Laterally Loaded Lock Block Wall as Footing for Temporary Shoring to Support a Structural Slab
Kun Yang, Khuram Mohib, Stephan Ptatschek
In the proceedings of: GeoManitoba 2025: 78th Canadian Geotechnical Conference & 9th Canadian Permafrost ConferenceSession: Soil Mechanics & Foundations 3
ABSTRACT: A temporary retaining wall consisting of three levels of concrete lock blocks was constructed to provide lateral support to a platform supporting pedestrian traffic in downtown Toronto. The construction sequence required this temporary wall to be used as a foundation for shoring posts supporting a reinforced concrete slab above. The wall supporting the slab along one side was required to be demolished during construction. The challenging ground conditions, with sandy silt subgrade, required the wall to support eccentric loading without excessive settlement or rotation. Survey and tiltmeters were used to monitor field response. Bearing capacity, settlement and finite element analysis was done to predict wall behavior. The system was successfully commissioned to support the slab during construction and demonstrated the use of a lock block wall in complex geotechnical conditions.
RÉSUMÉ: Un mur de soutènement temporaire composé d’une hauteur de trois massifs de béton a été construit pour fournir un support latéral à une plateforme soutenant le trafic piétonnier dans le centre-ville de Toronto. Selon la séquence de construction, un des murs soutenant la dalle devait être démoli pendant la construction. Cela a eu pour conséquence que ce mur temporaire soit utilisé comme fondation pour de l’étaiement supportant une dalle de béton armé. Avec un sol composé de silt sableux, les conditions géotechniques représentaient un défi. La conception du mur visait à limiter l’affaissement ou la rotation importante du mur en raison des charges. Des relevés d’instruments et des inclinomètres ont été utilisés pour surveiller la réponse sur le terrain. La capacité portante, le tassement et l'analyse par éléments finis ont été effectués pour prédire le comportement du mur. Ce système de soutènement a été mis en service avec succès pour soutenir la dalle pendant la construction et a démontré l'utilisation d'un mur de massifs de béton lors de conditions géotechniques complexes.
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Yang, Kun, Mohib, Khuram, Ptatschek, Stephan (2025) Laterally Loaded Lock Block Wall as Footing for Temporary Shoring to Support a Structural Slab in GEO2025. Ottawa, Ontario: Canadian Geotechnical Society.
@inproceedings{Yang_GEO2025_58,
author = {{Yang, Kun}, {Mohib, Khuram}, {Ptatschek, Stephan}}
title = {Laterally Loaded Lock Block Wall as Footing for Temporary Shoring to Support a Structural Slab }
booktitle = {Proceedings of the 78th Canadian Geotechnical Conference & 9th Canadian Permafrost Conference}
year = {2025}
organization = {The Canadian Geotechnical Society},
address = {Ottawa, Canada} }
title = {Laterally Loaded Lock Block Wall as Footing for Temporary Shoring to Support a Structural Slab }
booktitle = {Proceedings of the 78th Canadian Geotechnical Conference & 9th Canadian Permafrost Conference}
year = {2025}
organization = {The Canadian Geotechnical Society},
address = {Ottawa, Canada} }