10.

10 Proble ms
Example 10.1:

Check the bearing capacity with and witout geocell with following given data.

Without geocell case

Unit weight of soil,   20 kN/m3 ,

Angle of internal friction,   25

Cohesion of soil, c = 0 kPa

With geocell case

Unit weight of soil,   22 kN/m3 ,

Angle of internal friction,   30

Cohesion of soil, c = 0 kPa

Given Data:

a) Without geocell

  20 kN/m3 ,

  25

C=0

b) With Geocel

  22 kN/m3 ,

  30

C=0

Step1: Calculation of bearing capacity without geo cell

p  (c  N c )  (q  N q   q )  (0.5    B  N    )

where,

1
Nc, N q and N  are Terzaghi’s bearing capacity factor.

C=cohesion of soil=0 kPa

B= width =0.32 m

q = surcharge acting.

The given soil is cohesion less soil (c=0) and there is no surcharge acting over it. Therefore q=0.

  =shape factor for unit weight of soil=1.2 (for circular base,IS:6403-1981)

Now the equation becomes,

p  (0.5    B  N    )

p  (0.5  20  0.32  9.7  0.60)

P= 18.6 kPa

Heave
p

Failure surface
Fig Ex.10.1c Distribution of bearing pressure without geocell

Step2: Calculation of bearing capacity with geo cell

p  (2  )  (c  Nc )  (q  N q   q )  (0.5    B  N    )

where,

   h tan 

 = Shear strength of soil.

 h =total stress acting (given)

2
 =wall friction angle

Nc, N q and N  are Terzaghi’s bearing capacity factor.

C=cohesion of soil=0 kPa

B= width =0.32 m

q = surcharge acting = 22 x 0.2 =4.4 kN/m

 q = shape factor for surcharge

  =shape factor for unit weight of soil

Now the equation becomes,

p  (2  )  (q  N q   q )  (0.5    B  N    )

p  (2  6.49)  (4.4  22.5 1.2)  (0.5  22  0.32 19.7  0.6)

P= 173.38 kPa

Geocell
 
t

Faliure surface
Fig Ex.10.1d: Distribution of bearing pressure with geocell

Step 3: Calculation of increase in strength

Increase in strength=(173.38/18.6)=9

There fore use of geocell increases the bearing strength by 9 times compared to without geocell
case.

3
 Table Ex.1.1a: Bearing capacity factors (IS:6403-1981)

 Nc Nq N

0 5.7 1 0

5 7.3 1.6 0.5

10 9.6 2.7 1.2

15 12.9 4.4 2.5

20 17.7 7.4 5

25 25.1 12.7 9.7

30 37.2 22.5 19.7

35 57.2 41.4 42.4

40 95.7 81.3 100.4

Table Ex1.1b: Shape factors (IS:6403-1981)

Shape factors
Sl
Shape of base
no.
c q 

1 Continuos strip 1 1 1

2 Rectangle (1+0.2 B/L) (1+0.2 B/L) (1-0.4 B/L)

3 Square 1.3 1.2 0.8

4 Circle 1.3 1.2 0.6

4
 Fig Ex. 10.1e

Example 10.2:Design of RE wall for 8m

Design a pre cast segmental block retaining wall of height 8m with geogrid as reinforcement
with given data.

1) Coverage ratio, C r=1

2) Length to height ratio should not be less than 0.7 (L  5.6m)

3) Surcharge load, q=18 kN /m2

5
4) Allowable tensile strength of geogrids, Ta= 38 kN /m

5) Connection strength (Connection of geogrid with segmental block) Tc= 34 kN/m

6) Interaction coefficient, Ci=0.85

Properties of reinforced soil

o
1) Angle of internal friction of reinforced soil,  r =24

2) Unit weight of reinforced soil,  r =20 kN /m2

Properties of backfill soil

1) Angle of internal friction of backfill soil, b =33o

2) Unit weight of backfill soil,  b =18 kN /m2

6
 Surcharge Load, q = 18 kN/m2

Fig Ex10.2a: Precast concrete segmental retaining wall

Solution:

Given Data:

1) Coverage ratio, C r=1

2) Length to height ratio should not be less than 0.7 (L  5.6m)

3) Surcharge load, q=18 kN /m2

4) Allowable tensile strength of geogrids, Ta= 38 kN /m

5) Connection strength (Connection of geogrid with segmental block) Tc= 34 kN/m

7
6) Interaction coefficient, C i=0.85

7) Foundation bearing pressure = 700 kN /m2

Properties of reinforced soil

o
1) Angle of internal friction of reinforced soil,  r =24

2) Unit weight of reinforced soil,  r =20 kN /m2

Properties of backfill soil

1) Angle of internal friction of backfill soil b =33o

2) Unit weight of backfill soil=  b =18 kN /m2

A) External Stability
Step 1: Calculation of Coefficient Earth pressure of backfill soil.

