calculating kh from 0.4*SDS 1

[Mina Kromer]

[highlight #EF2929]thread507-418397

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Dear Engineers, I am designing a retaining wall, I need to consider seismic load.

From FEMA 450, calculate the Kh factor. as Kh = Sds/2.5. My question is about ss value, it is given in % of g. for example for Jeddah city it is about 35 (not divided by 100 to become 0.35).

For calculating SMS = Fa*SS, shall I consider the ss as (35/100)*9.81 = 3.4335 or just 35 or 0.35 only.

I searched but I could not find an example to calculate kh.

Thank you

 

[Lomarandil]

You may use 35% (of g) or 0.35

I've always seen examples using 0.35 to avoid later confusion in the calculations, but I suppose the percentage could be carried through.

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just call me Lo.

 

[Mina Kromer]

Yes, I also see examples using 0.35, but are them for calculating kh ?. I could not find an example for calculating kh specifically.

 

[Mina Kromer]

no more answers ?

 

[JoshPlumSE]

I think seismic design of retaining walls is a bit suspect and usually ends up being way over designed. When I do them, I would start with Monobe-Okabe.

An online reference for some of the seismic calculations of a retaining wall:
RetainPro

I really think the Retain Pro manual is the best reference for retaining wall design. It goes into a lot of little details about retaining wall design and gives a pretty good explanation of seismic.