Comparative analysis of factors influencing the optimal seismic design of retaining walls

Abstract

This study focuses on the optimal cost design of reinforced concrete retaining walls (RCRWs) depending on the flower pollination algorithm (FPA) under seismic loading. The objective function used to minimize the total cost is formed considering the costs of construction materials under the constraints implemented by Turkish Building Earthquake Code-2018 (TBEC-2018). Parametrical analyses have been performed to acquire the optimum design, and diversification of the cases has been formed with the use of different combinations of material costs and soil properties. Four different combinations that were formed as the couples of both concrete and steel costs have been used considering the adopted maximum and minimum costs of the materials throughout the world. Besides, the soil properties have been identified considering the limitations of common soil specifications explained in the well-known literature. In this context, subject to TBEC-2018, three different soil classes have been used, and hence the effect of the differentiation of the peak ground acceleration values has been investigated. As a result, optimum design charts for RCRWs in terms of the base width and wall height have been acquired considering the variants of the analysis.