Engineering manual No.

Updated: 02/2016

Verification of a retaining wall with one anchor row

File: Demo_manual_06.gp2

In this chapter, we will show you how to verify a designed retaining wall. We will perform a
verification of its dimensioning, the inner stability of the anchors and the overall stability of the
structure.

Assignment
Verify the retaining wall that you designed in engineering manual 5.

Scheme of the anchored wall from pile sheeting – assignment

Solution:
To solve this problem, we will use the GEO5 “Sheeting Check” program. In this text,
we will explain each step in solving this task:

 Construction stage 1: excavation of a ditch to a depth of 2,5 m, geometry of the wall,

 Construction stage 2: anchoring of the wall,

 Construction stage 3: excavation of a ditch to a depth of 5,0 m,

 Verification of the inner stability of the anchors, the overall stability of the structure
and dimensioning of the steel section (sheet pile).

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Construction stage 1
To make our work easier, we can copy the data from the last task, when we designed the wall
in the “Sheeting design” program by clicking on “Edit” in the upper toolbar and selecting “Copy
data”. In the “Sheeting check” program click on “Edit” and then “Paste data”. Now that we have most
of the important data from the last task copied into this program, we don’t have to input much other
data.

Dialog window “Insert data”

In the frame “Settings”, select the number 5 “Standard – EN 1997, DA3” again. Set the analysis of
depending pressures to “Reduce according to analysis settings”. Leave the coefficient for minimum
dimensioning pressure at k  0,2 .

Frame “Settings” (Analysis of pressures)

Note: The selection “Analysis of depending pressures – do not reduce” allows the analysis of limit
pressures (active and passive) without the reduction of input parameters by partial factors.
This is better for estimation of the real behaviour of the structure. On the other hand, it does not
follow the EN 1997-1 Standard (More info in HELP – F1).

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 Then, open up the frame “Modulus k h ”, and choose the “analyse – Schmitt” option.
This method of determining the modulus of subsoil reaction depends on the oedometric modulus
and the stiffness of the structure (More info in HELP – F1).

Frame “Modulus k h ”

Note: The modulus of subsoil reaction is an important input when analyzing a structure using the

method of dependent pressures (elastic-plastic nonlinear model). The modulus k h affects the

deformation, which is needed to reach active or passive pressures (More info in HELP – F1).
In the frame “Geometry”, define the parameters of the sheet pile – the type of the wall and
the section length l  9 m . From the sheet pile database, select the VL 503 (500  170  9,7 mm)
type .

Dialog window “Edit section”

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 In the frame “Material”, select the appropriate class of steel for the structure from the catalog.
In this case, select the EN 10248-1: S 240 GP type.

Dialog window “Catalog of materials”

Now, in the frame “Excavation” define the depth of the first ditch – 2,50 m in the first
construction stage.

Frame “Excavation” – Construction stage 1

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 Now, go to the frame “Analysis”. In the left part of the frame, you can see the modulus of
subsoil reaction; in the right section the shape of the deformed structure, the real and limit earth
pressures and the displacement (For more information, see HELP – F1).

Frame “Analysis” – Construction stage 1

Construction stage 2
Add another construction stage as described below. Here we define the anchoring of the
wall. We cannot change the frames “Settings”, “Profile”, “Modulus k h ”, “Soils” and “Geometry”,
because these data are the same for all construction stages.

In the frame “Anchors” click on the “Add” button. For the sheet pile wall, design one row of
anchors in a depth of 1,5 m under the ground level. Define the parameters of the anchors:

 total length of the anchors: l c  10 m (length of the root l k  3 m , free length of an anchor
l  7 m)

 slope of the anchors:   15

 spacing between the anchors: b  2,5 m

Then input the necessary parameters to calculate the anchor stiffness (diameter d  32 mm
and modulus of elasticity E  210 GPa ) and the prestress force F  240 kN .

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 Dialog window “New anchor”

Note: For anchored walls it is advantageous to introduce an anchor in a separate construction

Note: The stiffness of the anchors is taken into account in the next stages of construction.
Due to the deformation of the construction the forces in the anchors are changing (More info in HELP
– F1).

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 The other input parameters don’t change. Now, perform the analysis.

Frame “Analysis” – Construction stage 2

In the previous figure it is shown that the added anchor caused the structure to be pushed into
the soil more. The soil pressure near the anchor has risen up to the size of the passive pressure or the
redistribution occurred increased the earth pressures acting on the structure.

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Construction stage 3
In this construction stage define the overall excavation of the ditch. In the frame “Excavation”,
change the depth of the ditch to the final depth – 5,0 m.

Frame “Excavation” – Construction stage 3

Now, perform the analysis to display the distribution of the internal forces and the displacement
of the anchored structure.

 Max. shear force: Qmax  74,38 kN/m ,

 Max. bending moment: M max  102,52 kNm/m ,

 Max. displacement: u max  15,7 mm .

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 Frame “Analysis” – Construction stage 3

Frame “Analysis” – Construction stage 3 (Internal forces)

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 Frame “Analysis” – Construction stage 3 (Displacement and earth pressure on the structure)

Verification of the material and the cross section of the sheet pile:
Then, open up the frame “Dimensioning”. The maximum observed moment on the structure
is 102,52 kNm/m. The overall utilization of the sheet pile of type VL 503 from EN 10248-1: S 240 GP
steel is 34,2 %. The maximum displacement of the structure (15,7 mm) is also satisfactory.

Frame “Analysis” – Construction stage 3 (Total utilization of sheet pile of type GU 6N)

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Verification of the anchor stability
Now, open up the frame “Internal stability”. You can see, that the internal stability of the anchors
is not satisfactory (the total utilization is 212,29 %). This means, that the anchor could tear away
from the soil.

Frame “Internal stability” – Construction stage 3 (non-satisfactory result)

The reason for this is that the anchor is too short, so in the frame “Anchors” (in Construction
stage 2), change its free length to 9,5 meters. The total length of the anchor is 12,5 m.

Dialog window “Edit anchor” – Construction stage 2

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 Then switch back to the 3rd stage of the construction, we will calculate it and then return again to
the frame “Internal stability”. The following figure shows that the newly designed anchor satisfies
the internal stability requirements (the total utilization is 87,92 %).

Frame “Internal stability” – Construction stage 3 (satisfactory result)

The last needed thing to check is the overall stability of the structure. Click on the “External
stability” button. This will open the “Slope stability” program. In the frame “Analysis” click on
“Analyze”. We can see, that the overall stability is acceptable.

Frame “External stability”

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Analysis results
When adjusting the length of the anchor l c  12,5 m there is a change in the calculation of the
internal forces, deformations and earth pressures. In the last stage of the construction based
on the resulting values, the results are as follows:

 Max. shear force: Qmax  74,07 kN/m

 Max. bending moment: M max  103,71 kNm/m

 Max. displacement: umax  15,7 mm

The designed sheet pile wall structure is satisfactory in all checked parameters:

 Utilization of the steel section: 34,6 % OK

 Internal stability: 87,92 % 336,99 kN  296,28 kN OK

 Overall stability: 81,0 % Method – Bishop (optimization) OK

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