Em Retaining Wall

CECW-ED

Department of the Army

EM 1110-2-2502

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Engineer Manual
1110-2-2502

Washington, DC 20314-1000

Engineering and Design
RETAINING AND FLOOD WALLS

Distribution Restriction Statement
Approved for public release; distribution is
unlimited.

29 September 1989

E M 1110-2-2502
29 Sept 1989

US Army Corps
of Engineers

ENGINEERING ANDDESIGN

Retaining and Flood Walls

ENGINEER MANUAL

CECW-ED
CECW-EG

DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
U. S. Army Corps of Engineers
Washington, D. C. 20314-1000

Engineer Manual
No. 1110-2-2502

EM 1110-2-2502

29 September 1989

Engineering and Design
RETAINING AND FLOOD WALLS
1. Purpose. This manual provides guidance for the safe design and economical
construction of retaining andflood walls. This manual is intended primarily
for retaining walls which will be subjected to hydraulic loadings such as
flowing water, submergence, wave action, and spray, exposure to chemically
contaminated atmosphere, and/or severe climatic conditions. For the design of
retaining walls which will not be subjected to hydraulic loadings or severe
environmental conditions as described above, TM5-818-1 may be used for
computing the loadings and evaluating the stability of the structure.
2. Applicability. This manual applies to all HQUSACE/OCE elements and field
operating activities having responsibilities for the design of civil works
projects.
FOR THE COMMANDER:

Albert J. Genetti, Jr.
Colonel, Corps of Engineers
Chief of Staff

_______________
This manual supersedes EM1110-2-2501 dated January 1948 and EM 1110-2-2502
dated 29 May 1961.

CECW-ED
CECW-EG

DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
U. S. Army Corps of Engineers
Washington, D. C. 20314-1000

Engineer Manual
No. 1110-2-2502

EM 1110-2-2502

29 September 1989

Engineering and Design
RETAINING AND FLOOD WALLS

Table of Contents

Subject
CHAPTER 1.

Paragraph

Page

INTRODUCTION
PurposeApplicability
References and Bibliography
Terms
Scope

CHAPTER 2.

Types of Retaining Walls
Common Types of Retaining Walls
Gravity Concrete Wall
Cantilever Reinforced Concrete Wall
Alternate Types of Retaining Walls
Types of Flood Walls
Common Types of Flood Walls
Cantilever T-Type Wall
Cantilever I-Type Wall
Other Types of Flood Walls
Differences Between Retaining and Flood WallsPurpose of Walls
Seepage and Leakage Control Requirements
Wall Stability
Special Flood Wall Monoliths
Design Philosophy
Stability Considerations
Coordination Between Disciplines
Engineering Team
Geotechnical Investigations
Planning the Investigation
Foundation Exploration and Site
Characterization
Testing of Foundation Materials
In Situ Testing of Foundation Materials
Backfill MaterialsDesign Strength Selection

1-1
1-1
1-1
1-1
1-1

2-1
2-2
2-3
2-4

2-1
2-1
2-1
2-1

2-5
2-6
2-7
2-8

2-1
2-4
2-4
2-4

2-9
2-10
2-11
2-12
2-13
2-14

2-4
2-4
2-6
2-6
2-6
2-6

2-15

2-6

2-16

2-7

2-17
2-18
2-19
2-20
2-21

2-7
2-8
2-10
2-15
2-15

GENERAL DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS

Section I.

1-1
1-2
1-3
1-4
1-5

Section II.Section III.

Section IV.
Section V.

i

EM 1110-2-2502
29 Sep 89
Subject

Paragraph

CHAPTER 3.

FORCES ON WALLS

Section I.

Introduction
General
Limit-Equilibrium Analysis
Relationship of Forces to Sliding Analysis
Earth Pressures and Forces
Cohesionless Materials
Cohesive Materials
Pressures in Soil-Water Systems
Design Earth Pressures and Forces, Driving
Side
DesignEarth Pressures and Forces, Resisting
Side
Design Earth Pressures and Forces on the
Base
At-Rest Earth Pressure Equations
Strength Mobilization Factor
Earth Force Calculation, Coulomb’s Equations
Earth Force Calculation, General Wedge
Method
Earth Pressure Calculations Including Wall
Friction
Distribution of Horizontal Earth Pressure
Surcharge Effects
Earth Pressures Due to...