RETAINING WALL ANALYSIS (BS 8002:1994)

Wall details
Retaining wall type; Cantilever propped at base
Height of retaining wall stem; hstem = 3250 mm
Thickness of wall stem; twall = 350 mm
Length of toe; ltoe = 1500 mm
Length of heel; lheel = 600 mm
Overall length of base; lbase = ltoe + lheel + twall = 2450 mm
Thickness of base; tbase = 450 mm
Depth of downstand; dds = 400 mm
Position of downstand; lds = 1500 mm
Thickness of downstand; tds = 400 mm
Height of retaining wall; hwall = hstem + tbase + dds = 4100 mm
Height of ground water behind wall; hwater = 1500 mm
Height of saturated fill above base; hsat = max(hwater - tbase - dds, 0 mm) = 1150 mm
Density of wall construction; wall = 23.6 kN/m3
Density of base construction; base = 23.6 kN/m3
Angle of rear face of wall; = 90.0 deg
Angle of soil surface behind wall; = 0.0 deg
Effective height at virtual back of wall; heff = hwall + lheel tan() = 4100 mm

Retained material details

Mobilisation factor; M = 1.5
Moist density of retained material; m = 21.0 kN/m3
Saturated density of retained material; s = 23.0 kN/m3
Design shear strength; ' = 24.2 deg
Angle of wall friction; = 18.6 deg

Base material details

Stiff clay
Moist density; mb = 18.0 kN/m3
Design shear strength; 'b = 24.2 deg
Design base friction; b = 18.6 deg
Allowable bearing pressure; Pbearing = 200 kN/m2

Using Coulomb theory

Active pressure coefficient for retained material
Ka = sin(+ ')2 / (sin()2 sin(- ) [1 + (sin(' + ) sin(' - ) / (sin(- ) sin(+ )))]2) = 0.369
Passive pressure coefficient for base material
Kp = sin(90- 'b)2 / (sin(90- b) [1 - (sin('b + b) sin('b) / (sin(90 + b)))]2) = 4.187

At-rest pressure
At-rest pressure for retained material; K0 = 1 sin() = 0.590

Loading details
Surcharge load on plan; Surcharge = 10.0 kN/m2
Applied vertical dead load on wall; Wdead = 64.9 kN/m
Applied vertical live load on wall; Wlive = 0.0 kN/m
Position of applied vertical load on wall; lload = 1675 mm
Applied horizontal dead load on wall; Fdead = 0.0 kN/m
Applied horizontal live load on wall; Flive = 0.0 kN/m
Height of applied horizontal load on wall; hload = 0 mm
 Loads shown in kN/m, pressures shown in kN/m2

Vertical forces on wall

Wall stem; wwall = hstem twall wall = 26.8 kN/m
Wall base; wbase = lbase tbase base = 26 kN/m
Wall downstand; wds = dds tds base = 3.8 kN/m
Surcharge; wsur = Surcharge lheel = 6 kN/m
Moist backfill to top of wall; wm_w = lheel (hstem - hsat) m = 26.5 kN/m
Saturated backfill; ws = lheel hsat s = 15.9 kN/m
Applied vertical load; Wv = Wdead + Wlive = 64.9 kN/m
Total vertical load; Wtotal = wwall + wbase + wds + wsur + wm_w + ws + Wv = 169.8 kN/m

Horizontal forces on wall

Surcharge; Fsur = Ka cos(90 - + ) Surcharge heff = 14.3 kN/m
Moist backfill above water table; Fm_a = 0.5 Ka cos(90 - + ) m (heff - hwater)2 = 16.2
kN/m
Moist backfill below water table; Fm_b = Ka cos(90 - + ) m (heff - hwater) hwater = 30.9
kN/m
Saturated backfill; Fs = 0.5 Ka cos(90 - + ) (s- water) hwater2 = 9.2 kN/m
Water; Fwater = 0.5 hwater2 water = 19.6 kN/m
Total horizontal load; Ftotal = Fsur + Fm_a + Fm_b + Fs + Fwater = 90.2 kN/m

