Combination of LEM and FEM Analysis for Stability of Concrete Cantilever Retaining Wall

Abstract

Concrete cantilever retaining wall is a structure used to retain the soil on the slopes and prevent the soil from sliding. It must be stable and strong to resist the forces acting on it. Normally, concrete cantilever retaining wall uses limit equilibrium method (LEM) in its design analysis. However, this method does not provide a comprehensive design analysis. It only involved an external stability check for sliding, overturning, and bearing capacity. As a result, the retaining wall is not enough stable and it often collapses. Hence, this study introduces the combination of LEM and FEM in the concrete cantilever retaining wall design analysis to produce the overall stability. The design analysis was carried out using PROKON software that involved LEM, and simulations were performed using SIGMA/W and SLOPE/W to generate FEM. The comprehensive design analysis was produced from the combination of both methods which consist of value of factor of safety (FOS) for sliding, FOS for overturning, FOS for bearing capacity, maximum foundation settlement, maximum surface settlement, maximum deflection, and global stability. This study can help the consultant engineers in producing the comprehensive and safe concrete cantilever retaining walls and reduce the problem of retaining wall failure.