10 Types of Retaining Wall | What Is a Retaining Wall | Gravity Retaining Wall | Retaining Wall Design
What Is a Retaining Wall?
Retaining Wall
Retaining walls are rigid wall structures that support soil laterally help so that they can maintain the surface of the ground at different elevations on either side of the structure.
If there is no retaining wall support, the soil at a higher elevation would tend to move down till it acquires its natural, stable configuration.
Consequently, the soil that is now retained at a steeper slope than it can sustain by virtue of its shear strength exerts a force on the retaining wall. There are various types of retaining walls constructed to keep soil in a safer state as discussed below.
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Retaining Wall Types
Following are the types of retaining walls,
1. Gravity Retaining Wall
Gravity Retaining wall assures its stability by its own weight. These walls are majorly designed to eliminate the overturning effect of the lateral earth pressure and do not induce tensile stresses within the section.
Gravity retaining walls are suitable for low heights and are not economical for large heights. It can be made from stone, bricks, mass concrete, and precast concrete blocks.
Gravity Retaining Wall
Its section is of trapezoidal shape with a base width between 0.3 and 0.5 H, where H is the height of the wall and the top width is between 0.2m to 0.3m.
In the case of a concrete gravity retaining wall, a top width of 0.3 m is recommended for the proper placement of concrete.
2. Cantilever Retaining Wall
Cantilever Retaining Walls
Reinforced concrete cantilever types of retaining walls are recommended for heights up to 7 m. This type of wall has a vertical stem monolithic with the base.
A slender section can be used in this retaining wall the tensile stresses within the stem and the base is resisted by steel reinforcement.
In case the slope of the wall is exposed a small backward batter of about 1 in 50 is provided in order to compensate for any forward tilting of the wall as shown in Figure.
3. Counterfort Retaining Wall
Counterfort Retaining Wall
Counterfort retaining walls are used for heights more than 6m. Its stem provided acts as a slab spanning between the counterfort supports. The distance between support is about 2/3 H but should not be less than 2.5 m.
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4. Buttress Retaining Wall
A buttress wall is a form of counterfort wall. These types of retaining walls are built on the face of the wall and not within the backfill.
Buttress walls are not too popular because of their buttressed shape exposed outside which consumes space and spoils the appearance.
5. Crib Retaining Wall
The crib wall is shown in the figure. Crib walls consist of a series of boxes made from timber, precast concrete, or steel members, which are filled with granular soils. It acts as a gravity wall with the advantage of a quick erection.
Crib walls can withstand large displacements of soil due to their flexible nature. It is usually fitted so that its face has a batter of 1 in 6.
The width of the wall varies from 0.5 to 1.0 H and is suitable for walls up to a height of about 7.0 m. Note that the crib wall should not be subjected to surcharge loadings.
6. Gabion Retaining Wall
These retaining walls are constructed from rectangular metal cages or baskets. A gabion wall is made from a square grid of steel fabric, generally, 5 mm in diameter and spaced 75 mm apart.
The gabion baskets are usually 2 m long and 1 m in cross-section. Each basket is provided with a center diaphragm divided into two equal 1 m 1 m sections and adds stability.
At the time of making stone-filled baskets are secured together with steel wire of 2.5 mm diameter. The base width of the gabion wall is about 0.5H.
A typical wall is shown in the figure. A good-looking face can be provided by slightly stepping back each succeeding layer.
7. Sheet Pile Retaining Wall
Sheet pile retaining walls are constructed from a series of interlocking piles individually driven into the foundation soil.
Nowadays, modern sheet piles are constructed from steel, timber, or precast concrete sections are also used.
Sometimes, a Cantilever sheet pile wall is held in the ground by the active and passive pressures that act on its lower part.
8. Anchored Earth Retaining Wall
Anchored Earth Wall
These types of retaining walls are fixed at the base and are supported by a row or two rows of ties or struts placed near the top.
9. Diaphragm Retaining Wall
Diaphragm walls can be reinforced concrete walls or sheet pile walls. It includes a vertical concrete reinforced concrete slab fixed in position.
Wall is held in position by the passive and active pressures acting on its lower portion.
10. Reinforced Earth Retaining Wall
In this retaining wall, the use of reinforcement to strengthen the soil has been known for centuries. In the past straws are used to strengthen unburnt bricks and fascine mattresses have been used to strengthen soft soil deposits prior to road construction.
The main phenomenon working in reinforced earth walls is that a mass of soil can be given tensile strength in a specific direction if the lengths of a material capable of carrying tension are embedded within it in the required direction. Reinforced earth has been used in many geotechnical applications.
Here, we are only concerned with retaining structures. A reinforced earth wall is a gravity structure.
FAQs:
What are the Types of Retaining Walls?Retaining Walls are broadly classified as follows,
1. Gravity Retaining Wall
2. Cantilever Retaining Wall
3. Counterfort Retaining Wall
4. Buttress Retaining Wall
5. Crib Retaining Wall
6. Gabion Retaining Wall
7. Sheet Pile Retaining Wall
8. Anchored Earth Retaining Wall
9. Diaphragm Retaining Wall
10. Reinforced Retaining Earth WallWhat are the Retaining walls and their types?Retaining walls are structures that are beneficial in retaining the surface of the ground at different elevations on either side of the structure by resisting the lateral pressure of the earth. Whereas its types are Gravity Retaining Wall, Cantilever Retaining Wall, Counterfort Retaining Wall, Crib Retaining Wall, etc.How many types of retaining walls are there?Mainly there are 10 Types of Retaining Walls used to retain any type of earth component. They have been classified on the basics of the retaining structure, the material used for retaining, and its shape and size.Retaining WallRetaining walls are rigid wall structures that support soil laterally help so that they can maintain the surface of the ground at different elevations on either side of the structure. If there is no retaining wall support, the soil at a higher elevation would tend to move down till it acquires its natural, stable configuration.Different Types of Retaining WallsRetaining Walls are broadly classified as follows,
Gravity Retaining Wall
Cantilever Retaining Wall
Counterfort Retaining Wall
Buttress Retaining Wall
Crib Retaining Wall
Gabion Retaining Wall
Sheet Pile Retaining Wall
Anchored Earth Retaining Wall
Diaphragm Retaining Wall
Reinforced Retaining Earth WallGravity Retaining WallGravity Retaining wall assures its stability by its own weight. These walls are majorly designed to eliminate the overturning effect of the lateral earth pressure and do not induce tensile stresses within the section. Gravity retaining walls are suitable for low heights and are not economical for large heights. It can be made from stone, bricks, mass concrete, and precast concrete blocks.Retaining Wall DefinitionRetaining walls are rigid wall structures that support soil laterally help so that they can maintain the surface of the ground at different elevations on either side of the structure. If there is no retaining wall support, the soil at a higher elevation would tend to move down till it acquires its natural, stable configuration.
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