lateral pressure dist.

[soils212]

Any references for limiting values of lateral pressure for high retaining walls. possibly triangular dist. transitioning to uniform loading to base of wall. Wall height 26 to 30 feet.

 

[spats]

No such a thing, as far as I'm aware. Pressure increases linearly with depth, PERIOD. Think in terms of a sliding wedge.

 

[PMR06]

I am also not aware of purely cantilevered wall having a soil pressure distribution other than triangular. However, search for the California DOT Trenching and Shoring Manual (free PDF). They discuss triangular distributions for flexible walls (i.e. purely cantilevered), and rectangular or trapezoidal distributions for restrained walls (i.e. struts or tiebacks). Maybe something in there will be of help.

 

[msquared48]

In at least one special circumstance, that can happen - if there are two walls back to back retaining earth in between, and the height of fill is less than the distance between the two walls to put it simplistically. Depends on the phi angle from the base too, or the sliding arc, with the applied pressure determined by a Geotech.

I have seen the same triangular distribution to a specific depth, then uniform below applied in soldier pile and tieback walls, plus soil nailed wall design, all in specific soils reports by a licensed Geotech.

So, the answer is there is no general rule, but can happen in specific circumstances as identified in Geotechnical reports.

Mike McCann
McCann Engineering