 ksf + (8.75 ft ) = 3.74 ksf
11.75 ft
d for flexure:
3 ft 1 2
M u = (3.74 ksf )(3 ft )(1 ft )( ) + (1.00 ksf )(3 ft )(1 ft )( 3 ft ) = 19.8k ft
2 2 3

k 2
M u = 5.71 d
in
in k
19.8k ft (12 ) = 5.71 d 2 , d = 6.5in for flexure
ft in

d for shear:
Assume theel = ttoe = 21.5in
Critical section for shear occurs at "d" from face of stem, d = 21.5" 3"cover-1/2"=18"

4.74 ksf 0.82 ksf 18

vcritical sec tion = 0.82 ksf + ft
(8.75 ft + ft ) = 4.24 ksf
11.75 12

1 18
Vu = ( 4.74 ksf + 4.24 ksf )(3 ft ft )(1 ft ) = 6.74 k
2 12
Vc = (.75)2 3000 psi (12in )(18in ) = 17,750lb > Vu , OK , d for flexure controls
CE 437/537, Spring 2011 Retaining Wall Design Example 8/8

Reinforcement in toe:
M u = 47.7 ksi As d
in
19.8k ft (12 ) = 47.7 ksi As (18in ), As = 0.28 in 2
ft
in 2
0.79
bar (12 in ) = 33in , try smaller bars , say #4
in 2 ft
0.28
ft
in 2
0.20
bar (12 in ) = 8.6in use #4 @ 8"
in 2 ft
0.28
ft