Retaining Walls: Types, Functions, and Construction Techniques

What Is a Retaining Wall?

A retaining wall is a design of a structure; it is built when there is a desired change in ground elevation and to resist the lateral pressure of soil that exceeds the repose angle of the soil.

At different levels on the two sides supporting soil laterally retaining, walls are used. Where the soil is the slope, and the ground can’t resist naturally there, the retaining wall is constructed to resist the soil.

The pressure on the wall design value, it is important to have proper drainage behind the wall at the limit. In retaining walls to improve the stability of the material behind the wall, the drainage material will reduce or remove the hydrostatic pressure.

In retaining walls due to gravity, the retaining walls are constructed to prevent the tendency of the retained material to move down the slope by proper design and installation. The retaining wall is a wall that is constructed for more specific purposes like roadway overpasses or hillside farming.

Types of Retaining Walls

Many different types of retaining walls are below –

1. Gravity Retaining Wall.
2. Reinforced Retaining Wall.
3. Buttressed Retaining Wall.
4. Concrete Cantilever Retaining Wall.
5. Mechanical Stabilisation Retaining Wall.
6. Reinforced Soil Retaining Wall.
7. Green Retaining Wall.
8. Anchored Retaining Wall.

1. Gravity Retaining Wall

To improve stability by leaning back toward the retained soil gravity wall relies on their mass may have a batter setback and to resist pressure from behind.

They occur often made from mortarless stone and segment concrete units for short landscape walls. In gravity, walls do not require a rigid footing and relatively flexible.

2. Reinforced Retaining Wall

To provide stability against overturning reinforced concrete walls on the spread, the foundation is gravity structures. It is provided by reinforcement bars and the weight of the walls.

3. Buttressed Retaining Wall

With the base slab and the back of the wall slab, the Buttressed retaining wall is a cantilever wall straightened with counter forts monolithic.

Connect the wall slab and the base of the counterfort act as tension stiffness to reduce the bending moment in vertical walls of great height. For the height greater than 8 to 12 m, the counterfort is used for high walls.

4. Concrete Cantilever Retaining Wall

The concrete cantilever retaining wall most common type used as a retaining wall. The concrete cantilever retaining wall also consists that’s a type of walls, which are connected to the foundation.

The wall against overtaking and sliding by the weight of the backfill and surcharge also stabilises; this slab foundation is also loaded by backfill.

5. Mechanical Stabilisation Retaining Wall

Which walls can tolerate some differential movement is named the mechanically stabilized earth walls. Whilst retaining the backfill soil, the wall face is infilled with granular soil.

There doesn’t require a framework of mechanical stabilization wall; this is the advantage of the walls. By using steel or geotextile soil reinforcement, the mechanically stabilized walls are made.

6. Reinforced Soil Retaining Wall

The reinforced soil retaining walls use as an alternative to the use of reinforced concrete. The reinforced soil retaining walls use as used retaining walls if they are built as an integral part of the design. And the other solutions as a result of the ground conditions and the grounds of the economy.

7. Green Retaining Wall

To retain more gentle slopes, green retaining walls can be used. To stabilize it, a geo cellular structure such as a series of honeycomb cells can be implanted into the surface of the slope. After that, to stabilize a geo cellular structure, individual cells can be planted.

8. Anchored Retaining Wall

When we need to include additional strength in the rock or soil behind by using cables or other stays anchored, an anchored retaining wall can be constructed. At the end of the cable, it usually drove into the material with boring anchors are then expanded. In the soil, which expands to form a bulb.

How Retaining Walls Work?

There have been many works of retaining walls that are below.

1. The work of retaining walls is to prevent the landscape from the construction site.
2. The work of retaining wall is it is built when there is a desired change in ground elevation and to resist the lateral pressure of soil that exceeds the repose angle of the soil.
3. Another work of retaining wall is that, where the soil is the slope, and the soil can’t resist by naturally there the retaining wall is constructed to resist the soil.
4. When we need to include additional strength in the rock or soil behind by using cables or other stays anchored, a retaining wall is constructed.

Retaining Wall Detail:

The detail of retaining is below.

1. A retaining wall is a design of a structure; it is built when there is a desired change in ground elevation and to resist the lateral pressure of soil that exceeds the repose angle of the soil.
2. Where the soil is the slope, and the soil can’t resist by naturally there, the retaining wall is constructed to resist the soil.
3. At different levels on the two sides supporting soil laterally retaining, walls are used.
4. In retaining walls to improve the stability of the material behind the wall, the drainage material will reduce or remove the hydrostatic pressure.

Retaining Wall Construction:

1. Retaining walls are generally designed at different levels on the two sides of the soil to provide rigid walls used for supporting soil laterally.
2. A retaining wall is a design of a structure; it is built when there is a desired change in ground elevation and to resist the lateral pressure of soil that exceeds the repose angle of the soil.
3. The pressure on the wall design value, it is important to have proper drainage behind the wall at the limit.
4. In retaining walls to improve the stability of the material behind the wall, the drainage material will reduce or remove the hydrostatic pressure.
5. Where the soil is the slope, and the soil can’t resist by naturally there, the retaining wall is constructed to resist the soil.

