A developer proposes to construct an apartment building near an existing retaining wall (Figure P7.27). The building of width 12 m and length 300 m (parallel to the retaining wall) will impose a surface stress of 150 kPa. In the preliminary design, the long edge of the building is located 1 m from the wall. Assume the building load can be treated as a strip load.
(a) Plot the distribution of the lateral force increase with depth up to a depth of 4 m.
(b) What is the maximum value of the lateral force increase, and where does it occur?
(c) If the embedment depth of the retaining wall is 4 m, calculate the maximum additional moment about the base of the wall (point O in Figure P7.27) from constructing the building.
(d) What advice would you give to the developer regarding how far the apartment should be located from the existing retaining wall?