Reataining Walls

INTRODUCTION TO RETAINING WALLS DQS 19s AND DQS20s 16th May 2022
Hallo ladies and gentlemen , welcome to this term and let us all be ready to work with the help of God
Mr. Nyakundi will be taking you through the series of lectures in this subject this term , please cooperate .
He expects to see well organized readable notes with extremely neat sketches in pencil and straight edge.
In todays lesson we shall look at what is called retaining walls under the following sub headings.
1. Definition and general intrpduction

2. Types of retaining walls
3. Modes of failure of retainninig wals
4. Functional requirements
• Understand the following specifics

❑ types of retaining walls :gravity,cantilever,counterfort,and ( flexible retaining walls )
❑ Design principles of retaining walls
❑ Selection of wall types
❑ Modes of failure of retaining walls
❑ Good day ……
A good retaining wall must fulfill the following
requirements to ensure its stability:
•The retaining wall should be able to resist the pressure
coming from it.
•The wall section should be well proportioned that it will
never overturn by lateral pressure.
•The retaining wall should be protected from sliding.
A typical retaining wall has four main components: the
Stem is the vertical member holding the backfill, the Toe is
the portion of the footing at the front of the wall, the Heel
is the portion of the footing at the backfill side, and the
Shear Key projects down under the footing.
definition and introduction to retaining wall
-Retaining walls are relatively rigid walls used for supporting
soil laterally so that it can be retained at different levels on the
two sides. Retaining walls are structures designed to restrain
soil to a slope that it would not naturally keep to
a wall that is built to keep the land behind it from sliding
-A retaining wall is a structure that holds or retains soil behind
it. There are many types of materials that can be used to create
retaining walls like concrete blocks, poured concrete, treated
timbers, rocks or boulders. Some are easy to use, others have a
shorter life span, but all can retain soil
- On average, most retaining walls are between 3 and 4 feet
high. This is optimal because it doesn't require any anchors, or
expensive engineering methods, though in some cases the wall
must be higher. Variables that affect the height of your
retaining wall include
Types of retaining walls
Gravity wall.
Reinforced Retaining Wall.
Concrete Cantilever retaining wall.
Counter-fort / Buttressed retaining wall.
Cantilevered wall.
A typical retaining wall has four main
components: the Stem is the vertical member
holding the backfill, the Toe is the portion of
the footing at the front of the wall, the Heel
is the portion of the footing at the backfill
side, and the Shear Key projects down under
the footing.
The gravity type structures are normally 'rigid' and the non-gravity
type, 'flexible'. Geocell flexible retaining wall is a new type of
retaining structure constructed by stacking three-dimensional
Retaining Wall Mode of Failures
1 Overturning: The retaining wall under overturning failure

simply fails in bending.
2 Sliding: Retaining wall that fails due to sliding often had
non-cohesive soils. The walls move outward with a passive
failure of soil in front of foundation and active failure of soil
behind the wall. Often a key is required beneath the
foundation to prevent sliding.
3 Bearing Check: Bearing check has to be performed due to
the failure if the soil under the toe of the foundation and a
forward rotation of the wall.
4 Overstress on any part of the Retaining Wall is caused by
either due to bending or shear.
General Stability. This is a check on slope failure, overall
stability, and base stability.
Causes of Retaining Wall Failure
Poor Drainage. The main cause of retaining wall failure is

poor drainage. ...
Shallow Footing. ...
Sub-Standard Materials or Lack of Reinforcement. ...
Extra Load on Top. ...
Slope Failure
The following causes can be considered as key factors affecting
the stability of the retaining wall. No retaining wall shall be
constructed without checking the following stability
requirements.
Overturning Failures
Sliding Failures
Bearing Failure of Soil
Slope Stability Failures
Gravity Retaining Walls
Gravity retaining walls Retaining Wall Cross section Design

relies on their huge weight to retain the material behind it and
achieve stability against failures. Gravity Retaining Wall can be
constructed from concrete, stone or even brick masonry.
Gravity retaining walls are much thicker in section. Geometry of
these walls also help them to maintain the stability. Mass
concrete walls are suitable for retained heights of up to 3 m.
The cross section shape of the wall is affected by stability, the
use of space in front of the wall, the required wall appearance
and the method of construction.

Reataining Walls

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INTRODUCTION TO RETAINING WALLS DQS 19s AND DQS20s 16th May 2022

1. Definition and general intrpduction

• Understand the following specifics

1 Overturning: The retaining wall under overturning failure

Poor Drainage. The main cause of retaining wall failure is

Gravity retaining walls Retaining Wall Cross section Design

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