Retaining Wall Systems:

1. The system of retaining walls is that typically designed at different levels on the two sides of the soil to provide rigid walls used for supporting soil laterally.
2. The system of the retaining wall is it is constructed to prevent the tendency of the retained material to move down the slope by proper design and installation.
3. The system of retaining is it is constructed at different levels on the two sides supporting soil laterally retaining.
4. It is constructed by systematic for slope where the soil can’t resist by naturally there the retaining wall is constructed to resist the soil.

Retaining Wall Anchoring:

Anchored retaining wall is the most important wall in the retaining walls.

1. When we need to include additional strength in the rock or soil behind by using cables or other stays anchored, an anchored retaining wall can be constructed.
2. At the end of the cable, it usually drove into the material with boring anchors are then expanded.
3. In the soil, which expands to form a bulb.

Retaining Wall Options:

There are basically four types of retaining wall that are below.

1. Gravity Wall

1. To improve stability by leaning back toward the retained soil gravity wall relies on their mass may have a batter setback and to resist pressure from behind.
2. They occur often made from mortarless stone and segment concrete units for short landscape walls.
3. In gravity, walls do not require a rigid footing and relatively flexible.

2. Cantilever Retaining Wall

1. The cantilever retaining wall most common type used as a retaining wall.
2. The cantilever retaining wall also consists that’s a types of wall, which are connected to the foundation.
3. The wall against overtaking and sliding by the weight of the backfill and surcharge also stabilizes; this slab foundation is also loaded by backfill.

3. Anchored Wall

1. When we need to include additional strength in the rock or soil behind by using cables or other stays anchored, an anchored retaining wall can be constructed.
2. At the end of the cable, it usually drove into the material with boring anchors are then expanded.
3. In the soil, which expands to form a bulb.

4. Sheet Piling Retaining wall

1. A sheet piling retaining wall is a thin layer of steel, vinyl, or wood that is driven directly into the soil.
2. To provide additional reinforcement, there has a vertically corrugated structure.

FAQ: Retaining Walls

What is a retaining wall?

A retaining wall is a structure built to resist the lateral pressure of soil when there is a desired change in ground elevation. It supports soil laterally at different levels and is commonly used in areas where the natural slope of the ground cannot resist soil movement.

What are the main functions of a retaining wall?

The main functions of a retaining wall include preventing soil erosion, providing support for vertical or near-vertical grade changes, and resisting the lateral pressure of soil. Retaining walls are also used to create usable land on slopes and to prevent landslides and flooding.

What are the different types of retaining walls?

The different types of retaining walls include:

1. Gravity Retaining Wall
2. Reinforced Retaining Wall
3. Buttressed Retaining Wall
4. Concrete Cantilever Retaining Wall
5. Mechanical Stabilisation Retaining Wall
6. Reinforced Soil Retaining Wall
7. Green Retaining Wall
8. Anchored Retaining Wall

How does a gravity retaining wall work?

A gravity retaining wall relies on its own mass to resist the pressure from the soil behind it. These walls may have a batter setback to improve stability and are often made from materials like mortarless stone or concrete units.

What is a reinforced retaining wall?

A reinforced retaining wall uses reinforcement bars to provide stability against overturning. These walls are constructed with reinforced concrete on a spread foundation and rely on both the reinforcement and the weight of the wall for stability.

What is a buttressed retaining wall?

A buttressed retaining wall is a type of cantilever wall strengthened with counter forts, which are monolithic with the base slab and the back of the wall slab. These counter forts act as tension stiffeners to reduce the bending moment in tall vertical walls.

What are the advantages of mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) walls?

MSE walls can tolerate some differential movement and do not require a rigid framework. They are constructed by using steel or geotextile soil reinforcement to retain the backfill soil, making them flexible and adaptable to various site conditions.

How do green retaining walls differ from other types?

Green retaining walls are used to stabilize more gentle slopes. They involve the use of geo cellular structures, such as honeycomb cells, which are implanted into the slope’s surface. These cells can then be planted to stabilize the slope naturally.

When is an anchored retaining wall used?

An anchored retaining wall is used when additional strength is needed in the soil or rock behind the wall. This type of wall uses cables or stays anchored into the material behind the wall, which are expanded to form a bulb for added stability.

What is the importance of drainage in retaining walls?

Proper drainage is crucial in retaining walls to reduce or remove hydrostatic pressure behind the wall. Drainage materials are used to improve the stability of the soil behind the wall by allowing water to escape, thus preventing excessive pressure buildup.

What are sheet piling retaining walls?

Sheet piling retaining walls consist of thin layers of steel, vinyl, or wood that are driven directly into the soil. These walls often have a vertically corrugated structure for additional reinforcement and are used in situations where space is limited.

How do retaining walls prevent soil erosion?

Retaining walls prevent soil erosion by holding back soil and preventing it from moving downhill. They provide a stable structure that resists the natural movement of soil, thereby protecting the landscape and preventing erosion-related issues.