Engineering Software
by Jack P. Norris, P.E.

RetWall
Cantilever Retaining Wall Design Software

Features


RetWall is an interactive software application to optimally design cantilever retaining walls for gross stability and structural elements. It can also be used for checking, or for pole base stability design.  The program runs in MS-DOS.

The program automatically computes the least base width and key depth, or pole base depth, in 1-inch increments which satisfy user-specified requirements. It also designs stem, base and key structural elements.

Input for design includes stem height, fence height, maximum key depth, location of stem relative to toe or heel, and any of 34 user-selected load, resistance, strength and unit weight parameters including: maximum soil pressure allowed, required overturning and sliding safety factors, required location of resultant, equivalent fluid pressures (active and passive) directly or by Rankine formula, sliding coefficients for friction and cohesion, slope of backfill, vertical and horizontal surcharge, vertical and horizontal line loads, axial and wind load, seismic factor and load on toe. These parameters can be stored on and recalled from disk.

Displays and printouts include all parameters, incremental and total driving forces and moments on stem and on base, elemental and total resisting forces and moments, overturning and sliding safety factors, location of resultant, soil pressure at toe and heel, direct design and analysis of stem (block and/or reinforced concrete), base and key, and more. A short, quick printout option may also be selected.

Input for checking includes dimensions and steel in addition to the above. The program calculates the results based on the given configuration and optionally prints similar reports.

The program will create a .DXF file readable by AutoCAD showing the annotated wall, and optionally the loading and resistance diagrams or shear and moment diagrams. The wall outline and diagrams can also be displayed on screen.

It will also calculate maximum allowable driving forces and moments on any reinforced concrete or concrete block stem for specified parameters.

RetWall is based on the ACI Code and the Uniform Building Code. Concrete calculations are based on ACI strength method or, optionally, the ACI alternate method.


To order RetWall, please visit the ordering page.

To download the trial version of RetWall, please visit the downloads page.