Seismic Rotational Displacement of Gravity Walls by Pseudodynamic Method

Abstract

Prediction of the rotational displacements, induced by earthquake is a key aspect of the seismic design of retaining walls. In this paper, the pseudodynamic method is used to compute rotational displacements of the retaining wall supporting cohesionless backfill under seismic loading. The proposed method considers time, phase difference, and effect of amplification in shear and primary waves propagating through the backfill and the retaining wall. The influence of ground motion characteristics on rotational displacement of the wall is evaluated. Also the effects of variation of parameters like wall friction angle, soil friction angle, amplification factor, shear wave velocity, primary wave velocity, period of lateral shaking, horizontal, and vertical seismic accelerations on the rotational displacements are studied. Results are provided in graphical form with a comparison to the available pseudostatic result to validate the proposed theory. Present results give higher values of rotational displacements of the wall when compared with the available results by pseudostatic analysis.