Retaining Wall Relieving Shelf

[DTS419]

I need to use a relieving shelf on a cantilever retaining wall to interrupt the lateral soil pressure. The question is, how far out from the wall does the shelf need to extend to achieve interruption of the soil pressure diagram? Is there a rule of thumb, a function of soil property, etc...?

 

[civilperson]

Please explain what you propose and the theory of how it works.