retaining wall crossing a fault

[reklawmot]

Has anyone heard of how to design a retaining wall that crosses a fault? We all know to avoid it if at all possible, but what if you have to cross the fault? Are there design measures that can be taken? I haven't seen any references for this issue but it seems to me it has to have been done before. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!

TW

 

[structuralaggie]

On a similar note, I had a client that wanted to build a house on a fault. I told them they were nuts.

Sorry I'm not any help. I am curious about this subject as well. I think your wall has a better chance of success than a house, though.

 

[civilperson]

Two methods could be tried:
1) Span the fault with the wall/footing section as a beam that can carry the loads supported at the extreme ends only with both lateral and horizontal loads from Mononobe-Okabe equations, (assume enough movement to realize active pressure).
2) Let the wall be attached at one end and free to slide at the other end (no shear base key beneath the foundation) and use passive pressure on the front face of the toe to resist the horizontal pressures. Thus the wall will pivot about the fixed end as the different sides of the fault move relative to each other and we know which way the relative movement is going.

 

[csd72]

Try to slope the ground so that you can stop the retaining wall some distance either side of the fault (if it is an active fault it WILL move.)

try to use a more flexible alternative such as geosynthetic reinforced earth that (I would think) is more likely to just deform rather than crack.

Check the california highways publications to see if there is anything on this matter. Perhaps contact the local university to see if they know of any research on this matter.

I would treat this investigation very seriously as it is critical that you choose the most appropriate option. It is worth spending a bit of time and money to get the information to get it right.