1

1 INTRODUCTION
1.0 General
The LRFD design procedure for conventional gravity and cantilever retaining walls,
abutments and MSE walls, with a few exceptions, is identical to the ASD design procedure
utilized in the past. Generally, ultimate bearing capacity, resistance to sliding, overall stability,
wall foundation settlement, and lateral deflection limits are checked. Total as well as
differential settlements are major criteria for determining wall type. See excerpts in Appendix
C taken from FDOT!s Plans Preparation Manual " Volume I showing wall type selection
criteria based on anticipated settlement and the environmental classification of the site.
Therefore, the first step of a retaining wall design is to calculate the settlements based on the
fill heights.

1.1 Design Summary
In ASD design, all the uncertainties in the applied loads and ultimate geotechnical or
structural capacity are factored in safety factors or allowable stresses. Whereas, LRFD
separates the variability of these design components and resistance factors to the load and
material capacity, respectively. The key issues in the design of retaining walls and abutments
by LRFD is the application of maximum and minimum load factors for dead , earth and
surcharge loads. See Table 1 and Figures 1 through 3 below.

1.1.1 Dead or Permanent Loads
DC = dead load of structural component and nonstructural attachments (for
conventional retaining walls not for MSE Walls)
DW = dead load for wearing surfaces and utilities
EH = horizontal earth pressure load
ES = earth surcharge load
EV = vertical pressure from dead load of earth fill

1.1.2 Live or Transient Loads

LS = live load surcharge
WA = water load and stream pressure






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Table 3.4.1-1 Load Combinations and Load Factors.

Use One of These at a Time Load Combination





Limit State
DC
DD
DW
EH
EV
ES
EL
LL
IM
CE
BR
PL
LS WA WS WL FR
TU
CR
SH TG SE
EQ IC CT CV
STRENGTH I
(unless noted)

p
1.75 1.00 ! ! 1.00 0.50/1.20
TG

SE
! ! ! !
STRENGTH II
p
1.35 1.00 ! ! 1.00 0.50/1.20
TG

SE
! ! ! !
STRENGTH III
p
! 1.00 1.40 ! 1.00 0.50/1.20
TG

SE
! ! ! !
STRENGTH IV
p
! 1.00 ! ! 1.00 0.50/1.20 ! ! ! ! ! !
STRENGTH V
p
1.35 1.00 0.40 1.0 1.00 0.50/1.20
TG

SE
! ! ! !
EXTREME
EVENT I

p

EQ
1.00 ! ! 1.00 ! ! ! 1.00 ! ! !
EXTREME
EVENT II

p
0.50 1.00 ! ! 1.00 ! ! ! ! 1.00 1.00 1.00
SERVICE I 1.00 1.00 1.00 0.30 1.0 1.00 1.00/1.20
TG

SE
! ! ! !
SERVICE II 1.00 1.30 1.00 ! ! 1.00 1.00/1.20 ! ! ! ! ! !
SERVICE III 1.00 0.80 1.00 ! ! 1.00 1.00/1.20
TG

SE
! ! ! !
SERVICE IV 1.00 ! 1.00 0.70 ! 1.00 1.00/1.20 ! 1.0 ! ! ! !
FATIGUE!LL,
IM & CE ONLY
! 0.75 ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

Table 3.4.1-2 Load Factors for Permanent Loads,
p
.

Load Factor Type of Load, Foundation Type, and Method Used to Calculate
Downdrag Maximum Minimum
DC: Component and Attachments
DC: Strength IV only
1.25
1.50
0.90
0.90
DD: Downdrag Piles, mlinson Method
Piles, Method
Drilled shafts, O"Neil and Reese (1999) Method
1.40
1.05
1.25
0.25
0.30
0.35
DW: Wearing Surfaces and Utilities 1.50 0.65
EH: Horizontal Earth Pressure
Active
At-Rest

1.50
1.35

0.90
0.90
EL: Locked-in Erection Stresses 1.00 1.00
EV: Vertical Earth Pressure
Overall Stability
Retaining Walls and Abutments
Rigid Buried Structure
Rigid Frames
Flexible Buried Structures other than Metal Box Culverts
Flexible Metal Box Culverts

1.00
1.35
1.30
1.35
1.95
1.50

N/A
1.00
0.90
0.90
0.90
0.90
ES: Earth Surcharge 1.50 0.75