Effect of partial restraining conditions and Poisson’s ratio in bottom-restrained walls

The stress distribution in bottom-restrained walls is a desired information for an efficient design of wall-like concrete members which are eccentrically restrained at the bottom. Practical examples are retaining walls or bridge abutment walls where the results were used in order to assess the risk and intensity of harmful separating cracks over the wall height. The stress distributions of common design tasks are usually estimated with graphical solutions in form of diagrams or determined on basis of analytical solutions. In general, all these solutions provide straightforward results, whereby effort and complexity is usually limited by generally approved simplifications within these solutions. This contribution provides detailed background on the effect of common simplifications, namely (i) assuming complete restraint at the wall bottom, or respectively, (ii) separate determination of axial and bending restraint in order to consider partial restraining conditions, and (iii) neglect of Poisson’s effect. The significance of these simplifications is outlined by comparative studies with an Illustrative shell model. Overall, recommendations for the consideration of the outlined effects in practical design were given on basis of these results.