Earth Pressure and Retaining Wall Basics for Non-Geotechnical Engineers
PDHonline Course C155 (2 PDH)
Earth Pressure and Retaining Wall Basics for Non-Geotechnical Engineers
Instructor: Richard P. Weber, P.E.
2012
PDH Online | PDH Center
5272 Meadow Estates Drive Fairfax, VA 22030-6658 Phone & Fax: 703-988-0088 www.PDHonline.org www.PDHcenter.com
An Approved Continuing Education Provider
www.PDHcenter.com
PDH Course C155
www.PDHonline.org
Earth Pressure and Retaining Wall Basics for Non-Geotechnical Engineers
Richard P. Weber
Course Content
Content Section 1 Retaining walls are structures that support backfill and allow for a change of grade. For instance a retaining wall can be used to retain fill along a slope or it can be used to support a cut into a slope as illustrated in Figure 1.
Fill
Retaining Wall to Support a Fill.
Cut
Retaining Wall to Support a Cut.
Figure 1 – Example of Retaining Walls Retaining wall structures can be gravity type structures, semi-gravity type structures, cantilever type structures, and counterfort type structures. Walls might be constructed from materials such as fieldstone, reinforced concrete, gabions, reinforced earth, steel and timber. Each of these walls must be designed to resist the external forces applied to the wall from earth pressure, surcharge load, water, earthquake etc. Prior to completing any retaining wall design, it is first necessary to calculate the forces acting on the wall.
Page 1 of 20
www.PDHcenter.com
PDH Course C155
www.PDHonline.org
This course is not intended to be exhaustive nor does it discuss a wide range of surcharge loads or other lateral forces that might also act on a wall such as earthquake. There are many textbooks and publications that explain loading conditions in depth including: • • • Foundations and Earth Structures, NAVFAC, Design Manual 7.2 Retaining and Flood Walls, Technical Engineering and Design Guides As Adapted from The US Army Corps Of Engineers, No. 4, ASCE Standard Specifications for
Earth Pressure and Retaining Wall Basics for Non-Geotechnical Engineers
Instructor: Richard P. Weber, P.E.
2012
PDH Online | PDH Center
5272 Meadow Estates Drive Fairfax, VA 22030-6658 Phone & Fax: 703-988-0088 www.PDHonline.org www.PDHcenter.com
An Approved Continuing Education Provider
www.PDHcenter.com
PDH Course C155
www.PDHonline.org
Earth Pressure and Retaining Wall Basics for Non-Geotechnical Engineers
Richard P. Weber
Course Content
Content Section 1 Retaining walls are structures that support backfill and allow for a change of grade. For instance a retaining wall can be used to retain fill along a slope or it can be used to support a cut into a slope as illustrated in Figure 1.
Fill
Retaining Wall to Support a Fill.
Cut
Retaining Wall to Support a Cut.
Figure 1 – Example of Retaining Walls Retaining wall structures can be gravity type structures, semi-gravity type structures, cantilever type structures, and counterfort type structures. Walls might be constructed from materials such as fieldstone, reinforced concrete, gabions, reinforced earth, steel and timber. Each of these walls must be designed to resist the external forces applied to the wall from earth pressure, surcharge load, water, earthquake etc. Prior to completing any retaining wall design, it is first necessary to calculate the forces acting on the wall.
Page 1 of 20
www.PDHcenter.com
PDH Course C155
www.PDHonline.org
This course is not intended to be exhaustive nor does it discuss a wide range of surcharge loads or other lateral forces that might also act on a wall such as earthquake. There are many textbooks and publications that explain loading conditions in depth including: • • • Foundations and Earth Structures, NAVFAC, Design Manual 7.2 Retaining and Flood Walls, Technical Engineering and Design Guides As Adapted from The US Army Corps Of Engineers, No. 4, ASCE Standard Specifications for