Comparative Review and Evaluation of the Seismic Performance and Techno-Economic Optimization of Retaining Wall Types Considering Soil–Structure Interaction (SSI)

Retaining walls are among the most widely used structures in civil engineering. Owing to the complex nature of soil–structure interaction, the design of these structures is an iterative trial-and-error process. Moreover, given the large quantities of concrete and reinforcing steel they require, the geometric and structural optimization of retaining walls has become economically essential. This review examines the structural performance and techno-economic criteria of several retaining wall types, including gravity, simple cantilever (T-shaped), counterfort, buttressed, and stepped cantilever walls. The results indicate that the economic efficiency of each system depends on wall height and construction constraints. On the other hand, the traditional assumption of absolute rigidity under seismic loading, as used in the Mononobe–Okabe (M–O) method, produces unrealistic behavior. By contrast, accounting for structural flexibility and soil–structure interaction (SSI) effects can reveal critical deformations and permanent displacements and allow for stress redistribution. Simultaneously balancing the costs of concrete, reinforcing steel, formwork, and excavation can reduce the total project cost by up to ۲۹%. In addition, providing adequate drainage is essential to prevent the gradual transition from active to at-rest earth pressure and the resulting structural instability.

کلیدواژه ها:

Civil engineering ، retaining wall ، geometric and structural optimization ، seismic loading ، at-rest pressure ، soil–structure interaction