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Interactive Gabion Retaining Wall Design Simulator

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Gabion Retaining Wall Design Simulator
Gabion Retaining Wall Design Simulator

Gabion Retaining Wall Simulator

Created By : Ir. MD Nursyazwi

A comprehensive academic tool for analyzing the stability of gabion retaining walls.

Instructions on How To Use

This interactive tool provides a comprehensive analysis of the stability of a gabion retaining wall. Gabion walls are gravity structures, relying on their own mass to resist lateral earth pressure. The simulator operates on fundamental principles of soil mechanics, assuming a homogenous soil profile and level backfill. The simulation process involves the following steps:

  • Step 1: In the "Data Input" section, specify the geometric and material properties of the wall and surrounding soil.
  • Step 2: Execute the simulation by clicking the "Calculate Design" button to compute the relevant stability factors.
  • Step 3: Review the results presented in the "Data Output" section, which provides a quantitative assessment of the design's stability.
  • Step 4: Observe the "Graphical Simulation" to gain a visual understanding of the forces acting on the wall and the resulting pressure distribution.
  • Step 5: For an in-depth understanding of the underlying theoretical framework, consult the "Science Explanations" section.

Data Input

The Data Input section allows for the specification of critical design variables that govern the wall's structural and geotechnical behavior. The parameters, including wall geometry and soil properties, can be calibrated to different international design standards, which apply specific partial safety factors to ensure a conservative and reliable design.

Optimal Design Finder

This tool will help you find a combination of wall dimensions and angles that provides the best overall stability. It iterates through a range of options and recommends the design that results in the highest factor of safety for overturning, sliding, and bearing capacity.

Graphical Simulation

The Graphical Simulation illustrates the principal forces acting on the gabion wall. This visual representation aids in understanding the force vectors and their points of application, which are critical for moment and shear calculations. The diagram includes the active earth pressure (Pa) acting horizontally and the total vertical resisting force (Wv) representing the self-weight of the gabion mass.

Data Output

The Data Output section presents the quantitative results of the stability analysis. It provides calculated factors of safety against overturning and sliding, as well as the maximum bearing pressure at the foundation base. These values are essential for determining the wall's compliance with established safety criteria.

Design Verdict: -
Factor of Safety Against Overturning: -
Factor of Safety Against Sliding: -
Factor of Safety Against Bearing Capacity: -
Maximum Bearing Pressure: -

Graphs and Charts

The Graphs and Charts section provides a visual interpretation of the calculated bearing pressure distribution along the foundation base. The shape of the pressure diagram—whether trapezoidal or triangular—is indicative of the resultant force's eccentricity relative to the middle third of the base, a fundamental principle for preventing tensile stresses in the soil.

Science Explanations

Key Design Principles

The stability of a gabion retaining wall, a type of gravity wall, is evaluated based on three primary conditions: stability against overturning, stability against sliding, and bearing capacity. This simulator calculates the factors of safety for the first two conditions and the maximum bearing pressure for the third.

Active Earth Pressure: Coulomb's Theory

To accurately account for the wall's geometry, the simulator now uses Coulomb's theory to calculate the active earth pressure (Pa). Unlike Rankine's theory, Coulomb's method considers the Wall Batter Angle (beta) and the Wall-Soil Friction Angle (delta). The resulting pressure force (Pa) acts at an angle, which is resolved into horizontal (Pa_h) and vertical (Pa_v) components. These components are then used in the stability calculations.

Overturning Stability

Overturning stability is assessed by comparing the restoring moments to the overturning moments about the toe. The overturning moment (Mo) is generated by the horizontal component of the active earth pressure (Pa_h), while the restoring moment (Mr) is generated by the wall's total weight (Wv) and the vertical component of the active earth pressure (Pa_v).

Sliding Stability

Sliding stability is evaluated by comparing the total horizontal resisting force to the horizontal driving force. The driving force is the horizontal component of the active earth pressure (Pa_h). The resisting force is a function of the total vertical force (the sum of Wv and Pa_v) and the base friction, typically a function of the soil's internal friction angle (phi).

Bearing Capacity

The bearing capacity of a foundation soil refers to its ability to support the loads applied by the structure without undergoing a shear failure. It is a critical check to ensure the soil itself is strong enough to carry the weight of the wall and the additional vertical loads from the earth pressure. The Factor of Safety for Bearing Capacity is calculated as the ratio of the ultimate bearing capacity of the soil (q_ult) to the maximum pressure applied by the wall (q_max). The design is considered safe if this ratio is greater than a specified value (typically 2.0 to 3.0).

Bearing Pressure

The bearing pressure analysis verifies that the stress applied to the foundation soil does not exceed its ultimate bearing capacity. This is determined by the magnitude and eccentricity of the resultant vertical force. An eccentric load can lead to a non-uniform pressure distribution, with the maximum pressure occurring at the edge of the base, which is a critical design consideration.

The formulas for maximum and minimum bearing pressure are given by: q_max/min = (Wv/B) * (1 +/- (6e/B)), where e is the eccentricity of the resultant force.

International Design Standards

Different countries and regions employ specific design standards. These codes often introduce partial safety factors to account for uncertainties in material properties, loads, and design assumptions. While the fundamental principles remain the same, the application of these factors changes the final required dimensions for a stable and safe design. This simulator provides a simplified comparison by adjusting key input values according to typical code-based factors, but it is not a substitute for a detailed professional analysis.

Sloped Backfill

When the backfill soil is not level, it forms a slope at an angle alpha to the horizontal. This condition, known as a sloped surcharge, significantly increases the lateral earth pressure acting on the wall. The simulator now accurately models this effect by incorporating the slope angle into the active earth pressure coefficient calculation.

References

The methodologies and principles employed in this simulator are founded on established geotechnical engineering textbooks and design codes. The following references provide a deeper understanding of the theoretical background:

Other Simulators

For further exploration of related topics in engineering and physics, we invite you to consult the following resources and interactive tools:

Location: Sandakan, Sabah, Malaysia

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