Calculate propping force

Passive resistance of soil in front of wall; Fp = 0.5 Kp cos(b) (dcover + tbase + dds - dexc)2 mb = 15.1
kN/m
Propping force; Fprop = max(Ftotal - Fp - (Wtotal - wsur) tan(b), 0 kN/m)
Fprop = 20.0 kN/m
Overturning moments
Surcharge; Msur = Fsur (heff - 2 dds) / 2 = 23.7 kNm/m
Moist backfill above water table; Mm_a = Fm_a (heff + 2 hwater - 3 dds) / 3 = 37.3 kNm/m
Moist backfill below water table; Mm_b = Fm_b (hwater - 2 dds) / 2 = 18.5 kNm/m
Saturated backfill; Ms = Fs (hwater - 3 dds) / 3 = 2.5 kNm/m
Water; Mwater = Fwater (hwater - 3 dds) / 3 = 5.2 kNm/m
Soil in front of wall; Mp_o = Fp [2 dds - tbase - dcover + dexc] / 3 = 2.8 kNm/m
Total overturning moment; Mot = Msur + Mm_a + Mm_b + Ms + Mwater + Mp_o = 89.9 kNm/m

Restoring moments
Wall stem; Mwall = wwall (ltoe + twall / 2) = 45 kNm/m
Wall base; Mbase = wbase lbase / 2 = 31.9 kNm/m
Wall downstand; Mds = wds (lds + tds / 2) = 6.4 kNm/m
Surcharge; Msur_r = wsur (lbase - lheel / 2) = 12.9 kNm/m
Moist backfill; Mm_r = (wm_w (lbase - lheel / 2) + wm_s (lbase - lheel / 3)) = 56.9
kNm/m
Saturated backfill; Ms_r = ws (lbase - lheel / 2) = 34.1 kNm/m
Design vertical load; Mv = Wv lload = 108.6 kNm/m
Total restoring moment; Mrest = Mwall + Mbase + Mds + Msur_r + Mm_r + Ms_r + Mv = 295.8
kNm/m
Check bearing pressure
Total moment for bearing; Mtotal = Mrest - Mot = 205.9 kNm/m
Total vertical reaction; R = Wtotal = 169.8 kN/m
Distance to reaction; xbar = Mtotal / R = 1212 mm
Eccentricity of reaction; e = abs((lbase / 2) - xbar) = 13 mm
Reaction acts within middle third of base
Bearing pressure at toe; ptoe = (R / lbase) + (6 R e / lbase2) = 71.5 kN/m2
Bearing pressure at heel; pheel = (R / lbase) - (6 R e / lbase2) = 67.2 kN/m2
PASS - Maximum bearing pressure is less than allowable bearing pressure
RETAINING WALL DESIGN (BS 8002:1994)
Ultimate limit state load factors
Dead load factor; f_d = 1.4
Live load factor; f_l = 1.6
Earth and water pressure factor; f_e = 1.4

Factored vertical forces on wall

Wall stem; wwall_f = f_d hstem twall wall = 37.6 kN/m
Wall base; wbase_f = f_d lbase tbase base = 36.4 kN/m
Wall downstand; wds_f = f_d dds tds base = 5.3 kN/m
Surcharge; wsur_f = f_l Surcharge lheel = 9.6 kN/m
Moist backfill to top of wall; wm_w_f = f_d lheel (hstem - hsat) m = 37 kN/m
Saturated backfill; ws_f = f_d lheel hsat s = 22.2 kN/m
Applied vertical load; Wv_f = f_d Wdead + f_l Wlive = 90.8 kN/m
Total vertical load; Wtotal_f = wwall_f + wbase_f + wds_f + wsur_f + wm_w_f + ws_f + Wv_f =
239 kN/m
Factored horizontal active forces on wall
Surcharge; Fsur_f = f_l Ka cos(90 - + ) Surcharge heff = 23 kN/m
Moist backfill above water table; Fm_a_f = f_e 0.5 Ka cos(90 - + ) m (heff - hwater)2 =
22.7 kN/m
Moist backfill below water table; Fm_b_f = f_e Ka cos(90 - + ) m (heff - hwater) hwater =
43.2 kN/m
Saturated backfill; Fs_f = f_e 0.5 Ka cos(90 - + ) (s- water) hwater2 =
12.9 kN/m
Water; Fwater_f = f_e 0.5 hwater2 water = 27.5 kN/m
Total horizontal load; Ftotal_f = Fsur_f + Fm_a_f + Fm_b_f + Fs_f + Fwater_f = 129.2 kN/m

