Design Aids for Cantilever Retaining Walls

Design aids are given for the complete design of reinforced concrete contilever retaining walls. A total of seven charts are prepared to design the retaining wall stem, footing length, heel and toe thickness, and to find the toe soil bearing pressure. A summary of equations used to develop the charts is included. The charts are drawn using the Strength Design Design Method of Building Code Requirements for Reinforced Concrete (ACI 318-71). Rankine earth pressure theory is used for a horizontal backfill, and the concrete ultimate strength is 3,000 psi with the steel yield strength of 60,000 psi. An example is included which shows the procedure of using the charts. These charts simplify the problem of designing a cantilever retaining wall by hand, and the charts are both accurate and efficient.