Retaining Walls
÷ Walls built to resist the pressure of liquids,
earth filling, sand or other granular materials
filled behind it after it is built.
÷ commonly required in the construction of hill
roads, dams, abutments and wing walls of
bridges.
÷ Wall may be constructed of dry stone
masonry, stone masonry,brick or concrete,
depending on the type of material to be
retained, site conditions and height of wall.
àesign Principles
÷ Basically concerned with the lateral pressure of the retained
soil and any subsoil water.

÷ àesigned to ensure that

÷ Overturning does not occur
÷ Sliding does not occur
÷ Soil on which wall rests is not overloaded
÷ Materials used in construction is not overloaded.
˜actors that can cause the collapse of retaining
walls:

ï Presence of water at rear of retaining wall which adds to the

pressure exerted by soil.
ï Soil on which wall rests is overloaded
ï Materials used in construction are overloaded.
ï Unsuitability of design of retaining wall

Preventive measures that can be done:

ï Water at rear of retaining wall need to be removed efficiently.

ï Proper design of retaining wall is important so as to ensure
soil and materials used are not overloaded
ï Avoid any earthworks done on site where earth is retained.
Mypes Of Retaining Walls

÷ Mass Retaining Wall

÷ Cantilever Retaining Wall
÷ Large toe
÷ Large heel
ï Counterfort Retaining Wall
ï Precast Retaining Wall
°.Mass Retaining Wall

÷ Sometimes called gravity retaining wall

÷ Economic to height of °.8 m
÷ Can be constructed of semi engineering bricks or
mass concrete
÷ Natural stone suitable for height up to ° m high but
generally used as facing materials for walls ° m high
and above
àiagram of Mass Retaining Wall
þ. Cantilever Retaining Wall
÷ þ forms ±
ï Large heel - offers better resistance to overturning as
base is projecting partly in front and partly behind the
wall.
ï large toe - design is adopted when it is not possible to
excavate behind wall.
÷ Usually of reinforced concrete and works on the
principle of leverage
÷ Has economic height range of °.þ m to 6 m
àiagram of Cantilever Retaining Wall
÷ 
   ÷ 
 

Ä. Counterfort Retaining Wall (also known as Buttress
Retaining Wall)

÷ Can be constructed of reinforced and prestressed

concrete
÷ Suitable for walls of height over 4.5 m
÷ Counterforts are triangular beams placed at suitable
centres behind the stem and above the base
÷ Mermed as a

 if the counterforts are placed in
front exposed to view
àiagram of Counterfort Retaining Wall.
4. Precast Retaining Wall
÷ Manufactured from high grade precast concrete
÷ Erected as permanent retaining wall or free standing
to act as dividing wall
÷ Advantages
ï Reduction in construction time since curing
period is eliminated
ï Costly formwork can be eliminated
ï Mime required to erect and dismantle formwork
can be eliminated
àiagram of Precast Retaining Wall
°. Anda-Crib precast retaining wall
þ. Marley precast retaining wall
wmportance Of àrainage At Retaining Wall
÷ Necessary since water will
cause pressure at rear of wall
÷ Water will reduce strength of
soil
÷ Water will reduce frictional
force between base and soil
thus reduces strength of wall
÷ Mhere are þ methods of
drainage
ï subsoil drain behind wall
ï Weep holes in wall and
drainage channel at front
of wall
àrainage At Retaining Wall
 àrainage At Retaining Wall

WEEP HOLES

WEEP HOLES
àRAwNAGE CHANNEL
 M