DESIGN OF STRUCTURES

Design Of Retaining Wall

QUESTION:
Design a RCC retaining wall with surface inclined at 20° and retains earth up to a height of
12’ above NSL. Base of the footing is to be placed 3’ below NSL. Soil has density of 120 lb /ft 3.
Angle of repose is30° .
Take q all =3000lb / ft 2
Usef 'c =4000 Psi∧f y =60,000 Psi.

SOLUTION:
Given that,

Height of Retaining wall above NSL=12 ’

Depth of footing below NSL=3 ’

Density of soil , γ so il =120lb / ft 3

Density of concrete , γ conc . =150 lb /ft 3

Angle of internal friction , φ=30°

'
Inclination of surface ,Ѳ=20° f c =4000 Psi f y =60,000 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
Width of heel=10' −3.3' −1.25' =5.45' Height of surcharge=5.45 × tan20 °=1.97 '

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 DESIGN OF STRUCTURES
Design Of Retaining Wall

STEP 2
DESIGN OF STEM:

i. Calculation Of Soil Pressure:

cosѲ− √cos 2 Ѳ−cos 2 φ ° cos 20° −√ cos 2 20° −cos2 30°

C a=cosѲ C a=cos 20 =0.414
cosѲ+ √ cos 2 Ѳ−cos2 φ cos 20° + √ cos2 20°−cos2 30°

1 1
Pa= γ C a H 2 Pa= × 120× 0.414 ×13.75' 2=4696.3lb
2 2
P H =Pa ×cos Ѳ=4696.3 × cos 20°=4412.8 lb

ii. Moment & Reinforcement Calculation:

H 13.75' '
Centroidal distance , ȳ= = =4.58
3 3
M =P H × ȳ=4412.8× 4. 58' =20210.62lbft M max =1.6 × M =1.6 ×20210.62
M u=M max =32337 lbft =388044 lbin

f 'c
ρ=0.85
fy [ √
1 − 1−
2Mu
0.85 f 'c φb d2 ]
ρ=0.85×
4000
60000 [ √
1− 1−
2 ×388044
0.85 × 4000 ×0.9 ×12 {×12.52
¿
]
Where , φ=0.9∧b=12 & d=h- 2.5=15 -2.5 =12.5 ρ=0.0039

200 200
ρmin = = =0.0033
f y 60000

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 =0.021
40000 87000+60000 max )
ρmax > ρ> ρmin OK

iii. Selection of bars & spacing:

Vertical Reinforcement On front face of wall:

A st =ρbd A st=0.0039 ×12 ×12.5=0.585 ¿ 2 Provide ¿ 6 bars @ 9 c/c see Nilson page 736

Temperature & Shrinkage Steel:

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 DESIGN OF STRUCTURES
Design Of Retaining Wall

A st =ρbh A st =0.0018 ×12 ×15=0.324 ¿2 Provide ¿ 3 bars @ 4 c/c see Nilson page 736

iv. Check for shear:

1 1
V u=1.6 × PaV u=1.6 × × C a × γ × ( H −d )2V u=1.6 × × 0.414 ×120 × ¿ ¿
2 2
V u=6418.725lb /ft =534.9lb /¿

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 max 1 2 H1
M u=M max =32337 lbft = =16168.5 lbft = ×1.6 × γ ×C a × H 1 cos Ѳ×
2 2 2 2 3
1 2 ° H1
16168.5= × 1.6 ×120 ×0.414 × H 1 cos 20 × H 1=10.91 '
2 3

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

 12
 12 ×dia of ¯¿ 12 ×1 =12
0.04 × A b × f y 0.04 × 0.44 ×60000
 = =16.7 =1.39
√cf '
√ 4000

Maximum of above three valuesis selected ,i . e . 12” is selected .

So ,Curtailment =10.91'−1.39 '=9.52 ' ¿ top.

M m ax
ρ for ,
2
0.0039
ρ= ρ=0.00195>min . value of temp .∧shrinkage steel i. e .0 .0018
2
A'st = Areaof curtailed steel A'st =ρbh=0.00195× 12×15=0.351 ¿2
Areaof steel , A s =ρbd=0.585 ¿2

1 2
A A 0.2925 ¿2 0.39 ¿2
2 s3 s

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 DESIGN OF STRUCTURES
Design Of Retaining Wall

0.39 ¿2 ismore close ¿ 0.585 ¿2 so curtail each 2 nd alternate .̄

SECTION & PLAN

Step 4

STABILITY CHECKS:

There are three stability checks,

i. Check For Overturning Moment

Resisting moment
>2
Overturning moment

Here use
1 2
H=13.75' +1.97' =15.72' Pa= γ C a H
2
1
Pa= × 120× 0.414 ×15.72' 2=6138.42 lb
2
P H =Pa ×cos 20° =6138.42 ×cos 20° =5768.23 lb

PV =Pa × sin 20°=6138.42× sin20 °=2099.5 lb

H 15.72' '
Centroidal distance , ȳ= = =5.24
3 3
O .T . M =P H × ȳ O .T . M =5768.23 ×5.24 '
O .T . M =30225.53 lbft

