The University of Southampton
University of Southampton Institutional Repository

Mobilisable strength design for flexible embedded retaining walls

Mobilisable strength design for flexible embedded retaining walls
Mobilisable strength design for flexible embedded retaining walls
Soil–structure interaction may have an important influence on the behaviour of embedded retaining
walls, affecting both wall bending moments and ground movements. However, it can be difficult and
time consuming to capture in design, especially in a way that gives a physical insight into the key
behavioural mechanisms involved. A calculation procedure has been developed for retaining walls
propped near the crest that takes into account both the non-linearity of the stress–strain behaviour of
the soil and the flexibility of the wall. Results for different pore water pressure conditions, soil
strengths and soil and wall stiffnesses are presented in the form of look-up charts, and are compared
with those derived from factored limit equilibrium analyses. A dimensionless parameter is introduced
to represent the relative soil–wall stiffness, and its importance is demonstrated. A critical flexibility
ratio is identified at which the bending moments start to reduce below those given by a conventional
limit equilibrium calculation. This ratio is linked to the wall deflection, and is used to distinguish a
stiff from a flexible system in soils of different strengths and pore water pressure conditions. The
approach is discussed in relation to previous studies.
0016-8505
95-106
Diakoumi, M.
d543a64e-49cb-4e51-8e71-2dba317e2822
Powrie, W.
600c3f02-00f8-4486-ae4b-b4fc8ec77c3c
Diakoumi, M.
d543a64e-49cb-4e51-8e71-2dba317e2822
Powrie, W.
600c3f02-00f8-4486-ae4b-b4fc8ec77c3c

Diakoumi, M. and Powrie, W. (2013) Mobilisable strength design for flexible embedded retaining walls. Géotechnique, 63 (2), 95-106. (doi:10.1680/geot.11.P044).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Soil–structure interaction may have an important influence on the behaviour of embedded retaining
walls, affecting both wall bending moments and ground movements. However, it can be difficult and
time consuming to capture in design, especially in a way that gives a physical insight into the key
behavioural mechanisms involved. A calculation procedure has been developed for retaining walls
propped near the crest that takes into account both the non-linearity of the stress–strain behaviour of
the soil and the flexibility of the wall. Results for different pore water pressure conditions, soil
strengths and soil and wall stiffnesses are presented in the form of look-up charts, and are compared
with those derived from factored limit equilibrium analyses. A dimensionless parameter is introduced
to represent the relative soil–wall stiffness, and its importance is demonstrated. A critical flexibility
ratio is identified at which the bending moments start to reduce below those given by a conventional
limit equilibrium calculation. This ratio is linked to the wall deflection, and is used to distinguish a
stiff from a flexible system in soils of different strengths and pore water pressure conditions. The
approach is discussed in relation to previous studies.

Text
__soton.ac.uk_UDE_PersonalFiles_Users_wp_mydocuments_POWRIE2_My papers pdf's_Mobilisable strength design for flexible embedded retaining walls.pdf - Version of Record
Download (254kB)

More information

Published date: February 2013
Organisations: Infrastructure Group

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 352077
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/352077
ISSN: 0016-8505
PURE UUID: 6c5c337a-be5b-43eb-baa0-974f32c82257
ORCID for W. Powrie: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-2271-0826

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 02 May 2013 09:33
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 02:48

Export record

Altmetrics

Contributors

Author: M. Diakoumi
Author: W. Powrie ORCID iD

Download statistics

Downloads from ePrints over the past year. Other digital versions may also be available to download e.g. from the publisher's website.

View more statistics

Atom RSS 1.0 RSS 2.0

Contact ePrints Soton: eprints@soton.ac.uk

ePrints Soton supports OAI 2.0 with a base URL of http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/cgi/oai2

This repository has been built using EPrints software, developed at the University of Southampton, but available to everyone to use.

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue without changing your settings, we will assume that you are happy to receive cookies on the University of Southampton website.

×