Retaining Wall Stability Design Check
(NSCP 2015)
1. Project Information
Wall Height (H): 3.6 m
Concrete Strength (f'c): 20.70 MPa
Rebar Yield Strength (fy): 276 MPa
Soil Density (γ): 18.00 kN/m³
Soil Bearing Capacity (SDA): 150.00 kPa
Friction Angle (ϕ): 30°
Wall Thickness (Top/Bottom): 0.20 m
Footing Thickness: 0.40 m
Heel Length: 1.3 m
Toe Length: 0 m
Type of Analysis: At Rest
Coefficient of Earth Pressure (k₀): 0.50
Factor of Safety - Sliding: 1.50
Factor of Safety - Overturning: 2.00
Surcharge Load: 10 kPa
Passive Resistance Depth: 2.0 m
Main Vertical Bar: 16 mm
Wall Longitudinal and Horizontal Bar: 12 mm
2. Earth Pressure Calculation (At-Rest Condition)
• Coefficient of earth pressure at rest: k₀ = 0.50
• Wall height H = 3.6 m
• Soil unit weight γ = 18.00 kN/m³
Lateral earth pressure due to backfill (triangular distribution):
Pₐ = (1/2) × k₀ × γ × H²
Pₐ = (1/2) × 0.50 × 18 × (3.6)² = 58.32 kN/m
Lateral earth pressure due to surcharge (uniform):
P_q = k₀ × q × H = 0.50 × 10 × 3.6 = 18.00 kN/m
Total lateral pressure:
P_total = Pₐ + P_q = 58.32 + 18.00 = 76.32 kN/m
3. Sliding Check
Calculate resisting force due to wall weight and friction:
Assume unit width of wall (1.0 m)
Wall weight: W_wall = 0.20 × 3.6 × 1.0 × 24 = 17.28 kN/m
Footing weight: W_footing = 0.40 × 1.5 × 1.0 × 24 = 14.4 kN/m
Soil above heel: W_soil = 1.3 × 0.4 × 1.0 × 18 = 9.36 kN/m
Total vertical load W = 17.28 + 14.4 + 9.36 = 41.04 kN/m
Frictional resistance: F_r = W × tan(ϕ)
F_r = 41.04 × tan(30°) = 23.7 kN/m
Factor of Safety against Sliding:
FS = F_r / P_total = 23.7 / 76.32 = 0.31 ❌ FAIL
Including Passive Resistance (2 m depth):
P_p = (1/2) × Ka × γ × h² = 0.5 × 0.33 × 18 × 2² = 11.88 kN/m
Total resistance = 23.7 + 11.88 = 35.58 kN/m
FS = 35.58 / 76.32 = 0.47 ❌ FAIL
4. Overturning Check
Overturning moment due to earth pressure:
Mo = Pₐ × H/3 = 58.32 × 1.2 = 69.98 kNm
Mo (surcharge) = P_q × H/2 = 18 × 1.8 = 32.4 kNm
Total Mo = 69.98 + 32.4 = 102.38 kNm
Resisting Moment due to weights:
Wall weight moment = 17.28 × 0.75 = 12.96 kNm
Footing weight moment = 14.4 × 0.75 = 10.8 kNm
Soil above heel = 9.36 × (1.3 + 0.65) = 25.27 kNm
Total Mr = 12.96 + 10.8 + 25.27 = 49.03 kNm
FS = Mr / Mo = 49.03 / 102.38 = 0.48 ❌ FAIL
5. Bearing Pressure and Eccentricity
Base width B = Heel + Toe = 1.3 + 0 = 1.3 m
Net Moment = Mr - Mo = 49.03 - 102.38 = -53.35 kNm
Eccentricity e = M_net / W = 53.35 / 41.04 = 1.30 m
Allowable e ≤ B/6 = 1.3 / 6 = 0.217 m ❌ FAIL
Bearing pressure q_max = (W / B) × (1 + 6e/B)
= (41.04 / 1.3) × (1 + 6 × 1.3 / 1.3) = 31.57 × (1 + 6) = 221 kPa > 150 kPa ❌ FAIL
6. Stem Design (Flexural Check)
Assume triangular pressure distribution due to backfill and uniform surcharge.
Maximum Moment:
M_max = (k₀ × γ × H³) / 6 + (k₀ × q × H²) / 2
= (0.5 × 18 × 3.6³) / 6 + (0.5 × 10 × 3.6²) / 2
= 70.06 + 32.4 = 102.46 kNm
Use 16 mm bars. Effective depth:
d = 3600 mm - 50 mm concrete cover - 8 mm (bar radius) ≈ 3542 mm
Required As and spacing to be computed based on this moment.
7. Heel Design (Slab Design)
Heel is assumed to act as a 1-way slab loaded by soil.
Soil pressure q = W_soil / heel length
q = 9.36 / 1.3 ≈ 7.2 kPa
Assume simply supported slab:
Mu = q × l² / 2 = 7.2 × (1.3)² / 2 = 6.1 kNm/m
Use 16 mm bars, check spacing based on calculated moment.
8. Summary of Results
Check Result
Earth Pressure ✅ OK
Sliding ❌ FAIL
Overturning ❌ FAIL
Bearing ❌ FAIL
Eccentricity ❌ FAIL
Stem & Heel Design Needs Reinforcement Check
