Section forces (Retaining Wall)

Section forces are calculated for the loads, dead weight and earth pressures affecting the retaining wall. Two earth pressure types are considered. The surcharge load can be removed partially to consider dangerous force combinations.

Section forces in the wall

The section forces are calculated with regard to the walls system line with positive directions according to the figure.

Section forces from load at the wall top, dead load wall and earth pressure from dead load fill and surcharge load are summarized.

Section forces from earth pressure can arise from the fill adjacent to the wall or alternatively from earth pressure against failure surface which propagates through the back fill.

Section forces in the slab

Toe

The toe is affected partly from the ground pressure and partly from the dead weight of toe and fill.

Heel

For Earth pressure against failure surface the heel is affected partly from the ground pressure and partly from surcharge load at the fill between wall and the failure section, partly from earth pressure against the failure section from dead load of the fill and surcharge load and partly from dead load slab and fill between plate and the failure section.

For earth pressure adjacent to the wall with a sliding surface as in the figure the heel is affected partly by the ground pressure, partly by the surcharge load on the fill between the sliding surface and the end of the slab, and partly from the resulting forces R in the sliding surface which affects the heel and partly from dead load slab and fill between the slab and the sliding surface. The resulting force R is the force that balances the earth pressure and the weight of the fill and the surcharge load situated between the wall and the sliding surface.