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Retaining structures (walls and gabions)

Slope NX models retaining structures as part of the slope, both in the drawing and in the calculation. You add them from the Input → Retaining structures panel.

RC wall and gabions

  • RC wall: cantilever with footing, defined by parametric dimensions (height, head/base thicknesses, downhill/uphill toes, footing thickness) and the concrete unit weight.
  • Gabions: stepped stacked blocks (base × number of rows), with the fill unit weight.

The wall is created from the dialog and dragged into position on the section: arm the move with the ✥ icon, then drag; the command disarms itself after the move. The facing direction (downhill on the left or right) sets the orientation.

Effect in the calculation

  • The wall weight enters the slices that intersect its footprint.
  • The critical surface does not cross the wall: it is a rigid body, surfaces go around it.
  • For global stability it helps to extend the profile downhill/uphill and use Auto-place grid, which positions the centres so the circles pass beneath the footing and daylight at the toe.

Backfill behind the wall

With the connect the head option on, the backfill soil behind the wall is not just graphics: it is modeled as real soil in the calculation. The calculation profile rises in the backfill zone (without double-counting the concrete) and the added volume enters as a layer.

Assign the backfill material with a double-click on the hatched wedge behind the wall: that material's weight and strength (c′, φ′) enter the calculation where the surface crosses the backfill.

Backfill already at grade

If you drew the topographic profile already at the finished grade (backfill included in the ground line), leave connect OFF: the backfill is already soil and the wedge is not needed.

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