DESIGN OF STRUCTURES

Design Of Retaining Wall With Surcharge Load

QUESTION:
Design a RCC retaining wall to retain earth up to a height of 12’. 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 on which a surcharge load of 300 lb /ft 2 is acting.
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 ’

3
Density of soil , γ soil=120 lb /ft

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

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 DESIGN OF STRUCTURES
Design Of Retaining Wall With Surcharge Load

Width of heel=10' −3.3' −1.25' =5.45' H ' =Height of surchargeload

Surcharge load 300
H '= = =2.5'
Density of Soil 120

STEP 2
DESIGN OF STEM:

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.

So use
H=13.7 5'

i. Calculation Of Soil Pressure:

1−sin φ 1−sin 30° 1 '

C a= C a= =0.33 Pa= γ C a H (H +2 H )
1+sin φ 1+sin 30°
2
1
Pa= × 120× 0.33 ×13.75 '(13.75 ' +2 ×2.5 ')=5104.69lb
2

ii. Moment & Reinforcement Calculation:

'2 ' '
H 2 +3 H H ' 13.75 + ( 3 ×13.75 ×2.5 )
Centroidal distance , ȳ= '
= ' '
=5.19'
3 ( H +2 H ) 3 ( 13.75 +2× 2.5 )

M =Pa × ȳ =5104.69× 5.19' =26493.34 lbft M max =1.6 × M =1.6 ×26493.34

M u=M max =42389.35 lbft =508672.15lbin

f 'c
ρ=0.85
fy[ √1 − 1−
2Mu
0.85 f 'c φb d2 ]
ρ=0.85×
4000
40000 [ √
1− 1−
2 ×508672.15
0.85× 4000 × 0.9× 12 {×12.52
¿
]
Where , φ=0.9∧b=12 & d=h- 2.5=15 -2.5 =12.5 ρ=0.0079

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× × ( ρ =0.037
40000 87000+ 40000 max )
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 DESIGN OF STRUCTURES
Design Of Retaining Wall With Surcharge Load

ρmax > ρ> ρmin OK

iii. Selection of bars & spacing:

Vertical Reinforcement On front face of wall:

A st =ρ bd A st=0.0079 ×12 ×12.5=1.185 ¿2 Provide ¿ 6 bars @ 4 c/c see Nilson page 736

Temperature & Shrinkage Steel:

A st =ρbh A st=0.002 ×12 ×15=0.36 ¿ 2 Provide ¿ 3 bars @3.5 c/c see Nilson page 73

iv. Check for shear:

1
V u=1.6 × PaV u=1.6 × × C a × γ × H ( H +2 H ' )
2
1
V u=1.6 × × 120 ×0.33 ×13.75 '(13.75 '+ 2× 2.5' )V u=8167.5lb /ft =680.625 lb /¿
2

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 =42389.35 lbft =508672.15lbin = =21194.675 lbft
2 2
2 '
M max 1 ( H 1 +3 H 1 H )
= ×1.6 × γ ×C a × H 1 × ( H 1 +2 H ' ) ×
2 2 3 ( H 1+2 H ' )
3 2 '
1 ( H 1+ 3 H 1 H )
21194.675= ×1.6 ×120 × 0.33×
2 3
3 2
1 ( H 1+ 3 H 1 ×2.5 ) 21194.675=10.56 H 3+ 79.2 H 2 H =10.55'
21194.675= ×1.6 ×120 × 0.33× 1 1 1
2 3

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

 12
 12 ×dia of bar=12× 1=12

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 DESIGN OF STRUCTURES
Design Of Retaining Wall With Surcharge Load

0.04 × A b × f y 0.04 × 0.44 × 40000

 = =11.13
√f '
c
√ 4000
Maximum of above three values is selected, i.e. 12” is selected.
So, Curtailment ¿ 10.55 ’−1’=9.55' from top.

M max
ρ for ,
2
ρ 0.0079
ρ' = = ρ=0.00395>min . value of temp .∧shrinkage steel i. e .0 .002
2 2
A'st = Areaof curtailed steel A'st =ρbh=0.00395× 12×15=0.711 ¿2
1 2
Areaof steel , A s =ρbd=1.185¿ 2 A s A s0.5925 ¿2 0.79 ¿2
2 3
2 2
0.79 ¿ ismore close ¿ 0.711¿ so curtail each2 nd alternate ¯¿

PLAN & SECTION

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.

