The Structural Analysis and Performance of Wood Cellular Retaining Wall

Bo-Yang Cheng1, Chiang Wei2, Min-Lang Lin3, Far-Ching Lin4,

ABSTRACT: Wood has the characteristics of energy saving and carbon dioxide reduction because it consumed less energy than cement did during process and sequestrated carbon dioxide. Due to the biodegradable and easy construction, it was often used in eco-technology engineering work in Taiwan. Wood was often applied in cellular retaining wall in slope remediation. Since wood cellular retaining wall was a very old construction method, it was improved in many types. The O&D (outdoor) method from Japan was one of the examples. However, the reliable strength information is insufficient; there are many safety concerns on it. Hence, the utilization area was limited and it was only constructed in small site in small scale. The purpose of this study was to test the structure joints by universal testing machine, to test the performance of unit wood cellular retaining wall by reaction wall method, and to analyze the structure by computer and compared to previous experimental results in order to gain the information of the retaining wall by O&D method. The results could provide the information for strength design as basis in order to increase the utilization area of wood and reduce the use of concrete structure. KEYWORDS: Wooden cellular retaining wall, STAAD PRO 2005, O&D method, Eco-technology

INTRODUCTION 123

Wooden constructions are energy saving and carbon dioxide emission reduction products. Comparing with concrete constructions, its energy consumption and carbon dioxide emission are lower. It is also a recyclable bio-material which is easy to manufacture to the environment, so it is often used for ecological technique especially the treatment technology of side-slope in Taiwan. Wooden cellular retaining wall is a usual form of the slope structures. It is a quite old engineering method, so there are many kinds of improving methods developed. For example, O&D method was developed in Japan then introduced in Taiwan. However, O&D method is still lack of the credible strength and the accurate strength information, many users cannot fully trust the safety of structures, so it can be only used for small scale

dilapidation slope engineering, causing the limitation of popularization. By universal testing machine and reaction wall, the real joint models and real size wooden retaining wall structures were tested. Results were compared with computer analysis in order to figuring out the mechanical performance of wooden cellular retaining wall by O&D method. Wooden materials are better than steel and concrete materials because of carbon dioxide emission reduction and low energy consumption. The carbon emission of steel structure is about 10-20 times to wooden materials while that of concrete structure is about 2-3 times to wooden one. Further, the specific strength and thermal insulation of wooden structure are better than that of steel and R.C. ones. In summer, the R.C. structure will cause temperature rising even over heat and affect surrounding ecosystems because of higher specific heat. In other word, using wooden materials can avoid this disadvantage. It is better for the ecosystem and the environment. 2

Bo-Yang Cheng, School of Forestry and Resource Conservation, National Taiwan University, #1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Road, Taipei, 10617 Taiwan. Email: r97625043@ntu.edu.tw 2 Chiang Wei, The Experimental Forest, National Taiwan University, #12, Sec. 1, Chien-Shan Rd., Chu-Shan, 557 NanTou, 557 Taiwan. Email: d87625005@ntu.edu.tw 3 Min-Lang Lin, National Center for Research on Earthquake Engineering. #200, Sec. 3, HsinHai Rd., Taipei 10668, Taiwan. Email: mllin@ncree.org.tw 4 Far-Ching Lin, School of Forestry and Resource Conservation, National Taiwan University, #1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Road, Taipei, 10617 Taiwan. Email: farching@ntu.edu.tw

TEST MATERIALS AND METHODS

2.1 STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS SOFTWARE In the study, retaining wall structures is analyzed by computer matrix analysis software, STAAD PRO 2005 , which developed by Bentleys System Inc., U.S.A. and certified by civil engineers in Taiwan. The design of wooden retaining wall was input into STAAD PRO 2005 as shown in Figure 1. Engineering drawings are shown in Figure 2 , 3, 4, &5.

Figure 1: The model of wooden retaining wall constructed by STADD PRO 2005 (1.76m 0.76m)

Figure 2: The front view of wooden retaining wall.( Unit : cm )

Figure 3: The side view of wooden retaining wall. (Standard unit figure) ( Unit : cm )

Figure 4: The top view of wooden retaining wall. (Standard unit figure) (Unit : cm )