Calculate propping force

Passive resistance of soil in front of wall; Fp_f = f_e 0.5 Kp cos(b) (dcover + tbase + dds - dexc)2 mb =
21.1 kN/m
Propping force; Fprop_f = max(Ftotal_f - Fp_f - (Wtotal_f - wsur_f) tan(b), 0 kN/m)
Fprop_f = 30.9 kN/m

Factored overturning moments

Surcharge; Msur_f = Fsur_f (heff - 2 dds) / 2 = 37.9 kNm/m
Moist backfill above water table; Mm_a_f = Fm_a_f (heff + 2 hwater - 3 dds) / 3 = 52.2 kNm/m
Moist backfill below water table; Mm_b_f = Fm_b_f (hwater - 2 dds) / 2 = 25.9 kNm/m
Saturated backfill; Ms_f = Fs_f (hwater - 3 dds) / 3 = 3.4 kNm/m
Water; Mwater_f = Fwater_f (hwater - 3 dds) / 3 = 7.3 kNm/m
Soil in front of wall; Mp_o_f = Fp_f [2 dds - tbase - dcover + dexc] / 3 = 3.9 kNm/m
Total overturning moment; Mot_f = Msur_f + Mm_a_f + Mm_b_f + Ms_f + Mwater_f + Mp_o_f = 130.6
kNm/m
Restoring moments
Wall stem; Mwall_f = wwall_f (ltoe + twall / 2) = 63 kNm/m
Wall base; Mbase_f = wbase_f lbase / 2 = 44.6 kNm/m
Wall downstand; Mds_f = wds_f (lds + tds / 2) = 9 kNm/m
Surcharge; Msur_r_f = wsur_f (lbase - lheel / 2) = 20.6 kNm/m
Moist backfill; Mm_r_f = (wm_w_f (lbase - lheel / 2) + wm_s_f (lbase - lheel / 3)) = 79.6
kNm/m
Saturated backfill; Ms_r_f = ws_f (lbase - lheel / 2) = 47.8 kNm/m
Design vertical load; Mv_f = Wv_f lload = 152.1 kNm/m
Total restoring moment; Mrest_f = Mwall_f + Mbase_f + Mds_f + Msur_r_f + Mm_r_f + Ms_r_f + Mv_f =
416.7 kNm/m
Factored bearing pressure
Total moment for bearing; Mtotal_f = Mrest_f - Mot_f = 286.1 kNm/m
Total vertical reaction; Rf = Wtotal_f = 239.0 kN/m
Distance to reaction; xbar_f = Mtotal_f / Rf = 1197 mm
Eccentricity of reaction; ef = abs((lbase / 2) - xbar_f) = 28 mm
Reaction acts within middle third of base
Bearing pressure at toe; ptoe_f = (Rf / lbase) + (6 Rf ef / lbase2) = 104.1 kN/m2
Bearing pressure at heel; pheel_f = (Rf / lbase) - (6 Rf ef / lbase2) = 90.9 kN/m2
Rate of change of base reaction; rate = (ptoe_f - pheel_f) / lbase = 5.39 kN/m2/m
Bearing pressure at stem / toe; pstem_toe_f = max(ptoe_f - (rate ltoe), 0 kN/m2) = 96.1 kN/m2
Bearing pressure at mid stem; pstem_mid_f = max(ptoe_f - (rate (ltoe + twall / 2)), 0 kN/m2) = 95.1
kN/m2
Bearing pressure at stem / heel; pstem_heel_f = max(ptoe_f - (rate (ltoe + twall)), 0 kN/m2) = 94.2
kN/m2

Design of reinforced concrete retaining wall toe (BS 8002:1994)

Material properties
Characteristic strength of concrete; fcu = 25 N/mm2
Characteristic strength of reinforcement; fy = 500 N/mm2

Base details
Minimum area of reinforcement; k = 0.13 %
Cover to reinforcement in toe; ctoe = 50 mm

