BEHAVIOR OF CANTILEVER RETAINING WALLS

Current methods for retaining wall analysis are based on the classical theoretical formulations of Rankine or Coulomb, with the assumption t hat sufficient lateral yield will occur to mobilize fully active condi tions behind the wall. This leads to relatively simple equations for a ctive pressure distributions. The effects of the deformation parameter s of the backfill and foundation subsoil, construction sequence, wall flexibility and other complex initial conditions are not taken into co nsideration. In this paper the finite element method is employed to in vestigate the behavior of concrete cantilever retaining walls. The ana lyses reveal that the wall and soil movements are of considerable impo rtance in predicting the lateral earth pressures. The results indicate that the lateral pressures acting on the wall stem are generally clos e to the active condition only in the top two-thirds of the wall stem. Based on this study, a simplified design procedure is proposed for es timating the lateral earth pressures in cantilever retaining walls wit h loosely placed backfill.