1415 N 32nd, Fort Smith, AR 72904

Ph: 800-736-9089 Fax:479-785-0633

To: Engineers:

Thank you very much for your interest in our products and solutions. The purpose of this calculator is to
show the simplicity and ease of designing Terra Aqua Gabions gravity retaining walls. We are using the
familiar Excel environment to illustrate each step of the calculations used in the gabion gravity retaining
walls design analysis for verification.

Additional calculations may have to be performed including and not limiting to global stability
analysis (by Geotechnical Engineer), seismic forces (by Seismic Engineer) and hydraulic forces
(by Hydraulic Engineer). Please check local, State and Federal requirements. The calculator assumes
drained uniformed retained and foundation soil properties. The calculations should be reviewed, checked
and certified by a Professional Engineer. To the best of our knowledge, the calculator and information
was prepared accurately. Terra Aqua is not responsible for the reliability and validity of the geotechnical
parameters assumed in the calculations. The calculator is intended to provide design assistance to the
engineer for the purpose of designing with Terra Aqua products.

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or if you are in need of any assistance.
We will assist you in anyway we can.

Colin Glass

Terra Aqua Gabions

5/30/2007
TERRA AQUA GABIONS GRAVITY RETAINING WALL CALCULATIONS

PROJECT NAME: PROJECT #:

LOCATION: SECTION:

GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEER: REPORT #:

NOTES: DRAWING #:

DATE:

Descriptions symbols Input Units Notes

Values

Backfill slope angle above wall 0.000

Angle of internal friction 32.000
Angle of wall friction 18.000
Inclination angle to vertical plane 6.000
Cohesion C 0 psf ignore cohesion
Surcharge q 100.000 pcf
Soil density 120.000 pcf
Gabion density g 100.000 pcf
Height of wall H 12 ft
Width of base B 7.5 ft
Embedment d 2.000 ft
Allowable soil bearing capacity qa 1000.000 psf to be determined by Geotechnical
Engineer
 45 GABION RETAINING WALL
ROW 1

42 ROW 2

39 ROW 3

ROW 4
36
ROW 5
33
ROW 6

30
X Y ROW 7

27 ROW 8

ROW 9
24
ROW 10
Y

21
ROW 11

18 ROW 12

ROW 13
15
ROW 14
12
ROW 15

9 EMBEDMT

6 BACKFILL

-3
-3 0 3 6 9 12 15 18 21 24 27 30 33 36
X
-6

Row # Width Height offset Area X Moment Y Moment

(ft) (ft) (from toe) (ft) (ft) (ft) (ft) (ft) (ft)
15 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000
14 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000
13 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000
12 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000
11 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000
10 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000
9 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000
8 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000
7 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000
6 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000
5 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000
4 3.0 3.0 4.50 9.000 6.000 54.000 10.500 94.500
3 4.5 3.0 3.00 13.500 5.250 70.875 7.500 101.250
2 6.0 3.0 1.50 18.000 4.500 81.000 4.500 81.000
1 7.5 3.0 0.00 22.500 3.750 84.375 1.500 33.750
12.0 63.000 4.607 290.250 4.929 310.500
1 COULOMB'S THEORY

Active earth pressure Ka = Cos(+)

coefficient Cos cos(-) 1+ Sin(+) Sin(-)
cos(-) cos(+)

= 0.621
0.989 0.978 1+ 0.766 0.530
0.978 0.995

= 0.621
2.621

= 0.237

Ignore vertical components

& cohesion

Horizontal active soil thrust Phs = 0.5Ka H Cos(- )

= 2002.154 lb/ft

Horizontal active surcharge Phq = Ka q H Cos(- )

thrust
= 278.077 lb/ft

Total horizontal thrust Pha = Phs + Phq

= 2280.231 lb/ft

2 Check Overturning:

Overturning moment Mo = Phs H/3-BSin + Phq H/2-BSin

= 2002.154 3.216 + 278.077 5.216

= 7889.461 ft-lb / ft

Weight of Gabion Wg = A g

= 6300.000 lb / ft

Horizontal distance to Wg Xg = Y Sin + X Cos

= 0.515 + 4.582

= 5.097 ft

Resisting moment Mr = Wg Xg

= 32111.607 ft-lb / ft

Overturning factor of safety SFo = Mr

Mo

4.070 2.000 O.K

3 Check Sliding

Total vertical weight W = Wg

= 6300.000 lb/ft

Frictional force F = W Tan

= 6300.000 0.625

= 3936.677

Siding factor of safety SFs = F

Pha

1.726 1.500 O.K

4 Check the Eccentricity of Resultant Force

(Resultant is in middle one third)

Eccentricity e = 0.5 B - ( Mr - Mo)

W

= 3.750 - 3.845

= -B/6 e +B/6

-1.250 -0.095 1.250

O.K O.K

5 Check Bearing

Meyerhof

Applied bearing pressure P = W

B - 2e

= 6300.000
7.500 - 0.190

= 861.782 psf 1000.000 O.K

Additional calculations may have to be performed including and not limiting to global stability analysis
(by Geotechnical Engineer), seismic forces (by Seismic Engineer) and hydraulic forces (by Hydraulic
Engineer). Please check local, State and Federal requirements. The calculator assumes drained uniformed
retained and foundation soil properties. The calculations should be reviewed, checked and certified by a
Professional Engineer. To the best of our knowledge, the calculator and information was prepared accurately.
Terra Aqua is not responsible for the reliability and validity of the geotechnical parameters assumed in the
calculations. The calculator is intended to provide design assistance to the engineer for the purpose of
designing with Terra Aqua products.