Retaining Wall with height variation
Retaining Wall with height variation
(OP)
I have to design a CIP cantilever retaining wall which height varies along with the terrain. How do I account for the different heights when designing the various components of the wall (stem, heel, toe)? Should I design for the worst case and keep that design through out the whole length of the wall?
RE: Retaining Wall with height variation
RE: Retaining Wall with height variation
RE: Retaining Wall with height variation
RE: Retaining Wall with height variation
I like to debate structural engineering theory -- a lot. If I challenge you on something, know that I'm doing so because I respect your opinion enough to either change it or adopt it.
RE: Retaining Wall with height variation
RE: Retaining Wall with height variation
RE: Retaining Wall with height variation
RE: Retaining Wall with height variation
RE: Retaining Wall with height variation
* Short wall where the footing is only 12" wider than the wall (6" on each side of wall, no heel, no toe)
* Intermediate wall where short wall doesn't work, but tall wall is not required
* Tall wall for the worst case
DaveAtkins
RE: Retaining Wall with height variation
RE: Retaining Wall with height variation
RE: Retaining Wall with height variation
And, yes, you can design one part to work as a gravity wall and one part as a cantilevered wall. The wall wont care, just as long as the total combined wall can't fail in overturning or sliding. I'd keep local bearing pressures roughly the same down the length of the wall to avoid differential settlement issues.
As for the design; unless it's a fairly long wall I'd design it to be 100% typical. This way the contractor can get an assembly line setup going bending the bars and cutting them to the rough length. Then, when in the form or when placing them they can trim to the exact length. This will likely make things much faster and easier for them (thus cheaper) and will not cost too much more in rebar. Saves on your design time as well.
Edit: Just saw that you said this was a 300 ft wall. That's long enough in my mind to easily justify multiple sections. I'd clearly define the cutoff point for a wall detail (e.g. this wall detail good up to X ft in height of backfill), and leave the language and design open so that the contractor can choose when to carry a detail down the remaining length of the wall.
Professional Engineer (ME, NH, MA) Structural Engineer (IL)
American Concrete Industries
www.americanconcrete.com
RE: Retaining Wall with height variation