DESIGN OF STRUCTURES

Design Of Retaining Wall

QUESTION:
Design a RCC retaining wall to retain earth up to a height of 12’ above NSL. Base of the
footing is to be placed 3’ below NSL. Soil has density of120 lb/ft 3. Angle of internal friction
of soil is30° . Earth surface that is to be retained is horizontal.
Take q all =2500lb / ft 2
Usef 'c =4000 Psi∧f y =40,000 Psi.

SOLUTION:
Given that,

Height of Retaining wall above NSL=12 ’

Depth of footing below NSL=3 ’

Density of soil , γ soil=120 lb /ft 3

Density of concrete , γ conc . =150 lb /ft 3

'
Angle of internal friction , φ=30° f c =4000 Psi
f y =40,000 Psi

STEP 1
ASSUMPTION OF SIZES:

H H 15 ’ ×12 ”
Base thickness=stem thickness= = =15”=1.25’
12 10 12
2 2 1
Base width= H = ×15' =10 ’Width of toe= × 10' =3.3 ’
3 3 3
Width of heel=10' −3.3 '−1.25 ' =5.45'

STEP 2
DESIGN OF STEM:

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 DESIGN OF STRUCTURES
Design Of Retaining Wall

While we are designing the stem/arm of retaining wall, we have to consider the height of stem
only (i.e. from top of base to the top of stem), because here we have to calculate the active
pressure of soil on the stem only.

i. Calculation Of Soil Pressure:

1−sin φ 1−sin 30°

C a= C a= =0.33
1+sin φ 1+sin 30°

1 1
Pa= γ C a H 2 Pa= × 120× 0.33 ×13.75' 2=3743.44 lb
2 2

ii. Moment & Reinforcement Calculation:

H 13.75' '
Cen troidal distance , ȳ= = =4.58
3 3

M =Pa × ȳ =3743.44 × 4.58' =17144.96 lbft M max =1.6 × M =1.6 ×17144.96

M u=M max =27431.94 lbft =329183.3lbin

f 'c
ρ=0.85
fy [ √
1 − 1−
2Mu
0.85 f 'c φb d2 ]
ρ=0.85×
4000
40000 [ √
1− 1−
2 ×329183.3
0.85× 4000 × 0.9× 12 {×12.52
¿
]
Where , φ=0.9∧b=12 & d=h- 2.5=15 -2.5 =12.5 ρ=0.005

200 200
ρmin = = =0.005
f y 40000

f 'c 87000
ρmax =0.75 ρb =0.75 × β 1 × 0.85 ×
(
f y 87000+f y )
4000 87000
ρmax =0.75 × 0.85× 0.85× × (
40000 87000+ 40000 max )
ρ =0.037

ρmax > ρ> ρmin NOT OK so , use value of ρmin

iii. Selection of bars & spacing:

Vertical Reinforcement On front face of wall:

A st =ρbd A st =0.005 ×12 ×12.5=0.75¿ 2 Provide ¿ 6 bars @ 7 c/c see Nilson page 736

Temperature & Shrinkage Steel:

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 DESIGN OF STRUCTURES
Design Of Retaining Wall

A st =ρbh A st =0.002 ×12 ×15=0.36 ¿ 2 Provide ¿ 3 bars @3.5 c/c see Nilson page 736

iv. Check for shear:

1 1
V u=1.6 × PaV u=1.6 × × C a × γ × ( H −d )2V u=1.6 × × 0.33 ×120 ׿ ¿
2 2
V u=5116.375 lb / ft=426.36lb / ¿

v. Capacity of Section:

¿ 2 φ √ f 'c ×bd¿ 2 ×0.9 × √ 4000 ×12 ×12.5¿ 17076.3 lb/¿> V u OK

STEP 3

CURTAILMENT OF BARS:

M max
Bars are curtailed from top where B.M is
2

M u M max
M u=M max =27431.94 lbft =329183.3lbin = =13715.97 lbft
2 2
M max 1 2 H1 1 2 H1
= ×1.6 × γ ×C a × H 1 × 13715.97= × 1.6 ×120 ×0.33 × H 1 × H 1=10.91 '
2 2 3 2 3

According to ACI code, the following value should be added in the curtailed value of steel,

 12
 12 ×dia of ¯¿ 12 ×1 =12
0.04 × A b × f y 0.04 × 0.44 × 40000
 = =11.13
√ f 'c √ 4000
Maximum of above three valuesis selected ,i . e . 12” is selected .
So ,Curtailment =10.91'−1 '=9.91 ' ¿ top .

