Abstract:
Gravity retaining walls derive their capacity to resist lateral movement through the dead
weight of the wall. The design methodologies proposed by standards do not take into account
the construction sequences that simulate the process by which the soil and retaining wall are
brought together. However, in reality, at least during the backfilling process, the retaining
wall undergoes many displacements that are not so far considered in the design. In this
investigation, effect of construction sequences in the gravity retaining walls with different
shapes is investigated with the help of finite element method. Two different construction
sequences, namely the backfilling after wall construction and the backfilling parallel to wall
construction, are compared for different wall shape models. Lateral displacement of the
bottom and the top of the wall is plotted for each model and construction sequence with
construction stages. Bearing pressure distribution, lateral earth pressure and failure wedge
angle are summarized and compared with design values. Each wall showed different
behaviours for each of the construction sequences. Back filling after wall construction
minimizes the sliding failure and bearing pressure. Overturning failure could be reduced by
backfilling parallel to wall construction. However, it was observed that, comparatively,
backfilling after wall construction is effective than backfilling parallel to wall construction,
suggesting that proper selection of construction method also may reduce negative effects on
the wall stability.