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 DESIGN OF STRUCTURES
Design Of Retaining Wall With Surcharge Load

So use
H=15 '

1 1 H 15
Pa= γ C a H 2 Pa= × 120× 0.33 ×152=4455 lbCentroidal distance , ȳ= = =5'
2 2 3 3
O .T . M =P a × ȳO .T . M =4455 ×5O .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
5.45
05 2.5 ’ ×1' ×300=750 +1.25+3.3=7.28 ' 5460
2
∑ W =14888.625 ∑ M =91563

Resisting moment 91563

>2 =4.11 >2OK
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
Sliding force
1 1
Resisting force=μ ×∑W + γ C p H 2=0.3 ×14888.625+ × 120× 3 ×1.252
2 2
Resisting force=4466.59+ 281.25=4747.84 lb

Here μ is the coefficient of friction between soil and earth and its value lies between 0.3-
0.45.

Resisting force
≥ 1.5
Sliding force

4747.84
=1.06≥ 1.5 NOT OK So we have ¿ pr ovide key under the base .
4455

Design of Key:

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 DESIGN OF STRUCTURES
Design Of Retaining Wall With Surcharge Load

Resisting force=1.5 × Sliding force

Resisting force=1.5 × 4455Resisting force=6682.5 lb
Additional resisting force provided , P p=6682.5−4747.84
Additional resisting force ¿ be provided , P p=1934.66 lb
1 1
Additional Resiting force , , P p= × γ × H 21 × 1934.66= 1 × 120× H 21 × 1 H 1=3.26 '
2 Ca 2 0.33
Depth of Key=3.26' −1.25' =2.01 '

iii. Check For Bearing Capacity Of Soil:

Stablizing moment−O .T . M
a=
Stablizing force ( ∑ W )
91563−22275
a= a=4.65'
14888.625
B 10
Eccentricity , e= −ae= −4.65 '
2 2
B 10
e=1.09' e ≯ = =1.67'
6 6
'
0.35 ≯1.67 OK

If this check is not OK then increase

the length of base “B”

q max =
∑ W + ∑ W ×e ≯ q
all
B× 1 B2
6
14888.625 14888.625 ×0.35
q max = +
10 102
6
q max =1801.52lb/ft 2 ≯q all OK

q min =
∑ W − ∑ W × e ≮ zero
B ×1 B2
6
14888.625 14888.625× 0.35
q min = −
10 10 2
6
2
q min =1176.2 lb/ ft ≮ zero OK

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

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 DESIGN OF STRUCTURES
Design Of Retaining Wall With Surcharge Load

STEP 5

DESIGN OF TOE & HEEL:

625.32 x1
= x =340.8 lb/ ft 2
10 5.45 1

625.32 x2
= x 2=78.16 lb/ft 2
10 1.25

625.32 x 3
= x 3=206.36 lb/ft 2
10 3.3

i. Design Of Toe:

Taking moment about junction of toe and stem.

M u=1.6 ( Moment of bearing capacity )−0.9 ( Moment of concrete ∈toe )
3.3 1 2 3.3
[
M u=1.6 1595.16 ×3.3 ×
2 ( ) ] [
+ × 206.36 ×3.3 × ×3.3 −0.9 ( 3.3 ×1.25 ×1 ×150 ) ×
2 3 2 ]
M u=14176.73 lbft =170120.75lbin

f 'c
ρ=0.85
fy[ √1 − 1−
2Mu
'
0.85 f c φb d]2
ρ=0.85×
4000
40000 [ √
1− 1−
2×170120.75
0.85× 4000 × 0.9× 12×12.5 2 ]
Where , φ=0.9∧b=12 & d=h- 2.5=15 -2.5 =12.5 ρ=0.00255

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× × ( ρ =0.037
40000 87000+ 40000 max )
ρmax > ρ> ρmin NOT OK

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 DESIGN OF STRUCTURES
Design Of Retaining Wall With Surcharge Load

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+Surcharge moment∈heel )

5.45 5.45 5.45
[
M u=1.2 ( 1.25 ×5.45 ×1 ×150 ) ×
2 ] [
+ 1.6 ( 13.75× 5.45× 1× 120 ) ×
2
+300 ×5.45 ×
2 ]
M u=49677.43lbft =596129.175 lbin

f 'c
ρ=0.85
fy [ √
1 − 1−
2Mu
'
0.85 f c φb d 2
]ρ=0.85×
4000
40000
1− 1−
[ √ 2×596129.175
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=0.009 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 OK

Selection of bars & spacing:

A st =ρbd A st =0.009 ×12 ×12.5 A st=1.35 ¿2 Provide ¿ 7 bars @ 5 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 STRUCTURES
Design Of Retaining Wall With Surcharge Load

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 DESIGN OF STRUCTURES
Design Of Retaining Wall With Surcharge Load

REINFORCEMENT DETAILS

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