Abstract: The stress and deformation characteristics of two-level cantilever retaining wall were analyzed through finite element modelling. The size of the upper wall and the lower wall was the same, the filling surface was inclined, and the upper wall and the lower wall were overlapped with each other. The maximum lateral displacement of filling was found near the heel plate of the upper wall. The lower wall had a tendency of overturning towards the free face; but the upper wall deviated from the free face due to the displacement of filling. The vertical earth pressures on the heel plate of the upper wall and lower wall were both nonlinear: the farther away from the foot of retaining wall, the greater the value of the vertical earth pressure; and vice versa. Two sliding surfaces were observed in the filling soil of the two-level cantilever retaining wall, of which the first slip surface was near the root of heel plate of the lower wall, and the second slip surface was near the root of heel plate of the upper wall.

Key words: two-level cantilever retaining wall, vertical earth pressure, lateral earth pressure, lateral displacement, sliding plane, safety factor