Calculate shear for toe design

Shear from bearing pressure; Vtoe_bear = (ptoe_f + pstem_toe_f) ltoe / 2 = 150.1 kN/m
Shear from weight of base; Vtoe_wt_base = f_d base ltoe tbase = 22.3 kN/m
Total shear for toe design; Vtoe = Vtoe_bear - Vtoe_wt_base = 127.8 kN/m

Calculate moment for toe design

Moment from bearing pressure; Mtoe_bear = (2 ptoe_f + pstem_mid_f) (ltoe + twall / 2)2 / 6 = 141.9
kNm/m
Moment from weight of base; Mtoe_wt_base = (f_d base tbase (ltoe + twall / 2)2 / 2) = 20.9
kNm/m
Total moment for toe design; Mtoe = Mtoe_bear - Mtoe_wt_base = 121 kNm/m
Check toe in bending
Width of toe; b = 1000 mm/m
Depth of reinforcement; dtoe = tbase ctoe (toe / 2) = 390.0 mm
Constant; Ktoe = Mtoe / (b dtoe2 fcu) = 0.032
Compression reinforcement is not required
Lever arm; ztoe = min(0.5 + (0.25 - (min(Ktoe, 0.225) / 0.9)),0.95) dtoe
ztoe = 371 mm
Area of tension reinforcement required; As_toe_des = Mtoe / (0.87 fy ztoe) = 751 mm2/m
Minimum area of tension reinforcement; As_toe_min = k b tbase = 585 mm2/m
Area of tension reinforcement required; As_toe_req = Max(As_toe_des, As_toe_min) = 751 mm2/m
Reinforcement provided; 20 mm dia.bars @ 150 mm centres
Area of reinforcement provided; As_toe_prov = 2094 mm2/m
PASS - Reinforcement provided at the retaining wall toe is adequate
Check shear resistance at toe
Design shear stress; vtoe = Vtoe / (b dtoe) = 0.328 N/mm2
Allowable shear stress; vadm = min(0.8 (fcu / 1 N/mm2), 5) 1 N/mm2 = 4.000
N/mm2
PASS - Design shear stress is less than maximum shear stress
From BS8110:Part 1:1997 Table 3.8
Design concrete shear stress; vc_toe = 0.517 N/mm2
vtoe < vc_toe - No shear reinforcement required

Design of reinforced concrete retaining wall heel (BS 8002:1994)

Material properties
Characteristic strength of concrete; fcu = 25 N/mm2
Characteristic strength of reinforcement; fy = 500 N/mm2

Base details
Minimum area of reinforcement; k = 0.13 %
Cover to reinforcement in heel; cheel = 50 mm
Calculate shear for heel design
Shear from bearing pressure; Vheel_bear = (pheel_f + pstem_heel_f) lheel / 2 = 55.5 kN/m
Shear from weight of base; Vheel_wt_base = f_d base lheel tbase = 8.9 kN/m
Shear from weight of downstand; Vheel_wt_ds = f_d base dds tds = 5.3 kN/m
Shear from weight of moist backfill; Vheel_wt_m = wm_w_f = 37 kN/m
Shear from weight of saturated backfill; Vheel_wt_s = ws_f = 22.2 kN/m
Shear from surcharge; Vheel_sur = wsur_f = 9.6 kN/m
Total shear for heel design; Vheel = - Vheel_bear + Vheel_wt_base + Vheel_wt_ds + Vheel_wt_m + Vheel_wt_s +
Vheel_sur = 27.5 kN/m

Calculate moment for heel design

Moment from bearing pressure; Mheel_bear = (2 pheel_f + pstem_mid_f) (lheel + twall / 2)2 / 6 = 27.7
kNm/m
Moment from weight of base; Mheel_wt_base = (f_d base tbase (lheel + twall / 2)2 / 2) = 4.5 kNm/m
Moment from weight of downstand; Mheel_wt_ds = f_d base dds tds (lds - ltoe + (tds - twall) / 2) = 0.1
kNm/m
Moment from weight of moist backfill; Mheel_wt_m = wm_w_f (lheel + twall) / 2 = 17.6 kNm/m
Moment from weight of saturated backfill; Mheel_wt_s = ws_f (lheel + twall) / 2 = 10.6 kNm/m
Moment from surcharge; Mheel_sur = wsur_f (lheel + twall) / 2 = 4.6 kNm/m
Total moment for heel design; Mheel = - Mheel_bear + Mheel_wt_base + Mheel_wt_ds + Mheel_wt_m + Mheel_wt_s
+ Mheel_sur = 9.6 kNm/m

