Retaining wall design (Eurocode workflow) — full calculation report

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H = 4.00 mt_stem,top = 0.25 mtoe = 0.80 mt_stem,bot = 0.45 mheel = 1.40 mB = 2.60 mt_base = 0.45 m
Figure 1 — Retaining wall geometry (schematic)
topbasep_base ≈ 27.3 kPa
Figure 2 — Lateral pressure diagram (schematic, includes Ka·γ·z + Ka·q + water if enabled)

1) Inputs

Item Symbol Value Units / Notes
Retained height H 4.00 m
Base width B 2.60 m
Toe length L_toe 0.80 m
Heel length L_heel 1.40 m
Base thickness t_base 0.45 m
Stem thickness (top / bottom) t_stem 0.25 / 0.45 m
Soil unit weight \(\gamma\) 18.00 kN/m³
Soil friction angle \(\varphi'\) 30.0 deg
Cohesion (effective) \(c'\) 0.0 kPa (often 0 for granular)
Surcharge \(q\) 10.0 kPa
Water enabled - False 0/1
Water height behind wall \(h_w\) 0.00 m (clamped to H)
Concrete unit weight \(\gamma_c\) 24.00 kN/m³
Base friction \(\mu\) 0.500 [-]
Passive enabled - False 0/1
Embedment depth (front) \(D_f\) 0.80 m
Passive reduction factor - 0.50 [-]
Allowable bearing check - True 0/1
Allowable bearing pressure \(q_{allow}\) 200.0 kPa
Factors on actions - γE=1.35, γQ=1.50, γW=1.35
Stabilizing weight factor - γG,stab=1.00
Resistance factors - γR,slide=1.00, γR,OT=1.00, γR,bear=1.00
Concrete strength \(f_{ck}\) 30 MPa
Rebar yield strength \(f_{yk}\) 500 MPa
Partial factors (EC2) - γc=1.50, γs=1.15
Nominal cover - 50 mm
Assumed bar diameter - 16 mm
Minimum steel ratio \(\rho_{min}\) 0.00130 [-]

Note Geometry check: toe + heel + t_stem_bot = 2.650 m, but B input = 2.600 m (Δ=-0.050 m). The calculation uses your B for bearing footprint.


2) Earth pressure (Rankine active)

\[K_a=\tan^2\left(45^\circ-\frac{\varphi'}{2}\right)\]

\[K_a=\tan^2\left(45^\circ-\frac{30.0^\circ}2\right)=0.3333\]

Horizontal soil pressure distribution (effective):

\[\sigma_h(z)=K_a\gamma z\]

Computed resultant (numerical integration): E_soil = 48.00 kN/m, acting at y = 1.33 m above base.

Surcharge lateral pressure:

\[\sigma_{h,q}=K_a q,\quad E_q=\sigma_{h,q}H\]

\[\sigma_{h,q}=0.3333\times 10.0=3.33\ \text{kPa},\quad E_q=3.33\times 4.00=13.33\ \text{kN/m}\]

Acts at y = H/2 = 2.00 m above base.

Water pressure not included.

Earth pressure summary

Component Resultant (kN/m) Lever arm y (m) Moment about toe (kNm/m)
Soil (active) 48.00 1.33 64.00
Surcharge 13.33 2.00 26.67
Water 0.00 0.00 0.00
Total (characteristic) 61.33 - 90.67
Total (design / factored) 84.80 - 126.40

3) Vertical loads (self-weight + soil over heel)

Computed per meter run. Centroid lever arms measured from toe.

Component Area (m² per m) Weight (kN/m) Lever arm x from toe (m) Moment about toe (kNm/m)
Stem (avg thickness) 1.400 33.60 1.03 34.44
Base slab 1.170 28.08 1.30 36.50
Soil over heel 5.600 100.80 1.95 196.56
Soil over toe (optional) - 0.00 0.40 0.00
Total (characteristic) - 162.48 - 267.50
Total (design / stabilizing) - 162.48 - 267.50

4) Stability checks

4.1 Sliding

\[R_{fric,d}=\frac{\mu V_d}{\gamma_{R,slide}},\quad R_{slide,d}=R_{fric,d}+E_{p,d}\]

\[R_{fric,d}=\frac{0.500\times 162.48}{1.00}=81.24\ \text{kN/m}\]

\[E_{p,d}=\frac{E_{p,k}}{\gamma_{R,slide}}=\frac{0.00}{1.00}=0.00\ \text{kN/m}\]

\[R_{slide,d}=81.24\ \text{kN/m};\quad H_d=84.80\ \text{kN/m};\quad util=1.044\]

Driving Hd = 84.80 kN/m
Resistance Rslide,d = 81.24 kN/m
NOT OK (util=1.044)

