Retaining Wall

Retaining Wall

Retaining Wall: A structure that provides the support needed to hold (in place) a mass of earth, preventing it from moving downhill. Retaining walls are relatively rigid structures comprising footings and a drainage system, in order to retain the soils between two different elevations. Updated May 25, 2020.

Construction & Design

A lot goes into the proper designing and installation of these structures. For instance, one important consideration is the natural tendency of the retained material. Other factors are moisture content, subsurface drainage, normal and lateral forces, soil characteristics, vegetation, and more. Furthermore, the local geology must be considered, as the area may have particular slope failure points and faults which need to be mitigated. If these aspects of a site are not properly addressed, a wall may not be well engineered. And as a result, earth pressures can overturn or push the wall towards failure.

The Four Basic Retaining Wall Catagories

Gravity Retaining Walls

A gravity wall is the most basic type. These walls use mass and weight to hold the soil and resist lateral earth pressure. When it comes to materials, a gravity wall has the widest amount of variety. Some options available are pavers, segmented blocks, unmortared stone, and bricks.

Sheet Piling Structure

A sheet piling retaining wall uses a thin wall of wood, vinyl, or steel that is driven directly into the soil. Sheet piling walls have a vertically corrugated structure that provides additional reinforcement and is usually applicable when space is an issue. It can also offer the most cost-effective solution.

Anchored Retaining Wall

An anchored wall is commonly used to provide additional support for structurally thinner walls. It allows for a number of “wall fronts” to be supported by anchors driven into the earth behind them. The anchors are affixed by strips or cables. Usually, these anchors are mechanically driven into the earth and their ends are expanded by mechanical means, or by injecting pressurized concrete.

Cantilevered Wall

This type of retaining wall is also called a reinforced retaining wall and works on the principles of leverage. It makes use of a wall attached to a slab foundation that goes under the soil the wall is supporting with an “L” shape form. A cantilevered wall is considered as the most common type of earth-retaining structure and is favored in commercial developments for its strength.

Similar Posts

  • Liquid Limit (LL)

    ByGeo Forward

    Liquid Limit (LL) “Liquid Limit (LL)” in the field of geological engineering, refers to the upper limit of the “plastic state.” This is a separation of the plastic phase and viscous liquid phase when measuring soil consistency. Mathematically, it is the water content (basing on the percent of dry weight), at which two sections of…

  • Dry Density (ρd)

    ByGeo Forward

    Dry Density (ρd) “Dry Density” (ρd) is a value that represents the density of soil when it is completely dry. To illustrate, it equates to (“bulk density” / 1) + “water content.” This is a common geotechnical engineering laboratory procedure. Dry Density Formula Dry Density = [(Bulk Density ÷ 1) + (Water Content)]

  • Reverse Fault Definition

    ByGeo Forward

    Reverse Fault Reverse Fault: In the field of geology, a reverse fault is a dip-slip fault in which the hanging wall moves upwards, relative to the footwall. The average dipping angle of a reverse fault ranges from 45 to 90 degrees. However, if less than 45 degrees, it becomes a “thrust fault.” Reverse faults are…

  • Rock Stratigraphic Unit

    ByGeo Forward

    Rock Stratigraphic Unit In the field of geology, a rock stratigraphic unit, or a lithostratigraphic unit, is a geologic formation that is identifiable by a specific lithology, as well as a consistent stratigraphic position. For example, the Monterey Formation is a rock stratigraphic unit, as it tends to consistently comprise the same gravel and sand…

  • Fault Scarp

    ByGeo Forward

    Fault Scarp Fault Scarp: In the field of geology, a dip-slip fault scarp is a steep slope that is formed directly by fault movement. It occurs along the line of a normal fault, reverse fault, or transform fault. A fault scarp represents the planer surface of the fault before erosion and weathering modify it.