Soil Pressure Acting Concrete Retaining Wall

Sliding soil wedge theory is the basis for most of the theories by which lateral earth pressure is computed.

Soil pressure acting concrete retaining wall.

The resultant force due to the earth pressure acting on a basement wall can be calculated as. Notice that the pressures acting on the wall are equivalent to the area triangle of the pressure distribution diagram. F a resultant force acting on the basement wall kn h s height of backfill soil m γ specific weight of backfill soil kn m 3 k coefficient of earth pressure at rest. However as you noted the soil load is reduced because the effective weight of the soil is reduced due to buoyant forces.

F a 0 5 k γ h s 2 1a where. It can be constructed from different materials such as concrete stone and masonry units. Static soil pressure total soil pressure 1 3. Dynamic soil pressure in a rectangular shape as shown in figure 3.

A retaining wall is a structure designed and constructed to resist the lateral pressure of soil when there is a desired change in ground elevation that exceeds the angle of repose of the soil. That is why soil lateral earth pressure is a major concern in the design. Sliding overturning and bearing forces shall be taken into consideration while this type of retaining wall structure is designed. Typical retaining walls a gravity type stone retaining wall a gravity wall relies solely on its mass and geometry to resist the soil pressure forces acting on it.

W 200 lb ft a 2ft b 12ft c 6ft gamma 150 lb ft2. Retaining walls are used for supporting soil laterally so that it can be retained at different levels on the two sides. The main purpose of retaining wall construction is to retain soil. Soil pressure acting on the concrete retaining wall is represented as a loading w per foot length of wall.

Load combinations for concrete retaining walls supporting sound walls or containing ground anchors have slightly different load combinations than other standard ers. If concrete has a specific weight gamma per foot length determine the magnitudes of the soil distribution w1 and w2 and the frictional force f for equilibrium. The hydrostatic pressure and the soil load act on the wall concurrently. See below answer for more about that.

On the other hand if the wall moves into the soil then the soil mass is compressed which also mobilizes its shear strength and the passive pressure develops. Commonly gravity retaining wall is massive because it requires significant gravity load to counter act soil pressure. Hence pa 1 1 2 ɣk a h 2 eq. 1 where h is the height of retained soil.