System reliability-based analysis of cantilever retaining walls embedded in granular soils

Reliability-based analysis of cantilever retaining walls requires consideration of different failure mechanisms. In this paper, the reliability of soil-wall system is assessed considering two failure modes: rotational and structural stability, and the system reliability is assumed as a series system. The methodology is based on Monte Carlo Simulation (MCS), and it deals with the variability of the design parameters in the limit equilibrium analysis of a wall embedded in granular soil. Results of the MCS indicate that the reliability of the failure components increases exponentially by increasing the variability of design parameters. The results of the system reliability indicate how the system reliability is different from the component reliabilities. The strength of the weakest component influences the reliability of the system. The system reliability index increases with the wall section gradually. However it remains constant for the rotational failure mode.