Geotechnical Analysis of Stepped Gravity Walls

Abstract

Retaining walls are structures that help to maintain different elevations of the ground surface on either side of it. When the height of cut, backfill or slope is beyond a certain limit, a single gravity retaining wall becomes unfeasible and uneconomical. In such situations, stepped gravity walls can be an attractive option. The wall at each level of the retaining system should be checked for safety against sliding, overturning and bearing capacity failure. Apart from these, a global stability check is necessary. The paper outlines the analysis approach for such stepped retaining walls that can be used for various purposes in site development.
Keywords: Gravity wall, Stepped retaining wall, Global stability