Numerical Analysis Stability of Retaining Wall with Relieving Plate

Based on shear strength reduction finite element method, stability of retaining wall with relieving plate has been analyzed. Due to the structure character of retaining wall with relieving plate, it can be found that fracture surface could hardly cross the triangle area of between lower wall and soleplate, between upper wall and relieving plate, so the second fractured surface occurred at there, which is essentially different with the second fractured surface of planar retaining wall. There is a reasonable value interval of width of relieving plate, in which the stability of retaining wall increased with width of relieving plate increased. There is no influence on shape of the first fractured surface by different location of relieving plate, except the second fractured surface. The soil to be failure is between the first fractured surface and the second fractured surface, in which more soil contained, the earth pressure on retaining wall increased, the stability of retaining wall decreased. The stability of retaining wall could be decreased by inclination of filling, for the principal stress deflected and retaining wall extruded by much soil when filling inclined. It is suggested to fill the retaining wall by the soil with low weight, big cohesive strength and big internal friction angle.