Abstract:
Gravity retaining walls derive their capacity to resist lateral movement through the dead weight
of the wall. The design methodologies proposed by standards do not take into account the construction
sequences that simulate the process by which the soil and retaining wall are brought together. However, in
reality, at least during the backfilling process, the retaining wall undergoes many displacements that are not so
far considered in the design. In this investigation, effect of construction sequences in the gravity retaining
walls with different shapes is investigated with the help of finite element method. Two different construction
sequences, namely the backfilling after wall construction and the backfilling parallel to wall construction, are
compared for different wall shape models. Lateral displacement of the bottom and the top of the wall is plotted
for each model and construction sequence with construction stages. Bearing pressure distribution, lateral earth
pressure and failure wedge angle are summarized and compared with design values. Each wall showed
different behavior for each of the construction sequences. Back filling after wall construction minimizes the
sliding failure and bearing pressure. Overturning failure could be reduced by backfilling parallel to wall
construction. However, it was observed that, comparatively, backfilling after wall construction is more effective
than backfilling parallel to wall construction, suggesting that proper selection of construction method also
may reduce negative effects on the wall stability.
Citation:
Sanjei, C., & De Silva, L.I.N. (2015). Effect of construction sequence on the behaviour of gravity type retaining wall. In M.T.P. Hettiarachchi (Ed.), Proceedings of the Civil Engineering Research Symposium 2015 (pp. 1-4). Department of Civil Engineering, University of Moratuwa.