The comparison of the calculated and observed behavior of an achoreged retaining wall

For deep excavation retaining systems within close proximity to existing structures, serviceability issues, i.e., deformations, are as important as the overall stability. Within this context, this study evaluates the deformation behavior of an anchored retaining wall in clay, which was constructed for supporting the excavation of nursing house in Seyranbağları district of Ankara. First, the geotechnical parameters of the soil was estimated using the result of in-situ and laboratory tests as well as those obtained by empirical correlations. Experience from previous local studies was utilized in selecting the proper correlations, as they are numerous in the literature. Then, finite element analyses were performed to predict the retaining wall behavior, focusing mainly on the deformations of the wall itself and surrounding ground. These numerical results were compared with those obtained from in-sit inclinometer and settlement measurements and those estimated by empirical methodologies. Back-calculations were also performed to determine the soil parameters, use of wich would result in exact agreement with in-situ measurements.The results indicate that, with selection of appropriate constitutive model and geotechnical parameters, finite element analyses are capable of predicting the behavior of anchored retaining wall systems with sufficient accuracy