A study of model retaining walls supported by multi-plate anchors.

The study reported in this thesis forms part of a continuing
programme of research on the performance of anchors and anchored
supported structures being carried out at the University of Sheffield.
In addition to a review of some of the recent laboratory studies,
field observations and analytical investigations, the present study
incorporates two main parts. In the first part, the failure mechanism
and load carrying capacity of multi-plate anchors were investigated in
a series of small scale studies. The study showed the difference in
behaviour between single and multi-plate horizontal anchors and led to
a better understanding of their failure mechanism. It also provided
information for the design of the multi-plate anchors to be used in
the second part of the research programme.
In the second part, the behaviour of a 0.6 m high rigid retaining
wall in a normally consolidated sand and supported by up to four rows
of' anchors, was studied.
Different design methods were employed to examine the overall
stability of the wall-anchors-soil system. These were investigated
experimentally in a series of tests in which field. construction
procedure was simulated. After construction was completed, the
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retained backfill was subjected to surcharge loading in an attempt to
approach failure. Normal earth pressure distribution on both sides of
the wall, normal and shear components of the wall base reaction,
anchor load changes, anchor movements, wall movements, sand surface
subsidence and sand movements within the retained sand mass were
monitored.
The study showed the reliability of the different design methods
and the effect of parameters such as anchor lengths and prestress
loads on the overall behaviour of the systems.