Sr.
Weight ( Area × Density )lb x̄“ ft ” Resiting Momentlbft
#

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 DESIGN OF STRUCTURES
Design Of Retaining Wall

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
1 2× 5.45
05 ×1.97 ×5.45 ×120=644.19 3.3+1.25+ =8.18 ' 5269.47
2 3
∑ W =14782.815 lb ∑ M =91372.47

Resisting moment o r Stablizing moment =∑ M + P v ×10¿ 91372.47+ P a sin 20° ×10

¿ 91372.47+6138.42 sin 20° ×10¿ 112367.1 lbft

Resisting moment 112367.1

>2 =3.72> 2OK
Overturning moment 30225.53

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 H =5768.23 lb
Sliding force
Resisting force=μ ( ∑W + PV )=0.3 × ( 14782.815+2099.5 )
Resisting force=5064.7 lb
Here μ is the coefficient of friction between soil and earth and its value lies between 0.3-
0.45.

Resisting force 5064.7

≥ 1.5 =0.88 ≥1.5 NOT OK
Sliding force 5768.23

So we have to provide key under the base.

Design of Key:

Resisting force=1.5 × Sliding force Resisting force=1.5 ×5768.23Resisting force=8652.345 lb

Additional resisting force provided , P p=8652.345−5064.7
Additional resisting force ¿ be provided , P p=3587.65 lb

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 DESIGN OF STRUCTURES
Design Of Retaining Wall

1 1
Additional Resiting force , , P p= × γ × H 21 × 3587.65= 1 × 120× H 21 × 1 H 1=4.98' ≈5 '
2 Ca 2 0.414
Depth of Key=5' −1.25' =3.75'

iii. Check For Bearing Capacity Of Soil:

Stablizing moment−O .T . M
a=
RV
RV =∑ W + PV =14782.815+2099.5=16882.315 lb

112367.1−30225.53 B 10 '
a= a=4.87 ' Eccentricity , e= −ae= −4.87 e=0.13 '
16882.315 2 2
B 10
e≯ = =1.67' 0.13' ≯1.67' OK
6 6

If this check is not OK then increase the length of base “B”

R V RV × e 16882.315 16882.315 ×0.13

q max = + ≯q allq max = +
B ×1 B 2 10 102 q max =1819.91lb/ft 2 ≯q all OK
6 6

R V RV × e 16882.315 16882.315× 0.13

q min = + ≮ zeroq min = −
B ×1 B 2 10 10 2 q min =1556.55lb / ft 2 OK
6 6

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 DESIGN OF STRUCTURES
Design Of Retaining Wall

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

STEP 5

DESIGN OF TOE & HEEL:

263.36 x1
= x =143.53 lb /ft 2
10 5.45 1

263.36 x2
= x 2=32.92 lb/ ft 2
10 1.25

263.36 x3
= x 3=86.91 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 17 00.08 × 3.3×
2 ( ) ] [
+ × 86.91× 3.3 × ×3.3 −0.9 ( 3.3 ×1.25 ×1 ×150 ) ×
2 3 2 ]
M u=14 397.03 lbft =17 2764.32lbin

f 'c
ρ=0.85
fy [ √
1 − 1−
2Mu
'
0.85 f c φb d ]
2
ρ=0.85×
4000
60000
1− 1−
[ √ 2 ×17 2764.32
0.85 × 4000 ×0.9 ×12 ×12.52 ]
200 200
Where , φ=0.9∧b=12 & d=h- 2.5=15 -2.5 =12.5 ρ=0.0017 ρmin = = =0.0033
f y 60000
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 =0.021
40000 87000+60000 max )
ρmax > ρ> ρmin NOT OK

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 DESIGN OF STRUCTURES
Design Of Retaining Wall

Selection of bars & spacing:

A st =ρmin bd A st =0.0033 ×12 ×12.5 A st =0.495 ¿2 Provide ¿ 6 bars @ 10 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 1 2 ×5.45
[
M u=1.2 ( 1.25 ×5.45 ×150 ) ×
2 ] [
+ 1.6 ( 13.75× 5.45× 1× 120 ) ×
2
+ ×1.97 ×5.45 × 1×120 ×
2 3 ]
M u=44889.38lbft =538672.66 lbin

f 'c
ρ=0.85
fy [ √
1 − 1−
2Mu
'
0.85 f c φb d]2
ρ=0.85×
4000
60000 [ √
1− 1−
2 ×538672.66
0.85 × 4000 ×0.9 ×12 ×12.52 ]
200 200
Where , φ=0.9∧b=12 & d=h- 2.5=15 -2.5 =12.5 ρ=0.005 ρmin = = =0.0033
f y 60000

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 =0.021
40000 87000+60000 max )
ρmax > ρ> ρmin OK

Selection of bars & spacing:

A st =ρbd A st =0.005 ×12 ×12.5 A st =0.75 ¿2 Provide ¿ 6 bars @ 7 c/c

Temperature & Shrinkage Steel:

A st =ρbh A st =0.0018 ×12 ×15 A st =0.324 ¿ 2 Provide ¿ 3 bars @ 4 c/

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 DESIGN OF STRUCTURES
Design Of Retaining Wall

REINFORCEMENT DETAILS

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