Cantilever retaining wall design

Abstract

Current retaining wall design procedures are summarized with emphasis on the prediction of lateral earth pressures using the Coulomb and Rankine earth pressure theories, and the equivalent fluid pressure method. Results from previous large scale retaining wall tests and field studies are presented. Different design aspects are introduced as background for a recent field performance study. Instrumentation for measuring earth pressures on bearing surfaces and movement of a test wall constructed on a Texas State Department of Highways and Public Transportation (TSDHPT) project is described. Measured pressures and movements along with results of geotechnical tests of the foundation and backfill soils are presented. The data collection, interpretation and results are presented in detail. The test wall design based on the District 12 TSDHPT design standard is outlined and compared with results from the field performance study. A proposed new design procedure is developed based on modification of current design procedures. Significant modifications are made in the following areas: (1) The use of cohesive backfill material, (2) Lateral earth pressure computations, and (3) Stability against overturning computations. The proposed new design procedure should be verified by additional field performance studies on walls with different proportions that are founded on and backfilled with different types of soils. Recommendations for the instrumentation program of future field studies are given.