Simplified Method of Horizontal Deformation Prediction of Gravity Retaining Walls in Shanghai Soft Soil

Deformation prediction is one of the core contents in the design of the gravity retaining walls in Shanghai soft soil. Geotechnical design engineers used to rely on numerical analysis and beam on elastic foundation analysis to calculate the lateral displacement of a gravity retaining wall. However, both methods are too complicated to be used and they are not suitable for engineers. In this paper, the lateral displacement function of a gravity retaining wall was normalized through four excavations in Shanghai. The simplified formula of lateral displacement of a gravity retaining wall was derived through the principle of minimum potential energy. The simplified calculation method of horizontal deformation of a gravity retaining wall was verified by ten case histories in Shanghai.