Check heel in bending

Width of heel; b = 1000 mm/m
Depth of reinforcement; dheel = tbase cheel (heel / 2) = 390.0 mm
Constant; Kheel = Mheel / (b dheel2 fcu) = 0.003
Compression reinforcement is not required
Lever arm; zheel = min(0.5 + (0.25 - (min(Kheel, 0.225) / 0.9)),0.95) dheel
zheel = 371 mm
Area of tension reinforcement required; As_heel_des = Mheel / (0.87 fy zheel) = 59 mm2/m
Minimum area of tension reinforcement; As_heel_min = k b tbase = 585 mm2/m
Area of tension reinforcement required; As_heel_req = Max(As_heel_des, As_heel_min) = 585 mm2/m
Reinforcement provided; 20 mm dia.bars @ 150 mm centres
Area of reinforcement provided; As_heel_prov = 2094 mm2/m
PASS - Reinforcement provided at the retaining wall heel is adequate
Check shear resistance at heel
Design shear stress; vheel = Vheel / (b dheel) = 0.071 N/mm2
Allowable shear stress; vadm = min(0.8 (fcu / 1 N/mm2), 5) 1 N/mm2 = 4.000
2
N/mm
PASS - Design shear stress is less than maximum shear stress
From BS8110:Part 1:1997 Table 3.8
Design concrete shear stress; vc_heel = 0.517 N/mm2
vheel < vc_heel - No shear reinforcement required

Design of reinforced concrete retaining wall downstand (BS 8002:1994)

Material properties
Characteristic strength of concrete; fcu = 25 N/mm2
Characteristic strength of reinforcement; fy = 500 N/mm2

Base details
Minimum area of reinforcement; k = 0.13 %
Cover to reinforcement in downstand; cds = 50 mm

Calculate shear for downstand design

Total shear for downstand design
Vdown = f_e Kp cos(b) m dds (dcover + tbase + dds / 2) = 30.3 kN/m

Calculate moment for downstand design

Total moment for downstand design
Mdown = f_e Kp cos(b) m dds [(dcover + tbase) (tbase + dds) + dds (tbase / 2 + 2 dds / 3)] / 2 = 13.5 kNm/m

Check downstand in bending

Width of downstand; b = 1000 mm/m
Depth of reinforcement; ddown = tds cds (down / 2) = 340.0 mm
Constant; Kdown = Mdown / (b ddown2 fcu) = 0.005
 Compression reinforcement is not required
Lever arm; zdown = Min(0.5 + (0.25 - (min(Kdown, 0.225) / 0.9)),0.95) ddown
zdown = 323 mm
Area of tension reinforcement required; As_down_des = Mdown / (0.87 fy zdown) = 96 mm2/m
Minimum area of tension reinforcement; As_down_min = k b tds = 520 mm2/m
Area of tension reinforcement required; As_down_req = Max(As_down_des, As_down_min) = 520 mm2/m
Reinforcement provided; 20 mm dia.bars @ 150 mm centres
Area of reinforcement provided; As_down_prov = 2094 mm2/m
PASS - Reinforcement provided at the retaining wall downstand is adequate
Check shear resistance at downstand
Design shear stress; vdown = Vdown / (b ddown) = 0.089 N/mm2
Allowable shear stress; vadm = min(0.8 (fcu / 1 N/mm2), 5) 1 N/mm2 = 4.000
2
N/mm
PASS - Design shear stress is less than maximum shear stress
From BS8110:Part 1:1997 Table 3.8
Design concrete shear stress; vc_down = 0.560 N/mm2
vdown < vc_down - No shear reinforcement required

Design of reinforced concrete retaining wall stem (BS 8002:1994)

Material properties
Characteristic strength of concrete; fcu = 25 N/mm2
Characteristic strength of reinforcement; fy = 500 N/mm2

Wall details
Minimum area of reinforcement; k = 0.13 %
Cover to reinforcement in stem; cstem = 50 mm
Cover to reinforcement in wall; cwall = 50 mm

