Trouser
Structural
- Jan 31, 2011
- 19
I have been asked to evaluate the feasibility of the attached retaining wall section for a DOT highway project. The wall will be retaining earth above a highway and will be supporting traffic (i.e. business parking lots).
Sliding is the controlling scenario. Frictional resistance is minimal along the sidewalk due to the relatively small normal force (no soil). An equivalent live load surcharge of 2 feet of soil is applied to these walls per AASHTO. The shear key provides additional passive resistance, but needs to be excessively large due to the fact that the key is also subject to the live load surchage. A factor of 0.5 is applied to the passive pressure resitance on the key and the live load surcharge is multiplied by the active earth pressure coefficient of ~0.3.
Does the live load surcharge apply to the shear key if it is moved to the center of the side walk?
Sliding is the controlling scenario. Frictional resistance is minimal along the sidewalk due to the relatively small normal force (no soil). An equivalent live load surcharge of 2 feet of soil is applied to these walls per AASHTO. The shear key provides additional passive resistance, but needs to be excessively large due to the fact that the key is also subject to the live load surchage. A factor of 0.5 is applied to the passive pressure resitance on the key and the live load surcharge is multiplied by the active earth pressure coefficient of ~0.3.
Does the live load surcharge apply to the shear key if it is moved to the center of the side walk?
