Retaining Wall Horizontal Reinforcement

[LicensedToPEe]

I have a retaining wall system composing of three 44 ft long walls (2 parallel and 1 perpendicular wall) that are 25 ft high and 2 feet thick. Per ACI 14.3.3, the minimum ratio of horizontal reinforcement area to gross concrete area shall be 0.0025 for bars bigger than No.5. Is this a good way of sizing horizontal reinforcement? Since the middle wall rests against the other two perpendicular walls, active condition cannot develop and certain bulging across the length of the wall might occur. Should the wall be evaluated as a 1ft simple supported beam strip in the horizontal direction? Any ideas and/or references appreciated.

 

[PSlem]

Just increase your geotechnical analysis to Ko pressures and design vertical steel. Then temperature steel for the horizontal will suffice.