Parametric investigation for discrete optimal design of a cantilever retaining wall

Abstract

In this paper, discrete design optimization of a cantilever retaining wall has been submitted associated with a detailed parametric study of the wall. In optimal design, the minimum wall weight is treated as the objective function. Through design algorithm, the optimal design variables (base width, toe width, thickness of base slab and angle of front face) yielded minimum structural weight of the wall and satisfied stability conditions have been determined for different soil parameter values. At the end, a detail parametric study searching the effect of change of soil parameters on the retaining wall design has been conducted with 120 optimized wall designs for different values; eight values of the angle of internal friction, three values of the unit volume weight and five values of wall heights. The obtained results from optimization analyses indicate that change of the angle of internal friction more effective than change of the unit volume weight on the optimal wall weight. Economic wall design with optimization analysis is achieved in a shorter time than the traditional method.