Retaining Structures Performance Against Seismic Loads For Australian Type Ground Motions

The conventional design of retaining structures against seismic loads is based on the Mononobe Okabe type design rules that are specified in many international seismic codes. Attempts had been made by researchers to apply these rules to a range of retaining walls. However, the problem with these conventional methods is that they are grounded in highly seismic area type ground motions which have considerably different frequency content to Australian type ground motions.

This paper presents the results of dynamic time history analyses of gravity retaining walls subjected to Australian type earthquake ground motion. These are based on FLAC non-linear dynamic modelling of a range of retaining walls (e.g. bridge abutments, etc). Comparisons are made with results of conventional Mononobe Okabe type design rules for retaining walls with varying lateral and bending stiffnesses.