1  sin b
Kab=
1  sin b

where,

Kab = Coefficient Earth pressure of backfill soil.

b =Angle of internal friction of backfill soil =33 o

1  sin 33
Kab=
1  sin 33

Kab= 0.294

Step 2: Calculation of horizontal force due to backfill soil

8
 P2
8m
8m
P1
H/2=4m
H/3=2.66m

Distribution of horizontal Distribution of horizontal

Earth pressure due to Earth pressure due to

Backfill soil Surcharge

Horizontal force due to backfill soil P1

P1 = 0.5 x K ab x  b x H2

where,

Kab = Coefficient Earth pressure of backfill soil=0.294

 b = Unit weight of backfill soil=18 kN /m2

H = Height of the retaining wall= 8m

P1 = 0.5 x 0.294 x 18 x 82

P1 = 169.34 kN /m
[

Step 3: Calculation of horizontal force due to surcharge

Horizontal force due to surcharge P2,

P2 = q x K ab x H

where,

Kab = Coefficient Earth pressure of backfill soil=0.294

H = Height of the retaining wall= 8m

9
q = surcharge load = 18 kN /m

P2 = 18 x 0.294 x 8

P2 = 42.33 kN/m

Step 4: Calculation of total horizontal force due to backfill and surcharge

Total horizontal force=P = P1 + P2

P1 = Horizontal force due to backfill soil=169.34 kN /m

P2 = Horizontal force due to surcharge= 42.33 kN/m

Total horizontal Force=P= 169.34+42.33

= 211.67 kN/m

Step 5: Check for Factor of safety against sliding.

Minimum Factor of safety against sliding = 1.5

Factor of safety,

Resisting force
FOS 
Sliding force

Resisting force =  x w

 = tan  = tan 26 = 0.4877

W= total weight of the reinforced soil =  r x H x L

 r = Unit weight of reinforced soil =20 kN /m2

H = Height of the retaining wall= 8m

L= Length of geo grid.

W= 20 x 8 x L

Resisting force= 0.487 x 20 x 8 x L= 77.92 L kN/m

10
Sliding force= total horizontal force= 211.67 kN/m

Resisting force
FOS 
Sliding force

1.5 =77.92 L / 211.67

L= 4.068 m <5.6 m

Hence adopt the length of geo grid = 5.6m

Step 6: Calculation of length of geogrid based on overturning criterion

Factor of safety against overturning = 2 ….. (Given)

Stabilizing moment calculation

W L
Ms 
2

where,

Ms = stabilizing moment

W = weight of reinforced soil behind the retaining wall  H   r  L

H = height of retaining wall = 8 m

 r = unit weight of reinforced soil = 20 kN/m3

L = length of geotextile in reinforced soil zone

W L
Ms 
2

H  r  L L
Ms 
2

8  20  L2
Ms 
2

Overturning moment calculation

M o  P1  h1   P2  h2 

11
where,

Mo = overturning moment

P1 = horizontal force due to backfill soil acting on retaining wall,

P2 = horizontal force due to surcharge soil acting on retaining wall,

H 8
h1 = distance of horizontal force (P 1 ) from the base of wall = = and
3 3

H 8
h2 = distance of horizontal force (P 2 ) from the base of wall = =
2 2

M o  P1  h1   P2  h2 

 8  8
M o  169 .34     42.33  
 3  2

M o  620.8 kNm

Factor of safety against overturning,

Stabilizin gmoment
F .S .O 
Overtyrnin gmoment

Ms
 F .S.O 
Mo

80  L2
2 
620 .8

L = 3.93 m

Minimum reinforced length, L = 5.6 m

L = 3.93 m < 5.6 m

L = 5.6 m

(B) Calculation length for inte rnal stability

Step 1: Calculation for horizontal pressure  hf for different depth

12
Now total maximum horizontal stress on the face of the retaining wall due to surcharge (q) and
backfill =

K ar   r h  q 
 h ,max 
 h 
2

 K ab   b h  3q    
1  L 
 3  r h  q  
 
 
where,

q = Surcharge load = 18 kN/m2

1  sin r
Kar = Active earth pressure coefficient for retaining wall soil, K ar 
1  sin r

Here r  Internal friction angle of reinforced soil = 34°

1  sin 34
K ar   0.28
1  sin 34

h =different height in m. for which  h is to be calculated

b= Unit weight of backfill soil = 18 kN/m3

Kab = Active earth pressure coefficient of backfill soil = 0.294

r= Unit weight of reinforced soil = 20 kN/m3

L = length of the retaining wall = 5.6 m.

