Vertical Shear Loads on Nonmoving Walls. I: Theory

Abstract

Retaining walls that do not move are customarily designed based on the assumption of at-rest conditions, with no consideration of vertical shear loads applied by the backfill. However, field and laboratory measurements have shown that vertical shear loads do act on nonmoving walls. A simple theory for calculating the magnitude of vertical shear loads on nonmoving walls is presented in this paper, and typical results from the theory are discussed. A companion paper presents the results of finite-element calculations, case history data, and recommendations for retaining wall design.