RETAINING WALLS

RETAINING WALL

Basic function to
retain soil at a slope
which is greater than
it would naturally
assume, usually at a
vertical or near
vertical position
 Retaining wall failure at the Shin-Kang Dam
 Design of retaining wall

retaining walls have primary function of

retaining soils at an angle in excess of the
soils nature angle of repose.
Walls within the design height range are
designed to provide the necessary resistance
by either their own mass or by the principles of
leverage.
Design consideration:
1. Overturning of the wall does not occur
2. Forward sliding does not occur
3. Materials used are suitable
4. The subsoil is not overloaded
 Factors which designer need to take
account
Nature and characteristics of the subsoil's
Height of water table the presence of water
can create hydrostatic pressure, affect bearing
capacity of the subsoil together with its shear
strength, reduce the frictional resistance
between the underside of the foundation
Type of wall
Materials to be used in the construction
 Failure of retaining wall (dam) due to water
pressure..
 Types of walls

Mass retaining walls

Cantilever walls
Counterfort retaining
walls
Precast concrete
retaining walls
Precast concrete crib-
retaining walls
 Mass retaining walls

Sometimes called gravity walls and rely upon

their own mass together with the friction on the
underside of the base to overcome the tendency
to slide or overturn
Generally only economic up to 1.8 m
Mass walls can be constructed of semi-
engineering quality bricks bedded in a 1:3
cement mortar or of mass concrete
Natural stone is suitable for small walls up to
1m high but generally it is used as a facing
material for walls over 1 m
Typical example of mass retaining
walls

BRICK MASS RETAINING WALL

 Brick retaining
wall

Stone retaining
wall
Typical example of mass retaining
walls

MASS CONCRETE RETAINING WALL

WITH STONE FACINGS
 Cantilever walls

Usually of reinforced concrete and work on the

principle of leverage where the stem is
designed as a cantilever fixed at the base and
the base is designed as a cantilever fixed at the
stem
Economic height range of 1.2 m to 6 m using
pre-stressing techniques
Any durable facing material can be applied to
the surface to improve appearance of the wall
Cantilever wall
 Two basic forms:-
A base with a large heel
A cantilever with a large toe

Cantilever T Cantilever L
Cantilever walls
 Counterfort retaining walls

Can be constructed of reinforced or prestressed

concrete
Suitable for over 4.5 m
Triangular beams placed at suitable centres
behind the stem and above the base to enable
the stem and base to act as slab spanning
horizontally over or under the counterforts
 Precast concrete retaining wall

Manufactured from high-grade pre cast concrete on the

cantilever principle.
Can be erected on a foundation as permanent retaining
wall or be free standing to act as dividing wall between
heaped materials which it can increase three times the
storage volume for any given area
Other advantages- reduction in time by eliminating
curing period, cost of formwork, time to erect and
dismantle the temporary forms
Lifting holes are provided which can be utilized for
fixing if required
application
Precast concrete retaining walls
 Pre cast concrete crib-retaining walls

Designed on the principle of mass retaining

walls
A system of pre cast concrete or treated timber
components comprising headers and stretchers
which interlock to form a 3 dimensional
framework or crib of pre cast concrete timber
units within which soil is retained
Constructed with a face batter between 1:6 and
1:8
Subsoil drainage is not required since the open
face provides adequate drainage.