On dimensioning the base of a traditional retaining wall. Issue 2 (26th April 2012)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Butterfield, R.
• Is Part Of: Géotechnique letters. Volume 2:Issue 2(2012)
• Page Start: 25
• Page End: 28
• Publication Date: 2012-04-26
• Subjects: footings/foundations; -- failure; -- bearing capacity; -- soil/structure interaction; -- design; -- retaining walls; Geotechnical engineering -- Periodicals; Engineering geology -- Periodicals; 624.151
• DOI: 10.1680/geolett.12.00001
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2045-2543

Abstract

Abstract : When conventional retaining walls fail, they usually do so either by being transported bodily within a landslide of the material they are retaining or by a local failure of their foundation, particularly if it is a rigid base at shallow depth. The purpose of this letter is to present a rational way of determining the optimum geometry of such a base – for a specific wall height and relevant soil parameters – using a three-dimensional interaction diagram for a rigid base buried at shallow depth. The optimisation procedure required is novel because the loads acting on the base are a function of their dimensions. Furthermore, if the soil strength is scaled down, as in a 'limit state' design, the lateral load on the wall is increased whilst the load capacity of the base is decreased. The analysis presented provides a simple means of exploring the consequences of complex interactions of this kind. The methodology developed is independent of the method by which the resultant base loads ( V, H, M / B ) are decided and the analytical form of the failure locus. When conventional retaining walls fail, they usually do so either by being transported bodily within a landslide of the material they are retaining or by a local failure of their foundation, particularly if it is a rigid base at shallow depth. The purpose of this letter is to present a rational way of determining the optimum geometry of such a base - for a specific wall height and relevant soil parameters - using a three-dimensional interaction diagram for a rigid base buried at shallow depth. The optimisation procedure required is novel because the loads acting on the base are a function of their dimensions. Furthermore, if the soil strength is scaled down, as in a 'limit state' design, the lateral load on the wall is increased whilst the load capacity of the base is decreased. The analysis presented provides a simple means of exploring the consequences of complex interactions of this kind. The methodology developed is independent of the method by which the resultant base loads ( V, H, M / B ) are decided and the analytical form of the failure locus.