Modular Block Retaining Wall
Modular Block Retaining Wall
(OP)
I am being asked by the township engineer to add surcharge on a retaining wall next to a residential driveway. I have been looking through manuals, but do not see any standard. What is required as a minimum surcharge load? I already designed it to handle 120 PCF isn't that enough and what regulations do I follow? Help!!!





RE: Modular Block Retaining Wall
I am working on something similar and am just going to go with 250psf at the surface to play it safe.
It seems to me it's all judgement with retaining walls. Quite dishearting if you ask me. These are the things they never teach you in school and then you have to just work your way through in the real world, without any real directions.
RE: Modular Block Retaining Wall
Back it down to at rest or active, depending on what your backfll is and give yourself some breathing room.
RE: Modular Block Retaining Wall
For residential I often use 50 psf superimposed load (design of parkades is for 50 psf). The software includes the effect... sort of treated as an extra foot of soil or whatever. For commercial work I often use 100 psf just to accommodate effects of heavier equipment. If you have a garbage truck parking near the top of the wall you may have difficulties. I assume by the 120 pcf that you are dealing with a granular backfill and using some component of this for active earth pressure?
Dik
RE: Modular Block Retaining Wall
RE: Modular Block Retaining Wall
RE: Modular Block Retaining Wall
The 120 should be capable of providing for the surcharge...
Try running the program with soil types... Allen Block program also allows use of soil parameters...
Dik
RE: Modular Block Retaining Wall
RE: Modular Block Retaining Wall
RE: Modular Block Retaining Wall
Dik
RE: Modular Block Retaining Wall
Are you designing to LRFD or ASD method?
RE: Modular Block Retaining Wall
If you do go through the LABOROUS process of cranking through the elevation and plan views, the output drawings and specs are actually very nice.
But, they included "SECTION 0" in the sections design that is intended to be used for quickie jobs.
I called tech support, and they scheduled a phone call with me. They called me on the specified day, and we worked through a tutorial for about an hour.
Ever since then, I can actually utilize the program. I have even used the cutom block to analyze non-allan block MSE walls.
Craig
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Craig T. Bailey, PE
www.bailey-associates.com