Design and analyze walls following accepted geotechnical engineering industry standards. In analyses, use earth pressure loads that follow governing sections of the current edition of the AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications. Consider strength, service, and extreme limit states per AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications requirements. Use resistance factors in accordance with the AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications.

The project engineer must ensure that the retaining wall system is appropriate for its location. Check walls to ensure all potential modes of failure are met at specified limit states. These include sliding, overturning (eccentricity), bearing resistance, and overall (global) stability. Perform external and overall stability check at the Strength limit state using appropriate load combinations in accordance with AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications 11.6.3. Check vertical and lateral movements of the retaining walls for applicable load combinations at Service limit states. Consult governing wall standard sheets and AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications for assumptions and appropriate resistance factors for various modes of failure. Use resistance factors per 11.6.3.7 of AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications. Use a maximum resistance factor of 0.65 for slopes or walls that support abutment, buildings, critical utilities, or for other installations with a low tolerance for failure.

If a TxDOT retaining wall standard is used for the wall design, it is the designer's responsibility to validate the strength values shown on the retaining wall standard used. If the actual soil conditions show a strength weaker than that shown on the governing standard, the designer must determine what modifications and indicate on plan, if any, are necessary to the standard and if any ground improvements are necessary to ensure wall performance.

Avoid setting retaining wall limits and heights such that the ground slope in front of (base of) the wall is sloped greater than 4:1. When walls must be placed on slopes, conduct both short- and long-term stability analyses using appropriate soil strengths, geometry, and loading conditions (live load surcharge, hydrostatic, etc.). Maintain a minimum horizontal bench width in front of walls founded on slope in accordance with RW (MSE) DD standard.

When retaining walls are placed on fill, evaluate the need for additional ground improvement and engineered fill.