ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT. The factors influencing the design and construction of water retaining structures are reviewed. The paper illustrates the differing solutions available to best balance the environmental and whole life cost considerations. The paper illustrates the differing solutions available to best balance the environmental and whole life cost considerations. The paper achieves this by outlining the solutions utilised on a series of project case studies. The paper also presents an advanced design technique investigated, tested and utilised by Bechtel Water Technology. The technique involves building a soil/structure interaction model for analysis by finite element methods. This technique takes account of the support offered to the structure by the ground beneath and adjacent to the water retaining structure. This technique allows a reduced section size to be utilised in the structure when compared to the requirement of a design undertaken by traditional techniques, which largely ignore the strength of the support ground.
