Good luck finding a program since a classic dry stone wall is more of a craft or art, unless it is a high wall where the geotech/soils engineer can provide reinforcement for a reinforced soil block behind a stone veneer the the stone protects.
Some of the many retaining wall computer programs provided by the SRW block manufacturers/licensers could be used if you understand the parameters and the soil conditions for a high wall (6' to 40'). - You will have to find a way to created and anchorage for geo-grid to the dry stack wall veneer that has unknown shear strength.
Engineer and international traveler interested in construction techniques, problems and proper design.
The folks I know who do this kind of work design the soil portion for shear stability using software. Walls are always at half as thick as they are tall, and extend as far as needed under ground to stabilize the underlying soil mass.
Are you looking for something to design the rock wall itself? If so, I agree with it being more of an art or craft. Anything more slender than 2:1 (height to thickness) might be asking for trouble.
There used to be a design for ashlar masonry retaining walls in the old "Clay Masonry Manual" (I'm not sure if that's the title) of about 40 years ago... maybe someone on the forum has a copy of it or some library? (ugly green-gray covered book) I used it for the design of a 20' wall in Atlanta about 40 years ago. Wall base was approx 13'-15' wide if memory serves... constructed of granite.
You could possibly use NCMA's SRWall 4.0 which is a general software for segmental walls. You can input any parameters for block size, weight, shear strength, etc. You would have to make some assumptions as to shear strength between units. We do a lot segmental walls but generally stay away from outcropping stone type walls.
Does anyone know a reliable resource to find coefficients of static friction? I am looking for the value for limeston on limestone for the same project I made the original post for. Thank You!
