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MSE Wall

Visual Slope is capable to perform MSE wall analyses by using either the NCMA method or AASHTO method.  The NCMA method used in Visual Slope is based on the Third Edition of NCMA Segmental Retaining Wall Design Manual; while the AASHTO method in Visual Slope is in general in accordance with AASHTO 2002 MSE Wall Design Guideline.  Visual Slope is also capable to perform LRFD analyses incorporated with the AASHTO method. 
Commonly, an MSE wall is constructed from dry-stacked units that are usually connected through concrete shear keys or mechanical connectors.  An MSE wall can be constructed as an unreinforced gravity retaining wall or as a retaining wall with reinforcement, such as geogrid, geotextile, metal grid or metal strips.  The soils in a reinforced MSE wall analysis can be divided into three zones.  The soil within the reinforcement zone is called reinforced soil.  The reinforced soil and reinforcement (such as geogrid) as well as dry-stacked units work together and act as a compound gravity wall.  The soil behind the reinforced zone is called retained soil.  The soil that the MSE wall including dry-stacked column and the reinforced zone bears on is called foundation soil.
MSE wall analyses include external stability, internal stability, local stability, and global slope stability, compound stability, as well as settlement.  Visual Slope is capable to provide all those analyses with one simple input file.
To perform an MSE wall analysis using Visual Slope is very similar to perform a slope stability analysis with Visual Slope.  Please read the related sections for details.