Seismic stability of tall retaining walls with traffic surcharge

Abstract

Retaining walls are commonly used in engineering practice for the retaining of soil masses that would otherwise be unstable. However, earthquake induced forces may trigger an instability or cause failure for a retaining wall. This can have major consequences for the case of tall retaining walls subjected to heavy traffic, and is thus the focus of this work. The present paper concentrates on the investigation of earthquake loading on tall retaining walls supported by an anchor force. The combined surcharge and ground motion effects resulting from earthquakes will be examined. A limit equilibrium model approach is used based on Eurocode 7, and the principles of Eurocode 8 with relevance to retaining structures are also adopted. A graphical solution is developed for the practicing engineer for the stability assessment of tall retaining walls under the combined effect of traffic surcharge and earthquake induced motion. Using simple charts, a stability factor is determined for the retaining wall.