Comparative Analysis of Cantilever Retaining Wall with and without Column

Abstract

Retaining walls play a crucial role in civil engineering projects, providing stability to soil, preventing erosion, and mitigating landslides. To design and analyse these walls effectively, a profound understanding of soil mechanics, structural engineering principles, and various wall configurations is required. One notable configuration is the Cantilever Retaining Wall, which is known for its simplicity and effectiveness in resisting lateral earth pressures. However, for taller retaining walls, incorporating a column has shown potential in achieving greater cost-efficiency. This research aims to conduct a comprehensive analysis of cantilever retaining walls, comparing those with and without a column system. The study utilizes manual calculations, as well as software tools like STAAD Pro and Excel spreadsheets, for design optimization. Adherence to the guidelines specified in the Indian Standard IS 456:2000 for reinforced concrete structures ensures compliance with industry standards. The research involves a thorough examination and design of both the Cantilever Retaining Wall (CRw) and the Column Cantilever Retaining Wall (CCRw), considering a 35-meter span and heights ranging from 3 to 9 meters. Through a comprehensive evaluation of construction costs, this study concludes that the CCRw configuration offers superior cost-effectiveness compared to the CRw configuration.

Introduction

I. INTRODUCTION

A retaining wall is an essential construction element that provides support and containment for soil or other substances at different elevations. It has widespread application across the construction industry, serving to prevent erosion, control slopes, and create level surfaces on uneven terrain. Retaining walls are commonly found in residential, commercial, and infrastructure projects.

The primary purpose of a retaining wall is to withstand the lateral pressure exerted by the retained soil or substances. Without a retaining wall, soil naturally tends to move downward due to gravity, leading to slope instability, erosion, and potential damage to nearby structures. By constructing a retaining wall, the soil is effectively confined and prevented from sliding or collapsing.

During the design of a retaining wall, several factors must be considered, including the type of soil being retained, the wall's height and slope, drainage conditions, and anticipated loads and forces acting on the wall. Engineers and architects utilize principles of structural analysis to determine the appropriate dimensions, reinforcement, and construction techniques necessary to ensure the stability and durability of the retaining wall.

A. Types Of Retaining Walls

1. Gravity Retaining Wall
2. Semi-gravity Retaining Wall
3. Cantilever Retaining Walls.
4. Counterfort Retaining walls.
5. Buttressed Retaining walls.

II. COLUMN CANTILEVER RETAINING WALL

The Column Cantilever Retaining Wall (CCRw) is a type of retaining wall that incorporates columns at fixed intervals along its length. In comparison to regular Cantilever Retaining Walls (CRw), the moment values in the "X" direction are lower, while the "Y" direction experiences higher moments. In CRw, only the minimum required steel reinforcement is provided based on the wall's cross-sectional area.

By introducing columns within the stem of the wall, the "Mx" value (moment in the X direction) is increased, while the "My" value (moment in the Y direction) is decreased. This allows for the transfer of certain moments to the columns. Despite the provision of additional columns compared to a conventional cantilever retaining walls, cost savings are achieved by reducing the amount of reinforcement required in the stem.

III. METHODOLOGY

The research methodology employed in this study combines manual calculations, analysis using STAAD Pro software, and the development of Excel design spreadsheets to examine efficient design approaches for retaining walls while adhering to the guidelines outlined in IS 456:2000.

The length of the wall considered in the research is 35 meters. A manual analysis of the Cantilever Retaining Wall (CRw) with a height of 4.5 meters is conducted, considering relevant checks specified in the IS 456:2000 code, such as overturning, stability, tension and shear, and bearing pressure. Excel spreadsheets are prepared to facilitate the design process.

The model analysis includes the following:

1. Cantilever Retaining Wall (CRw) at different heights: 3 meters, 4.5 meters, 6 meters, 7.5 meters, and 9 meters.
2. Column Cantilever Retaining Wall (CCRw) at the same heights as mentioned above.

In the CCRw configuration, columns are introduced at 3.5-meter intervals. Both types of walls are analysed using the designed Excel spreadsheets and STAAD Pro software. The analysis results obtained from STAAD Pro for each height are compared with the analysis results of both types of retaining walls. The output from STAAD Pro is then utilized in the Excel program for design based on the Limit State method. The quantities of concrete and steel are calculated using the designed Excel sheet, and the results are compared.

By employing this methodology, the study aims to gain insights into the design optimization of cantilever retaining walls and the potential benefits of incorporating a column system, while ensuring compliance with relevant standards and codes.

Conclusion

Based on the conducted study, the following conclusions have been derived by comparing the manual bending moment results of the retaining wall with and without a column to the results obtained from STAAD Pro: 1) The maximum reduction in the moment along the Y axis is approximately 6-7% when a column is introduced in a traditional cantilever retaining wall. 2) The study reveals that the construction cost can be reduced by 6-7% when a column is utilized instead of a conventional cantilever retaining wall.

References

[1] Tamadher Abood, Hatem E.Younis Eldawi2-2015 “Design of Cantilever Retaining Wall with 4m Height” International Journal of Civil and Structural Engineering Research ISSN 2348-7607 Issue 1. [2] Sepehr Rezaeimalek4; and A. T. Papagiannakis, Ph.D., P.E., F. ASCE5, “Tie back Retaining Wall in High Plasticity Expansive Soil” DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)CF.1943-5509.0000955. © 2016 ASCE V. [3] Nandha Kumar and C.R. Suribabu-2018, “Optimal design of cantilever retaining wall using differential evolution algorithm.” [4] Vikram Anand, A Krishnamoorthy-2017, “Analysis on impact of height criterion on the performance of vee-type folded plate cantilever retaining wall.” [5] Kwangkuk Ahn and Hongsig Kang-2015, “Behavior of Reinforced Retaining Walls with Different Reinforcement Spacing during Vehicle Collisions” Department of Civil Engineering, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju. [6] S.S Patil, A.A.R.Bagban – 2015, “analysis and design of reinforced concrete stepped cantilever retaining wall” IJRET: International Journal of Research in Engineering and Technology eISSN: 2319-1163 | pISSN: 2321-7308 [7] Mohammed A. Gabr, “Comparison of three retaining wall condition” DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)IS.1943-555X.0000403. © 2017 ASCE [8] Himanshu Jiwankar, Niraj Mahule, Rutvik Jichkar, Vaibhav Dahiwale, Kuldeep Dabhekar, Isha Khedikar and Rahul Agrawal, “Comparative analysis of cantilever retaining wall and retaining wall with relieving platform.” Doi:10.1088/1755-1315/822/1/012027 [9] IS 456:2000, Indian Standard of plain and reinforced concrete code of practice. [10] Bhavikatti S. S. “Advance RCC Design” Volume III Published by New Age International Publishers. [11] Punamia B.C.,Jain Ashok Kumar, Jain Arun Kumar, “RCC Designs” Published by, Laxmi Publications (P) LTD.

Copyright

Copyright © 2023 Naman Mishra, Anubhav Rai. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.