Retaining Wall Design Example (Cantilever Wall)
Assumptions:
1. Height of retained soil (H) = 4.0 m
2. Backfill: γ = 18 kN/m³, φ = 30°, c = 0
3. Surcharge q = 10 kN/m²
4. Concrete: fck = 25 MPa, γ = 24 kN/m³
5. Steel: Fe 415 (fy = 415 MPa)
6. Cover = 50 mm
7. Dimensions: Base = 2.0 m (Heel = 1.2 m, Toe = 0.8 m), Slab = 250 mm thick
Stem thickness = 200 mm (top) – 400 mm (base)
Shear key = 600 mm deep × 250 mm wide
1) Earth Pressure (Rankine)
Ka = (1 - sinφ)/(1 + sinφ) = 0.333
Active resultant per m length:
Pa = 0.5 × Ka × γ × H² + Ka × q × H
= 0.5 × 0.333 × 18 × 16 + 0.333 × 10 × 4
= 61.33 kN/m
Point of application = 1.478 m above base.
Base moment: M = Pa × y = 90.67 kN·m/m
2) Stem Design
Section at base: thickness = 400 mm, effective depth d ≈ 342 mm
Required steel area As = Mu / (0.87 fy z)
= 90.67×10■ / (0.87 × 415 × 325)
≈ 773 mm²/m
Provide Ø16 @ 250 mm c/c → 804 mm²/m (OK).
Shear: Vu = 61.3 kN << Vc ≈ 424 kN → Safe.
3) Base Slab (Heel & Toe)
Thickness = 250 mm
Heel: Top steel = 2-Ø12 @ 150 mm c/c
Toe: Bottom steel = 2-Ø12 @ 150 mm c/c
Distribution: Ø8 @ 200 mm c/c both ways
4) Shear Key
600 mm deep × 250 mm wide
Reinforcement: 2-Ø10 longitudinal + Ø8 links @ 150 mm c/c
Part Reinforcement
Stem Ø16 @ 250 mm c/c vertical + Ø8 ties @ 200 mm
Heel 2-Ø12 @ 150 mm c/c (top)
Toe 2-Ø12 @ 150 mm c/c (bottom)
Slab dist. Ø8 @ 200 mm c/c both ways
Shear key 2-Ø10 longitudinal + Ø8 links @ 150 mm