COMPUTER AIDED ANALYSIS AND DESIGN OF EARTH RETAINING WALL

Abstract

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. In the present study, finite element analysis has been carried out to study the behaviour of cantilever and counterfort retaining walls. Based on the results, a new type of retaining wall is proposed. It is the combination of the cantilever and counterfort walls. The proposed retaining wall has been found to be economical than the other two types of retaining walls. Five retaining walls (i.e. three cantilever retaining walls of heights 5.5 m, 6.5m and 8.5m, one counterfort retaining wall of height 12.5m and one mixed, cantilever and counterfort) are made with the help of ABAQUS CAE. They are analyzed with the earth pressure acting on them. It is found that mixed retaining wall is more economical than full counterfort retaining wall. Two more retaining walls, one of height 10.5 m counterfort and other 5.5 m cantilever are analyzed with the presence of PCC slab on the toe, and is found to be more stable than the retaining wall without PCC.