Geolok
Geolok automatically designs dry stack concrete block (CRB) retaining walls as gravity walls.
Geolok runs on Windows 95/98/NT/2000/ME
The user is able to interactively enter and edit, inter alia:
- Properties for the retained soil and the soil in front of the wall.
- Slopes behind and in front of the wall.
- A uniformly distributed load behind the wall.
A line load behind the wall. - Properties for three different retaining block sizes.
- The program generates the optimal design for the three different block sizes and this design is presented on a graphical plot of the wall.
Geolok utilises either a search for the critical wedge or formulae based onCoulomb theory to determine the forces that act on the retaining wall as a consequence of active and passive earth pressures. An optimal design is carried out utilising Sliding and Overturning FOS’s specified by the user, in compliance with the constraint that the line of action of the resultant force passes through rear 2/3 of the bottom blocks. This is achieved by reducing the effective weight of the wall if the line of action of the resultant passes behind the blocks, until it is within the blocks. If its impossible to achieve the desired wall height with an acceptable FOS, then you will have to either flatten the wall slope and it will also help if you give the blocks a backwards tilt or increase the size and weight of the retaining blocks (this can be achieved by forming soilcrete in and for a specified depth behind the blocks).
In practice, a backwards tilt of the blocks can either be a done by inclining the top surface of the foundation, or by setting the bottom row of blocks in wet concrete with the desired backwards tilt.
To download a fully functional 30 day trial version click here.