Reinforced concrete retaining walls located near road infrastructure are subjected to dynamic stresses caused by passing vehicles, generating inertial forces that affect the stresses, displacements, and stability of the structure. In Dschang, where these structures are widely used on uneven terrain, these dynamic loads—which are often more demanding than conventional static assumptions—call traditional design methods into question. Numerical modeling using the finite element method makes it possible to analyze their actual influence on the behavior of these structures. This study aims to evaluate, through finite element numerical modeling, the influence of vibrations induced by road traffic on the dynamic behavior of reinforced concrete retaining walls in the city of Dschang (Cameroon). The goal is to analyze the effects of moving loads on the stresses, deformations, displacements, and overall stability of these structures, in order to highlight the limitations of purely static approaches and emphasize the need to incorporate dynamic loads into their design. The methodology adopted is based on a numerical approach based on previous work carried out in Cameroon. It consists of developing a finite element method model using the SAP2000 software, in order to analyze the dynamic response of the reinforced concrete retaining wall subjected to road loads. This simulation makes it possible to assess the influence of traffic-induced vibrations on the stresses, deformations, displacements, and overall stability of the structure in the specific context of Dschang-Falaise. The results of the study highlight significant differences between the analyses under static loads and under traffic loads. The observed differences in maximum deformations are around 6.40%, 6.16%, and 0.89%, while those related to maximum stresses reach 4.60%, 4.22% and 4.01%. These variations reflect the significant influence of the dynamic effects induced by road traffic on the mechanical response of the reinforced concrete retaining wall. The results obtained highlight the need to integrate traffic loads in the design of reinforced concrete retaining walls, due to their significant influence on the structural response. Furthermore, the analysis of the spectral acceleration response shows a decreasing trend in road traffic-induced overload, indicating that the intensity of the dynamic effect decreases with increasing geometric parameters of the wall. Thus, the dimensions of the structure help to mitigate the impact of dynamic loads related to traffic.
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