What methodologies are used to design retaining walls?
The American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials (AASHTO) uses the FHWA Publication Number FHWA-SA 96-071 Mechanically Stabilized Earth Walls and Reinforced Soil Slopes Design and Construction Guidelines (known as Demo 82) dated October 1996. AASHTO is generally used for public and government projects. It calls for reinforcement depths equal to the greater of 70 percent of the wall height or 8 feet, requires uniform reinforcement depths, requires imported sand or gravel in the reinforced zone, and calls for a minimum embedment depth of 2 feet. Other design methodologies may be available depending on the system used.