2.2 SIMULATION MODEL Material properties input in program were summarized as follows. The specific gravity of Japan Cedar is 0.35 if deadweight is considered and modulus of elasticity is 10GPa, modulus of rupture is 500 kgf / cm2. Lag screw is 0.2 and the tension strength is 120 kgf / mm2. Backfill soil specific gravity is 1.8 t/m3, basement soil specific gravity is 1.9 t/m3. Concrete specific gravity is 2.3-2.4 t/m3 (Often adopting as 2.3 t/m3). The mechanical analysis of earth pressure and loading of wooden retaining wall should be figured out. Earth pressure can

be separated into two parts, one is active earth pressure another is passive earth pressure. Active earth pressure is considering by wedge theory, and passive earth pressure is considering by Rankine earth pressure formula at normal time or earthquake happens. If there are extra loading on wooden retaining wall, the loadings, resistance arms, moments and supports of edges of the wall should be considered for the purpose of analysis that whether the wooden retaining wall is satisfied the stability condition or not. Except for considering the binding force and earthquake pressure of the back of a

wooden retaining wall, the safety factor of declination, slippage and basement support force of wooden retaining wall should be figured out. 2.3 LOADING AND RESTRAIN CONDITIONS The sizes of the first wooden retaining wall frame are hereunder. The first frame length is 1.76m, width is 0.76 and height is 1.5m; the second one length is 0.88m, width is 0.76m and height is 1.5m. The model is shown in Figure 1. Breadthways of log are set as fixed ends, the degree of freedom of 6 supports at the basement are set to zero. Assuming that the back of wooden retaining wall is fulfilled by the soil and the rock which bulk density is 2,200 kg / m3. Loading points are located at joints, forcing 1,000N at the top of the model for analysis.

RESULT AND DISSUSSION

3.1 LAD SCREW WITHDRAWING TEST The withdrawing test of lag screw was carried by universal testing machine. During the test withdrawing strength verse displacement was recorded in order to simulate a short member with, yield strength, tensile strength, and stiffness. Its values will be input into STAAD PRO 2005 to assume the module of tensile elasticity is the lengthways structures of wooden retaining wall. 3.2 PRIMARY ANALYSIS RESULTS According to the analysis results of STAAD PRO 2005, when the model is forcing by linear force 1,000N from the z axial along the x-direction, the nodes at top show the maximum displacements. And the middle parts near the fixed ends at the bottom of the model show the maximum x-direction displacements. Other results are shown in Table 1 and Table 2.
Table 1 : The maximum and minimum displacements of nodes

Xmax Xmin Ymax Ymin Zmax Zmin

Figure 5: The real wooden retaining wall in Taiwan. 2004.

Node 183 182 174 175 174 185

Xh 0.001 -0.001 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000

Yv -0.006 0.006 0.007 -0.007 0.007 -0.005

Zh 0.098 0.098 0.119 0.118 0.119 0.000

After preliminary analysis, the relationship between loadings and the displacement of structures were found. Making good use of the result of the computer matrix analysis to construct the real size wooden retaining wall and design the strength test of its. Similarly, after figuring out the strength of real size wooden retaining wall, these conditions can be input to computer models for fixing and re-analysis, making sure that there is a minimum error between the computer analysis and the real test. 2.4 MECHANICAL PROPERTIES AND PERFORMANCE TEST OF ACTUAL SIZE WOODEN RETAINING WALL Generally, a wooden retaining wall design is 1.76m long, 0.76m wide and 1.5m high. Before constructing the wooden retaining wall, a concrete slab (2,000 PSI) at least 15cm thick will be made, and the dip angle is 1/6 at least. The sample should leastwise be a construction unit, after the on-the-spot constructing, it is filled by qualified rocks. And a 50 tons hydraulic cylinder is installed, one side of it is fix on reaction wall another is applied on top of the wooden retaining wall. Two set of experimental retaining wall will be test, horizontal displacement and reaction will be recorded.

Xh : x-direction horizontal displacement Yv : y-direction vertical displacement Zh : z-direction horizontal displacement

Unit : mm Table 2 : The maximum and minimum reactive force of members

Beam Fxmax Fxmin Fymax Fymin Fzmax Fzmin

Unit : Kg

Fx 108.28 -108.28 -4.294 0.333 6.022 -4.868

Fy 0.000 0.000 4.209 -17.886 0.880 0.000

Fz -30.877 -30.876 6.733 0.000 38.988 -58.328

148 151 231 118 67 229

CONCLUSIONS

When building a safe and credible slope construction, the design of the wooden retaining wall about wall reaction forces, the whole stability, structure cross-section stresses and stain should be considered. Although hereinbefore discussed are all about reaction forces, everyone has to pay attention to whether there is

applicable drainage facility on the back-side of the wooden retaining wall or not. When there are high position groundwater and the well-dank backfill soil like freestone and gravel, the active water pressure is regarded while the earthquake is happening. After computer matrix analyzing about the relationship to loadings and the structure displacement of the wooden retaining wall, referring results to the strength test of the real size wooden retaining wall design. Nevertheless, when the strength test consequence of the real size wooden retaining wall is calculated, the data should be input into the computer model for modification and reanalysis, making sure that there is a minimum error between the computer analysis and the real test. The treatment technology of side-slope is not immobile, everyone should emulate the appropriate way to design and build a favourable wooden retaining wall. Making good use of creation to abound the diversiform ecoenvironment and make sure the safety of the facility. It is the impulsion of the eco-technology and engineering methods to a mature stage.

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