Stability Analysis of Embedded Cantilever Retaining Walls Using the Resistance Reduction Method

Abstract The design of an embedded cantilever retaining wall (ECRW) is usually based on traditional methods, such as limit equilibrium and limit analysis, that incorporate principles from classical soil mechanics to assess stability. Traditional design requires prior assumptions regarding failure modes. This paper introduces an innovative method, the resistance reduction method (RRM), in conjunction with finite element (FE) analysis, to assess the stability of ECRWs in a way that does not require initial assumptions about the collapse mechanism for the wall. The traditional strength reduction method (SRM) focuses solely on the reduction of soil shear strength to take the structure to a collapse state. In contrast, RRM achieves the same result through reduction of either soil or structural parameters. The analyses in this study use a two-surface plasticity (TSP) constitutive model to capture the nonlinear response of sand. We have automated the resistance reduction process using ABAQUS/Standard paired with Python scripting. This setup determines the minimum depth of embedment required for wall stability, considering a wide range of retained soil heights and relative density profiles through an algorithm that relies on a Newton-Raphson procedure for the finite element analyses and iterations using a generalized bisection method. Comparisons of the results of these analyses are then made with limit equilibrium analysis results.