Analysis of Cantilever Sheet-Pile Walls in Cohesionless Soil

Abstract

A revised method is proposed for the analysis and design of cantilever retaining walls in homogeneous cohesionless soil. Like the current limit-stage design methods, the revised method is based on assumed linear pressure distributions but does not require the artificial simplifications inherent in those methods. Furthermore, these pressure distributions provide equilibrium without being directly dependent on assumed limit states in the passive earth support regions. They are dependent, however, on one empirical parameter for which a suitable value is determined, from the results of centrifuge model tests, within very narrow limits. The revised method gives critical depths of excavation closer to those observed in centrifuge tests than the current methods, and it is shown to yield complete bending moment distributions, with magnitude and position of maximum bending moments reasonably close to those observed. Finally, simple equations and design curves are presented to facilitate safe design, their use is illustrated with a typical example, and comparisons are made with the current methods.