Concrete Retaining Wall Design

[SteelPE]

I routinely design cantilever concrete retaining walls. I am often faced with the dilemma of figuring out what, if any, surcharge load I should place behind the wall. I feel that not including any surcharge load is irresponsible because at some point some load will be placed on the high side of the wall. I often include a 100psf or 200psf load depending on what I figure might be placed behind the wall. Recently I have been criticized for this practice by another engineer who says that unless there is to be a large permanent load they use 0psf.

Is this practice of using a surcharge load too conservative? I have always figured that there will be equipment used for back filling the wall or equipment used during routine maintenance of the landscape etc...

 

[dhengr]

Well... I’ll be..., that really takes the cake.