M max
ρ for ,
2

ρ=0.85×
4000
40000 [ √
1− 1−
2 ×13715.97
0.85× 4000 × 0.9× 12 {×12.52
¿
]
ρ=0.0025>min . value of temp .∧shrinkage steel i. e .0 .002 A'st = Area of curt ailed steel
1 2
A'st =ρbh=0.0025× 12×15=0.45 ¿2 Areaof steel , A s =ρbd=0.75 ¿2 A s A s0.375 ¿2 0.5 ¿2
2 3

0.5 ¿2 ismore close ¿ 0.45 ¿2 so curtaileach 2 nd alternate .̄

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 DESIGN OF STRUCTURES
Design Of Retaining Wall

SECTION & PLAN

Step 4

STABILITY CHECKS:

There are three stability checks,

i. Check For Overturning Moment

Resisting moment
>2
Overturning moment

While calculating over turning moment we

have to consider total length of retaining
wall (i.e. from the bottom of the base to the
top of the stem) because here we have to
calculate the Active force per unit length of
wall.

So use
H=15 '

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 DESIGN OF STRUCTURES
Design Of Retaining Wall

'
1 1
Pa= γ C a H 2 Pa= × 120× 0.33 ×15' 2=4455lb Centroidal distance , ȳ= H = 15 =5 '
2 2 3 3
O .T . M =P a × ȳO .T . M =4455 ×5 'O .T . M =22275 lbft

Sr.
Weight ( Area × Density )lb x̄“ ft ” Resiting Momentlbft
#
5.45
01 13.75 ' ×5.45 ' ×1 ×120=8992.5 +1.25+3.3=7.28 ' 65465.4
2
10
02 10 ' ×1.25 ' ×1 ×150=1875 =5 ' 9375
2
3.3
03 1.75 ' ×3.3 ' ×1 ×120=693 =1.65' 1143.45
2
1.25
04 13.75 ' ×1.25 ' ×1 ×150=2578.125 +3.3=3.925 ' 10119.15
2

∑ W =14138.625 lb ∑ M =86103

Resisting moment 86103

>2 =3.87>2 OK
Overturning moment 22275

If this check is not OK then increase the thickness of toe, heel or stem as per requirement.

ii. Check For Sliding Force:

Resisting force
≥ 1.5Sliding force=P a=4455 lb Resisting force=μ ×∑W =0.3 ×14138.625
Sliding force
Resisting force=4241.59 lb
Here μ is the coefficient of friction between soil and earth and its value lies between 0.3-
0.45.

Resisting force 4241.59

≥ 1.5 =0.95 ≥ 1.5 NOT OK
Sliding force 4455

So we have to provide key under the base, Key can be provided in different states as shown
below,

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 DESIGN OF STRUCTURES
Design Of Retaining Wall

Design of Key:

Resisting force=1.5 × Sliding force Resisting force=1.5 × 4455Resisting force=6682.5 lb

Additional resisting force provided , P p=6682.5−4241.59
Additional resisting force ¿ be provided , P p=2440.91 lb
1 1
Additional Resiting force , , P p= × γ × H 21 × 2440.91= 1 ×120 × H 21 × 1
2 Ca 2 0.33
H 1=3.66 ' ≈ 3.75 ' ' Depth of Key=3.75'−1.25' =2.5'

iii. Check For Bearing Capacity Of Soil:

Stablizing moment−O .T . M
a=
Stablizing force ( ∑ W )

86103−22275
a= a=4.51'
14138.625
B 10
Eccentricity , e= −ae= −4.51' e=0.49 '
2 2
B 10
e≯ = =1.67' 0.49' ≯1.67' OK
6 6

If this check is not OK then increase the length of base

“B”

q max =
∑ W + ∑ W ×0.49 ≯q
all
B× 1 B2
6

14138.625 14138.625 ×0.49

q max = +
10 102
6

q max =1829.54 lb/ft 2 ≯ q all OK

q min =
∑ W − ∑ W × e ≮ zero
B ×1 B2
6
14138.625 14138.625× 0.13
q min = −
10 10 2 q min =998.20 lb /ft 2 OK
6

If this check is not OK then increase “B”.

