Design Inputs

The Design tab has four categories: Soil Properties, Design Methodology, Parameters, and Errors.

Soil properties

Input your soil conditions for the entire wall across three zones:

• Retained Zone — behind the wall reinforcement.
• Foundation Zone — beneath the wall.
• Infill Zone — within the reinforcement of the wall.

To change a soil condition, click its current value and Struction offers alternatives.

Design methodology

• Design Method — LRFD or ASD.
• Limit State & Load Factors — strengths based on the methodology you selected.
• Load Factors — where you see or edit the factors of safety.

Parameters

• Wall Friction Angle and Base Friction Angle — the frictional components between the wall system and its surrounding context. It's best to consult an engineer to determine these.
• Embedment — how much of the bottom of the wall is buried by the bottom-of-wall grade in front.
• Max Top Grade Exposure — how aggressive or conservative the wall is about top-of-wall conditions. A tall max top grade exposure lets top-of-wall grades run above the top units by a given amount before the system steps up.
• X/Y Offset — moves the retaining wall units relative to the envelope you took off on the previous page.

Errors

The Errors section is designed for when you share your project with an engineer — it's where the engineer approves the soil conditions and parameters.

Regenerating the wall

Whenever you change anything in the Design panel, hit Regenerate wall at the bottom of the panel to apply it.