Factored horizontal active forces on stem

Surcharge; Fs_sur_f = f_l Ka cos(90 - + ) Surcharge (heff - tbase - dds)
= 18.2 kN/m
Moist backfill above water table; Fs_m_a_f = 0.5 f_e Ka cos(90 - + ) m (heff - tbase - dds -
hsat) = 22.7 kN/m
2

Moist backfill below water table; Fs_m_b_f = f_e Ka cos(90 - + ) m (heff - tbase - dds - hsat)
hsat = 24.8 kN/m
Saturated backfill; Fs_s_f = 0.5 f_e Ka cos(90 - + ) (s- water) hsat2 = 4.3
kN/m
Water; Fs_water_f = 0.5 f_e water hsat2 = 9.1 kN/m

Calculate shear for stem design

Shear at base of stem; Vstem = Fs_sur_f + Fs_m_a_f + Fs_m_b_f + Fs_s_f + Fs_water_f - Fprop_f = 48.2
kN/m
Calculate moment for stem design
Surcharge; Ms_sur = Fs_sur_f (hstem + tbase) / 2 = 33.7 kNm/m
Moist backfill above water table; Ms_m_a = Fs_m_a_f (2 hsat + heff - dds + tbase / 2) / 3 = 47.1
kNm/m
Moist backfill below water table; Ms_m_b = Fs_m_b_f hsat / 2 = 14.3 kNm/m
Saturated backfill; Ms_s = Fs_s_f hsat / 3 = 1.6 kNm/m
Water; Ms_water = Fs_water_f hsat / 3 = 3.5 kNm/m
Total moment for stem design; Mstem = Ms_sur + Ms_m_a + Ms_m_b + Ms_s + Ms_water = 100.1 kNm/m

Check wall stem in bending

Width of wall stem; b = 1000 mm/m
Depth of reinforcement; dstem = twall cstem (stem / 2) = 290.0 mm
Constant; Kstem = Mstem / (b dstem2 fcu) = 0.048
Compression reinforcement is not required
Lever arm; zstem = min(0.5 + (0.25 - (min(Kstem, 0.225) / 0.9)),0.95) dstem
zstem = 274 mm
Area of tension reinforcement required; As_stem_des = Mstem / (0.87 fy zstem) = 841 mm2/m
Minimum area of tension reinforcement; As_stem_min = k b twall = 455 mm2/m
Area of tension reinforcement required; As_stem_req = Max(As_stem_des, As_stem_min) = 841 mm2/m
Reinforcement provided; 20 mm dia.bars @ 150 mm centres
Area of reinforcement provided; As_stem_prov = 2094 mm2/m
PASS - Reinforcement provided at the retaining wall stem is adequate
Check shear resistance at wall stem
Design shear stress; vstem = Vstem / (b dstem) = 0.166 N/mm2
Allowable shear stress; vadm = min(0.8 (fcu / 1 N/mm2), 5) 1 N/mm2 = 4.000
2
N/mm
PASS - Design shear stress is less than maximum shear stress
From BS8110:Part 1:1997 Table 3.8
Design concrete shear stress; vc_stem = 0.614 N/mm2
vstem < vc_stem - No shear reinforcement required
Check retaining wall deflection
Basic span/effective depth ratio; ratiobas = 7
Design service stress; fs = 2 fy As_stem_req / (3 As_stem_prov) = 133.8 N/mm2
Modification factor; factortens = min(0.55 + (477 N/mm2 - fs)/(120 (0.9 N/mm2 + (Mstem/(b dstem2)))),2) =
1.92
Maximum span/effective depth ratio; ratiomax = ratiobas factortens = 13.43
Actual span/effective depth ratio; ratioact = hstem / dstem = 11.21
PASS - Span to depth ratio is acceptable
Indicative retaining wall reinforcement diagram

Toe bars - 20 mm dia.@ 150 mm centres - (2094 mm2/m)

Heel bars - 20 mm dia.@ 150 mm centres - (2094 mm2/m)
Downstand bars - 20 mm dia.@ 150 mm centres - (2094 mm2/m)
Stem bars - 20 mm dia.@ 150 mm centres - (2094 mm2/m)