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 DESIGN OF STRUCTURES
Design Of Retaining Wall

STEP 5

DESIGN OF TOE & HEEL:

831.34 x1
= x =453.08 lb /ft 2
10 5.45 1

831.34 x2
= x 2=103.92lb / ft 2
10 1.25

831.34 x 3
= x 3=274.34 lb /ft 2
10 3.3

i. Design Of Toe:
Taking moment about
junction of toe and stem.

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 DESIGN OF STRUCTURES
Design Of Retaining Wall

M u=1.6 ( Moment of bearing capacity )−0.9 ( Moment of concrete ∈toe )

3.3 1 2 3.3
[
M u=1.6 1555.2 ×3.3 ×
2 ( ) ] [
+ ×274.34 × 3.3 × ×3.3 −0.9 ( 3.3 ×1.25 ×1 ×150 ) ×
2 3 2 ]
M u=14223.43 lbft =170681.16lbin

f 'c
ρ=0.85
fy [ √
1 − 1−
2Mu
'
0.85 f c φb d ]
2
ρ=0.85×
4000
40000 [ √
1− 1−
2 ×170681.16
0.85× 4000 × 0.9× 12×12.5 2 ]
200 200
Where , φ=0.9∧b=12 & d=h- 2.5=15 -2.5 =12.5 ρ=0.00256 ρmin = = =0.005
f y 40000
f 'c 87000
ρmax =0.75 ρb =0.75 × β 1 × 0.85 ×
(
f y 87000+f y )
4000 87000
ρmax =0.75 × 0.85× 0.85× × ( ρ =0.037
40000 87000+ 40000 max )
ρmax > ρ> ρmin NOT OK

Selection of bars & spacing:

A st =ρmin bd A st =0.005 ×12 ×12.5 A st=0.75 ¿2 Provide ¿ 6 bars @ 7 c/

ii. Design of heel:

Taking moment about junction of heel and stem,

M u=1.2 ( Concrete∈heel ) +1.6 ( soil ∈heel )

5.45 5.45
[
M u=1.2 ( 1.25 ×5.45 ×150 ) ×
2 ] [
+ 1.6 ( 13.75× 5.45× 1× 120 ) ×
2 ]
Neglecting moment produced due to stresses. It will make our structure safer because it
works as a FOS.

M u=42548.83lbft =510585.98 lbin

f 'c
ρ=0.85
fy [ √
1 − 1−
2Mu
'
0.85 f c φb d ]
2
ρ=0.85×
4000
40000 [ √
1− 1−
2×510585.98
0.85× 4000 × 0.9× 12×12.5 2 ]
200 200
Where , φ=0.9∧b=12 & d=h- 2.5=15 -2.5 =12.5 ρ=0.0079 ρmin = = =0.005
f y 40000

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 DESIGN OF STRUCTURES
Design Of Retaining Wall

f 'c 87000
ρmax =0.75 ρb =0.75 × β 1 × 0.85
( ×
f y 87000+f y )
4000 87000
ρmax =0.75 × 0.85× 0.85× × ( ρ =0.037
40000 87000+ 40000 max )
ρmax > ρ> ρmin OK

Selection of bars & spacing:

A st =ρbd A st =0.0079 ×12 ×12.5 A st =1.185 ¿2 Provide ¿ 7 bars @ 6 c/c

Temperature & Shrinkage Steel:

A st =ρbh A st =0.002 ×12 ×15 A st =0.36 ¿2 Provide ¿ 3 bars @3.5 c/

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Design Of Retaining Wall

REINFORCEMENT DETAILS

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