SEISMIC DESIGN OF RETAINING WALLS

Field evidence of the behaviour of retaining walls in recent earthquak es has continued to show a wide range of performance, implying that de spite widespread adoption of force-based design approaches, these may be inadequate to define a comprehensive design method or process, The background and limitations of force-based and displacement approaches are discussed in the light of the Japanese experience following the Hy ogo-ken Nambu (Kobe) earthquake in 1995, where a large proportion of c aisson walls throughout the port of Kobe were severely damaged, The na ture of seismically induced wall displacement is described and techniq ues are outlined for use in design, A comprehensive model for the seis mic design process for retaining walls is proposed.