The Ankora Retaining Wall Edge:
ANKORA Retaining Wall V.S. MSE Wall Excavation
How does the patented Ankora Retaining Wall System
Address the most common
modes of failure for large retaining walls?
Problem: Sliding
It occurs when the retaining wall translates outward in response to the lateral load from soil, groundwater, surcharge forces, and earthquake.
Ankora Solution:
Sliding is resisted by frictional force developed between the Foundation Footing Plate and the underlying base course gravel. The short Anchor Piles provide additional shear and passive soil resistance in sliding when the weight of the wall is insufficient to prevent sliding.
Problem: Bearing capacity failure
Bearing capacity failure occurs when the soil supporting the base of the retaining wall shears in response to the concentrated load exerted by the retaining wall.
Ankora Solution:
The front anchor piles act in compression to prevent failure. The compression piles provide shaft resistance and bearing resistance, often providing over 20 kips in total compression resistance per pile against bearing failure. The tension anchor piles at the back of the wall plus the weight of the soil above hold down the Ankora Foundation Footing Plate maintaining the compression force on the soil under the entire foundation plate. This allows the total width of the Foundation Plate to resist the compression force acting to induce bearing failure.
Problem: Overturning
Overturning is the rotational toppling of the rows of blocks about the toe of the wall. The rotation can occur about the toe of the foundation footing plate or between rows of blocks above the base of the wall in response to external loads.
Ankora Solution:
Overturning of the entire wall system is resisted by the weight of the Ankora wall, uplift and compression resistances of the rear and front piles (when used), the weight of backfill resting above the Foundation Footing Plates and friction of the soil against the back of wall. It can also be enhanced through the use of soil anchors and geogrid.
Problem: Global failures
Global failures are much like large scale bearing capacity failures, whereby the entire wall is encompassed in the soil failure. Factors affecting the global stability include the frictional and cohesive strength of the subgrade and retained soils, the groundwater and surface water control systems incorporated into the design, the site geometry, the presence of pre-existing soil failures, the height of retaining wall, and transient loading.
Ankora Solution:
The use of the short piles incorporated into the Ankora Retaining Wall can significantly enhance the global stability of the retaining wall. These are often beneficial on steep slopes, where walls at or greater than 12 feet high (3.6 m) are required.
Questions?
If you are an Engineer, Installer, Developer or Producer interested in learning more about the Ankora Retaining Wall System or would like to work with Ankora on your next project, please feel free to call or email our team.