Design of Big Boulder Retaining Walls
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Date
2025
Authors
محمد دار عاوي
عمر ابو الوفا
اسامة مشاري
مؤيد صايمة
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Abstract
Retaining walls are essential structures in civil engineering, providing support to soil and preventing erosion, landslides, and ground instability. These walls are widely used in infrastructure projects, particularly in areas with sloped terrain or where soil retention is required. Among the various types of retaining walls, stone retaining walls have been used for centuries due to their durability, aesthetic appeal, and ability to blend naturally with the environment.
This project (Graduation Project 1) aims to provide a comprehensive review of different types of retaining walls, with a specific focus on stone retaining walls. The study will explore their historical significance, construction techniques, and advantages in modern engineering applications. Additionally, it will highlight key factors that influence the stability and efficiency of stone retaining walls, including material selection, foundation preparation, and structural design.
While this phase of the project is centered on reviewing and analyzing stone retaining walls, the next phase (Graduation Project 2) will focus on the actual design process. This will include detailed engineering calculations, structural modeling, and comparisons between different retaining wall types in terms of cost, efficiency, and sustainability. Through this project, we aim to establish a solid understanding of stone retaining walls as a crucial engineering solution and lay the groundwork for further design and practical implementation in future studies.
Graduation Project 2 continues the study by moving from the theoretical and analytical phase into practical design and comparison. In this stage, two actual retaining walls were designed on the same site—one constructed from large boulders and the other from reinforced concrete.
The structural design and analysis were carried out using engineering software such as Prokon, SAP2000, and AutoCAD, alongside detailed manual calculations to verify the results and ensure safety in accordance with ACI 318-19. The design included analysis of sliding and overturning stability, reinforcement detailing, verification of bearing pressure, shear, bending moments, and other essential factors.
At the end of the project, both walls were compared comprehensively in terms of cost, safety, aesthetics, ease of construction, and future maintenance requirements, with the aim of evaluating the most suitable type of retaining wall from both a technical and practical perspective.