SURCHARGE LOADS (POINT LOAD)

Retaining walls are built in order to hold back earth which would otherwise move downwards. A surcharge load results from forces that are applied along the surface of the backfill behind the wall. These forces apply additional lateral forces along the back of the wall. This spreadsheet calculates the resulting pressure field acting on the retaining wall due to a point load at a given position behind the wall.

Calculation Reference
Surcharge Loads
Pile Design
Geotechnics