4.2 Overturning about toe

\[util_{OT}=\frac{M_{drive,d}}{M_{resist,d}} \le 1.0\]

\[M_{drive,d}=126.40\ \text{kNm/m},\quad M_{resist,d}=\frac{M_{stab,d}}{\gamma_{R,OT}}=\frac{267.50}{1.00}=267.50\ \text{kNm/m}\]

Mdrive,d = 126.40 kNm/m
Mresist,d = 267.50 kNm/m
OK (util=0.473)

4.3 Resultant location, eccentricity, and base pressures

\[x_R=\frac{M_{net,d}}{V_d},\quad e=\frac{B}{2}-x_R,\quad |e|\le\frac{B}{6}\ \text{(no tension)}\]

\[M_{net,d}=M_{stab,d}-M_{drive,d}=267.50-126.40=141.10\ \text{kNm/m}\]

\[x_R=\frac{141.10}{162.48}=0.868\ \text{m from toe},\quad e=0.432\ \text{m}\]

|e| = 0.432 m
B/6 = 0.433 m
OK

\[q_{avg}=\frac{V_d}{B},\quad q_{max/min}=q_{avg}\left(1\pm\frac{6e}{B}\right)\]

\[q_{avg}=\frac{162.48}{2.60}=62.49\ \text{kPa}\]

\[q_{max}=124.73\ \text{kPa},\quad q_{min}=0.26\ \text{kPa}\]

\[util_{bear}=\frac{q_{max}}{q_{allow}/\gamma_{R,bear}}\]

\[util_{bear}=\frac{124.73}{200.0/1.00}=0.624\]

qmax = 124.73 kPa (and qmin≥0)
qallow/γR = 200.00 kPa
OK (util=0.624)

5) RC design (EC2 simplified bending design)

This section designs required reinforcement per meter run using a simplified bending model: As = M/(fyd·z), with z ≈ 0.9d. You can refine with full EC2 section analysis if needed.

5.1 Design strengths

\[f_{cd}=\frac{f_{ck}}{\gamma_c},\quad f_{yd}=\frac{f_{yk}}{\gamma_s}\]

\[f_{cd}=\frac{30}{1.50}=20.00\ \text{MPa},\quad f_{yd}=\frac{500}{1.15}=434.78\ \text{MPa}\]

5.2 Stem reinforcement at base (cantilever wall)

Design moment at stem base from factored lateral pressures:

\[M_{Ed,stem}=126.40\ \text{kNm/m}\]

Effective depth (assumed):

\[d\approx t_{stem,bot}-cover-\phi/2=450-50-16/2=392.0\ \text{mm}\]

\[As_{req}=\frac{M_{Ed}}{f_{yd} z},\quad z\approx0.9d\]

\[As_{req}=\frac{126.40\times10^6}{434.78\times (0.9\times392.0)}=824.0\ \text{mm}^2/\text{m}\]

\[As_{min}=\rho_{min} b d=0.00130\times 1000\times 392.0=509.6\ \text{mm}^2/\text{m}\]

Provide: As,stem = 824.0 mm²/m (max of required and minimum).

5.3 Base slab reinforcement (toe and heel cantilevers)

Toe/heel are designed as cantilever strips from the stem face using net upward pressure (soil reaction minus downward surcharge/self-weight terms).

\[M_{Ed,toe}=30.33\ \text{kNm/m},\quad M_{Ed,heel}=0.00\ \text{kNm/m}\]

\[d\approx t_{base}-cover-\phi/2=450-50-16/2=392.0\ \text{mm}\]

\[As_{req}=\frac{M_{Ed}}{f_{yd} z},\quad z\approx0.9d\]

\[As_{req,toe}=197.7\ \text{mm}^2/\text{m},\quad As_{req,heel}=0.0\ \text{mm}^2/\text{m}\]

\[As_{min}=\rho_{min} b d=509.6\ \text{mm}^2/\text{m}\]

Provide toe main steel: As,toe = 509.6 mm²/m

Provide heel main steel: As,heel = 509.6 mm²/m


6) Summary

Check / Output Value
Ka (Rankine active) 0.3333
Design horizontal driving Hd (kN/m) 84.80
Sliding utilization 1.044
Overturning utilization 0.473
Eccentricity e (m) 0.432
No-tension condition |e| ≤ B/6 OK
Design base pressure qmax / qmin (kPa) 124.73 / 0.26
Bearing check OK (util=0.624)
Stem base moment MEd (kNm/m) 126.40
Stem steel As provided (mm²/m) 824.0
Toe steel As provided (mm²/m) 509.6
Heel steel As provided (mm²/m) 509.6

Equations rendered using MathJax. This report is intended as a clear calculation record; you can tune partial factors, passive assumptions, and detailed EC7/EC2 clause settings per project/NA.

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