Design charts for yield acceleration and seismic displacement of retaining walls with surcharge through limit analysis

Calculating the seismic displacement of retaining walls has an important role in the optimum design of these structures. Also, studying the effect of surcharge is important for the calculation of active pressure as well as permanent displacements of the wall. In this regard, some researchers have investigated active pressure; but, unfortunately, there are few investigations on the seismic displacement of retaining walls with surcharge. In this research, using limit analysis and upper bound theorem, permanent seismic displacement of retaining walls with surcharge was analyzed for sliding and overturning failure mechanisms. Thus, a new formulation was presented for calculating yield acceleration, critical angle of failure wedge, and permanent displacement of retaining walls with surcharge. Also, effects of surcharge, its location and other factors such as height of the wall and internal friction angle of soil on the amount of seismic displacements were investigated. Finally, designing charts were presented for calculating yield acceleration coefficient and angle of failure wedge.