A study of model retaining walls supported by multi-plate anchors

• Main Author: Abdel-Malek, Magued N.
• Published: University of Sheffield 1978
• Subjects: 624.15
• Online Access: http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.446698

The study reported in this thesis forms part of a continuing programme of research on the performance of anchors and anchored supported structures being carried out at the University of Sheffield. In addition to a review of some of the recent laboratory studies, field observations and analytical investigations, the present study incorporates two main parts. In the first part, the failure mechanism and load carrying capacity of multi-plate anchors were investigated in a series of small scale studies. The study showed the difference in behaviour between single and multi-plate horizontal anchors and led to a better understanding of their failure mechanism. It also provided information for the design of the multi-plate anchors to be used in the second part of the research programme. In the second part, the behaviour of a 0.6 m high rigid retaining wall in a normally consolidated sand and supported by up to four rows of' anchors, was studied. Different design methods were employed to examine the overall stability of the wall-anchors-soil system. These were investigated experimentally in a series of tests in which field. construction procedure was simulated. After construction was completed, the - iii - retained backfill was subjected to surcharge loading in an attempt to approach failure. Normal earth pressure distribution on both sides of the wall, normal and shear components of the wall base reaction, anchor load changes, anchor movements, wall movements, sand surface subsidence and sand movements within the retained sand mass were monitored. The study showed the reliability of the different design methods and the effect of parameters such as anchor lengths and prestress loads on the overall behaviour of the systems.