Predicting the behaviour of non-circular, curved-in-plan retaining walls using the trial load method

Abstract

The trial load method is a long established method to predict the behaviour, and design of arch dams. This paper presents the first implementation of this method to predict the behaviour of non-circular, curved-in-plan, deep excavations. The results of the method were compared to a curved excavation, observed in literature and results of models in PLAXIS 3D. The results show that the trial load method can be successfully used to predict the behaviour of curved walls, and provides insights on further research to validate its use more widely for design purposes and its potential to be applied to the design of typical (i.e. straight) retaining walls