Design Considerations for MSE Retaining Walls Constructed in Confined Spaces

Widening of existing highways often results in new mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) walls being placed in front of existing stable walls. The design of these walls is unique because limited right-of-way often forces the length of the reinforcing strips to be shorter than normally used. This research addressed such walls placed in a confined space. The Plaxis finite element software was used to study the vertical and horizontal stresses in the backfill behind nondeformable walls constructed in a confined space. The vertical stresses were generally found to be less than the computed overburden pressure. A vertical stress influence factor is presented to describe the reduced vertical stresses as a function of the depth below the top of the wall and the wall aspect ratio. Horizontal earth pressures were also found to be less than those for walls that are not in a confined space. A chart was developed for estimating these reduced horizontal stresses. Limit equilibrium analyses were also performed to evaluate the effect of walls being placed in a confined space. Factors of safety computed for noncircular slip surfaces were found to be significantly less than factors of safety computed for circular slip surfaces. Analyses employing noncircular slip surfaces are recommended for walls placed in confined spaces.

• Record URL:
  • http://www.utexas.edu/research/ctr/pdf_reports/0_5506_1.pdf
• 
• Corporate Authors:

  University of Texas, Austin

  Center for Transportation Research, 3208 Red River Street
  Austin, TX  United States  78705

  Texas Department of Transportation

  Research and Technology Implementation Office, P.O. Box 5080
  Austin, TX  United States  78763-5080

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Kniss, Kenneth T
  • Wright, Stephen G
  • Zornberg, Jorge G
  • Yang, Kuo-Hsin
• Publication Date: 2007-10

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Web
• Edition: Technical Report
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 176p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Design; Geotechnical engineering; Mechanically stabilized earth; Retaining walls; Stresses
• Identifier Terms: PLAXIS (Computer program)
• Uncontrolled Terms: Confined spaces; Horizontal stress; Limit equilibrium analysis; Vertical stress
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Design; Geotechnology; Highways; I24: Design of Bridges and Retaining Walls;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01105381
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA/TX-08/0-5506-1, Report No. 0-5506-1
• Contract Numbers: 0-5506
• Files: TRIS, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Jul 30 2008 4:16PM