Earthquake Design of Retaining Structures

Master thesis
Antonela-Flavia Achimp

Supervisor: Varvara Zania, Technical University of Denmark

External supervisors: Andrija Krivokapic, Rambøll
Carsten Lyse, Cowi
Contents

Introduction
• Problem Statement
• Motivation of the Study
• Investigation Strategy
Literature
• Pseudostatic Analysis
• Dynamic Analysis
• Westergaard Solution
• Eurocode EN 1998-5
Numerical Modelling
• Westergaard Solution
• L-Shaped Retaining Wall
Case Study
• Pseudostatic Analysis
• Dynamic Analysis
Conclusions and Further Research

2 Dansk Geoteknisk Forening, Aarhus Earthquake Design of Retaining Structures 22/10/2015

Introduction-Problem Statement

Problem Statement

Water Wall Backfill + Water

Static forces Dynamic forces

3 Dansk Geoteknisk Forening, Aarhus Earthquake Design of Retaining Structures 22/10/2015

Introduction-Motivation of the Study

Motivation of the Study

• Pseudostatic

One
parameter to
give the
inertia force

When taking a decision:

-resources: seismic hazard
analysis, time, software,
• Full-Dynamic personnel

4 Dansk Geoteknisk Forening, Aarhus Earthquake Design of Retaining Structures 22/10/2015

Literature- Earthquake analyses

Earthquake Analyses
• Mononobe-Okabe Theory

• Full-Dynamic Analysis

• Richard-Elms Theory
-performed with use of Finite
Element Software

5 Dansk Geoteknisk Forening, Aarhus Earthquake Design of Retaining Structures 22/10/2015

Literature- Westergaard solution

Westergaard Solution (1931)

-Water Pressures on Dams during Earthquake-

• Two causes for added stresses during earthquake:

-accelerations of the mass of the dam

-changes of water pressures

• Rigid vertical wall

• Horizontal acceleration

• No shear stresses

6 Dansk Geoteknisk Forening, Aarhus Earthquake Design of Retaining Structures 22/10/2015

Literature- Eurocode EN 1998-5

Eurocode EN 1998-5

• Hydrodynamic pressure on the outer face of the wall (Westergaard)

• Hydrodynamic pressure: water on both faces of the wall

2x

7 Dansk Geoteknisk Forening, Aarhus Earthquake Design of Retaining Structures 22/10/2015

Numerical Modelling- Introduction

Numerical Modelling

• Westergaard Solution
-Numerical investigation in Abaqus of Westergaard solution using two
different approaches: water as an acoustic medium; water as a
continuum.

• L-Shaped Retaining Wall

-Check of the failure surface using pseudostatic analysis in Plaxis

2D AE
CAE

8 Dansk Geoteknisk Forening, Aarhus Earthquake Design of Retaining Structures 22/10/2015

Numerical Modelling- Westergaard solution

Westergaard Solution

Acoustic elements Acoustic elements

4m
20.5 m

4m
Infinite elements Infinite elements

64.5 m

- Type of elements
- Resonance

9 Dansk Geoteknisk Forening, Aarhus Earthquake Design of Retaining Structures 22/10/2015

Numerical Modelling- Westergaard solution

Westergaard Solution
• Results

10 Dansk Geoteknisk Forening, Aarhus Earthquake Design of Retaining Structures 22/10/2015

Numerical Modelling- L-Shaped Retaining Wall

L-Shaped Retaining Wall

• Soil: M-C material

• Concrete: L-E material

• PGA=0.25g
3.7 m
0.4 m

2m

Total horizontal displacements

11 Dansk Geoteknisk Forening, Aarhus Earthquake Design of Retaining Structures 22/10/2015

Numerical Modelling- L-Shaped Retaining Wall

L-Shaped Retaining Wall

(a) Braja Das, Principles of

Foundation Engineering, 2011

Total deviatoric strains

(b) Niels Krebs Ovesen,

Lærebog i Geoteknik,, 2007
12 Dansk Geoteknisk Forening, Aarhus Earthquake Design of Retaining Structures 22/10/2015
Case Study- Introduction

Port of Beirut- New Quay Wall

17 m
8.5 m
Quay wall cross section
(courtesy of Rambøll)
13 Dansk Geoteknisk Forening, Aarhus Earthquake Design of Retaining Structures 22/10/2015
Case Study- Introduction

Geometry of the Model and Geotechnical Conditions

14 Dansk Geoteknisk Forening, Aarhus Earthquake Design of Retaining Structures 22/10/2015

Case Study- Pseudostatic Analysis

Pseudostatic Analysis
• PGA= 0.25g

- Boundary conditions: standard fixities

- M-C Model for soil

- Static Young’s Modulus (average from the given range)

15 Dansk Geoteknisk Forening, Aarhus Earthquake Design of Retaining Structures 22/10/2015

Case Study- Pseudostatic Analysis

Pseudostatic Analysis
• Results

Horizontal displacement Deviatoric strain

16 Dansk Geoteknisk Forening, Aarhus Earthquake Design of Retaining Structures 22/10/2015

Case Study- Dynamic Analysis

Dynamic Analysis

- Boundary conditions: free field ; viscous

- Hardening soil model with small strain stiffness for fill material;
- Linear- Elastic soil model for bedrock

- Dynamic Young’s Modulus (3-4 times the static one)

17 Dansk Geoteknisk Forening, Aarhus Earthquake Design of Retaining Structures 22/10/2015

Case Study- Dynamic Analysis

Dynamic Analysis
• Hardening Soil model with small strain stiffness

- Stress dependent stiffness

m=0

- Strain dependent stiffness

18 Dansk Geoteknisk Forening, Aarhus Earthquake Design of Retaining Structures 22/10/2015

Case Study- Dynamic Analysis

Dynamic Analysis

19 Dansk Geoteknisk Forening, Aarhus Earthquake Design of Retaining Structures 22/10/2015

Case Study- Dynamic Analysis

Dynamic Analysis
• Results- Horizontal Displacements
TH 1

Maximum horizontal
displacement [mm]
TH1 TH2 TH3
TH 2
A 20 11 10
B 4.5 5 1

TH 3

20 Dansk Geoteknisk Forening, Aarhus Earthquake Design of Retaining Structures 22/10/2015

Case Study- Dynamic Analysis

Dynamic Analysis
• Results- T-H along the wall
TH 1

Peak ground acceleration

TH 2 [g]
TH1 TH2 TH3
A 1.9 0.73 1.1
B 2.5 0.9 0.61

TH 3

21 Dansk Geoteknisk Forening, Aarhus Earthquake Design of Retaining Structures 22/10/2015

Case Study- Dynamic Analysis

Conclusion and Further Research

Maximum horizontal displacement [mm] Analysis time [h]

EC8 Pseudostatic Dynamic Pseudostatic Dynamic

90 60 20 1 8-43

• Further research
• Analysis of the quay wall

-interface between the concrete blocks – relative movements

-parametric study performed
-displacement-based methods

22 Dansk Geoteknisk Forening, Aarhus Earthquake Design of Retaining Structures 22/10/2015

Thank you for your attention!