Comparison of retaining wall design from AASHTO LRFD, 4th edition to AASHTO LFD, 17th edition

American Association of Standards for Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) published the new Bridge design specifications in May 1993, Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD), which is based on calibrated load and resistance factors and consistent factors of safety. Upon further development all state Department of Transportations (DOTs) started to implement it from October 2007 replacing the earlier Load Factor Design (LFD) specifications which are based on nonlinear stress-strain response, ductile flexural behavior and arbitrary load factors. This thesis aims to compare the design requirements related to design loads, load combinations and strength factors along with section economy comparisons for the design of retaining walls per AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications, 4th Edition and the AASHTO LFD Bridge Design Specifications, 17th Edition. It also aims to develop a worksheet for obtaining the most economic retaining wall section per both specifications to compare the economy by adopting the new LRFD specifications.