Methods of evaluating the stability and safety of gravity earth retaining structures founded on rock

dc.contributor.authorEbeling, Robert M.en
dc.contributor.committeecochairDuncan, J.M.en
dc.contributor.committeecochairClough, G. Wayneen
dc.contributor.committeememberKuppusamy, Thangaveluen
dc.contributor.committeememberBrandon, Thomas L.en
dc.contributor.committeememberJones, Russell T.en
dc.contributor.departmentCivil Engineeringen
dc.date.accessioned2015-07-09T20:43:49Zen
dc.date.available2015-07-09T20:43:49Zen
dc.date.issued1989en
dc.description.abstractThe objective of this study was to investigate the accuracy of the procedures employed in the conventional equilibrium method of analysis of gravity-earth-retaining structures founded on rock, using the finite element method of analysis. This study was initiated because a number of existing large retaining structures at various navigation lock sites in the United States that show no signs of instability or substandard performance have been found not to meet the criteria currently used for design of new structures. The results of following load analyses show that when the loss of contact along the base of a wall is modeled in the finite element analysis, the calculated values of effective base contact area and maximum contact pressure are somewhat larger than those calculated using conventional equilibrium analyses. The values of the mobilized base friction angle calculated using both methods are in precise agreement. Comparisons between the results of backfill placement analyses using the finite element method and the conventional equilibrium analyses indicate that conventional analyses are very conservative. The finite element analyses indicate that the backfill exerts downward shear loads on the backs of retaining walls. These shear forces have a very important stabilizing effect on the walls. Expressed in terms of a vertical shear stress coefficient (Kᵥ - r<sub>xy</sub>/σᵥ), this shear loading was found to range in value from 0.09 to 0.21, depending on the geometrical features and the values of the material parameters involved in the problem. Another important factor not considered in the conventional equilibrium method is that the displacements of the wall have a significant influence on the distribution of both the stabilizing and destabilizing forces exerted on the wall. In general, as the wall moves away from the backfill, the lateral forces exerted on the wall by the backfill decrease, and the lateral forces exerted on the front of the wall by the toe fill increase.en
dc.description.degreePh. D.en
dc.format.extent2 v.; v. 1 xi, 189 pages; v. 2 ix, 159 pagesen
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdfen
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10919/54351en
dc.language.isoen_USen
dc.publisherVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State Universityen
dc.relation.isformatofOCLC# 20909414en
dc.rightsIn Copyrighten
dc.rights.urihttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/en
dc.subject.lccLD5655.V856 1989.E266en
dc.subject.lcshRetaining walls -- Researchen
dc.subject.lcshEarthwork -- Researchen
dc.titleMethods of evaluating the stability and safety of gravity earth retaining structures founded on rocken
dc.typeDissertationen
dc.type.dcmitypeTexten
thesis.degree.disciplineCivil Engineeringen
thesis.degree.grantorVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State Universityen
thesis.degree.leveldoctoralen
thesis.degree.namePh. D.en

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