So,  h =  h ,max  RF

0.25  H  h 
Here, RF = reduction factor = 1 
H

where H = height of retaining wall = 8 m.

13
 Depth h  h ,max in  hf in
2
(m) kN/m RF kN/m2

0 5.04 0.75 3.78

1 10.70 0.78 8.36

2 16.56 0.81 13.46

3 22.72 0.84 19.17

4 29.33 0.88 25.66

5 36.52 0.91 33.10

6 44.52 0.94 41.74

7 53.59 0.97 51.91

8 64.10 1.00 64.10

Step 2: Calculation for vertical spacing

Segmental block
Retaining wall

Geo grid
 h ,max
Sv

 hf

Spacing

Fig Ex10.2c

 h ,max  sv1
Allowable tensile strength for geogrid, Ta = =38 kN/m
Cr

14
where,

 h ,max = Maximum horizontal pressure in kN/m2 as in table 1.

Sv1 = Vertical spacing due to tension in geogrid in m. and

Cr = Coverage ratio = 1

So, sv1 = 38/  h ,max

 h  sv 2
Connecting pressure between geogrid and segmental block, Tc = =34 kN/m
Cr

So, sv2 = 34/  h

where,

sv2 = Vertical spacing due to tension in connection in m

Now the spacing should be minimum of the sv1 , sv2 , and 4ft(1.22m).

Depth h  h ,max in  hf in sv1 in sv2 in

0 5.04 0.75 3.78 7.53968 8.99471 1.0

1 10.70 0.78 8.36 3.55028 4.06601 1.0

2 16.56 0.81 13.46 2.29452 2.52675 1.0

3 22.72 0.84 19.17 1.67217 1.77322 1.0

4 29.33 0.88 25.66 1.29581 1.32504 1.0

5 36.52 0.91 33.10 1.04047 1.02725 0.5

6 44.52 0.94 41.74 0.85356 0.81462 0.5

7 53.59 0.97 51.91 0.70911 0.65493 0.5

8 64.10 1.00 64.10 0.59 0.53 0.5

15
Step 3: Calculation for anchorage length or embedded length

sv
Z

Geogrid
H
LR Le

sv

45 
2

Anchorage

Fig Ex10.2d

For embedded length,

sv   h  FS pullout  2  Le  Ci   v tan    Cr

sv   h  FS pullout
 Le 
2  Ci   v tan    Cr

where,

Sv = spacing of geogrids

 h = Horizontal stress in kN/m2

FS = factor of safety for pullout = 1.5

Ci = Interaction coefficient = 0.85

Cr = Coverage ratio = 1

 ’= r = Internal friction angle of the of reinforced soil = 34°

 v = vertical stress in kN/m2 = rh and

Le = embedded length in m. ≥ 3 ft or 1 m

16
  
Lr   H  z  tan  45  
 2

where, Lr = Non acting Rankine length in m and

z = depth of layer calculated from top.

No of depth Spacing Le in Le,min Lcalc. Lreqd

1 0.75 1 0.330 1 3.855 4.855 5.6

2 1.75 1 0.313 1 3.323 4.323 5.6

3 2.75 1 0.320 1 2.791 3.791 5.6

4 3.75 1 0.334 1 2.260 3.260 5.6

5 4.75 1 0.353 1 1.728 2.728 5.6

6 5.75 0.5 0.188 1 1.196 2.196 5.6

7 6.25 0.5 0.218 1 0.930 1.930 5.6

8 6.75 0.5 0.252 1 0.665 1.665 5.6

9 7.25 0.5 0.289 1 0.399 1.399 5.6

17
 0.75

1 m.
Geogrid (RB 40)
1 m.

Pre cast 1 m.
concrete
Segmental block

8 m.
1 m.
(Need to be
designed)
1 m.

0.5
0.5
0.5
0.75

Fig Ex.10.2e

18