What is a Retaining Wall?: Functions and Types

Retaining walls are a great tool for geotechnical engineers, helping them to enable construction on steep and sloppy areas. Along with this, we have a closer look at the What is a retaining wall? A retaining wall is a flexible and rigid structure that holds something on one side of it.

Mostly, retaining walls hold water and soil on one side. Retaining walls help to move things through the slopes and steep paths. So, what is a retaining wall? It helps manage slopes, enabling easier movement in challenging terrains.

What is a retaining wall used for? Retaining walls are created for the usage of sloped areas. These walls provide support to the slope for easy movement. 

Retaining walls covered a specific area along with the support soil or something else. In cities and towns, retaining walls are found in basements, underground parking and metro stations.

Due to gravity, retaining walls help to hold back soil, slide or move. These walls provide steeper angles and help to sit naturally.

What is a retaining wall that resists lateral earth pressure? Lateral earth pressure is the sideway pressure that the soil pushes against the wall.This pressure depends on the weight of the soil. The bottom of the wall feels more pressure.

1. Gravity Retaining Wall

As the name shows, these walls use gravitational force to retain the soil behind them. What is a retaining wall of this type? It’s a heavy structure that prevents sliding and toppling by resisting sideways soil pressure. Gravity walls are made from bricks, stones, blocks and concrete.

Gravity walls are the simplest and oldest form of retaining walls. These walls are heavy, which helps them to hold back the soil. These walls are thicker at the bottom and have sloped sides.

The height of the gravity wall is about 3 meters. Taller gravity walls take up too much space and become too heavy for the ground Because these walls fail.

2. Cantilever Retaining Wall

Cantilever walls are T-shaped. The base of these walls holds back soil or other materials. The base of these walls supports the whole design. The base has a key that provides protection to the wall from sliding.

These walls required fewer materials for their construction. Reinforcement and concrete are used in the construction of L-shaped cantilever walls. Reinforcement is used for the strengthening of the joint found in L shaped walls.

The height of the Cantilever wall is about 5 meters. Temporary support is used for the construction of these walls.

3. Embedded Retaining Wall

For stability in the ground, embedded retaining walls go deeper. The depth of these walls is up to 40 meters. These walls are mostly used for structures close to the surface, such as basements, parking, metro stations and garages.

As these walls go deeper, work by resisting the pressure from the above soil. Internal supports also provide stability to these walls.

Depending on the soil type, embedded walls can be built by different methods. Builders may use diaphragm walls, panels and bored concrete piles for deep excavation.

4. Sheet piling Retaining Wall

These walls are made from vinyl, steel and wood planks driven into the ground. These walls are used in soft soil. What is a retaining wall of this kind? It is often used in soft soil conditions where deeper support is needed.

5. Reinforced Soil Retaining Wall

What is a retaining wall of this type? It relies on the retained soil used to manufacture reinforced soil retaining walls. Geotechnical engineers designed these walls. 

The retaining structure of the reinforced soil retaining walls is built in layers, and each layer has geotechnical reinforcement.

6. Hybrid Retaining Wall

A wall that is a combination of mass and reinforcement is known as a hybrid retaining wall. What is a retaining wall that uses both methods? It’s designed to handle greater loads in complex conditions.

7. Anchor Retaining Wall

An anchor retaining wall is built when there is limited space. These walls are thin and anchored in loose soil. What is a retaining wall of this kind? It is anchored deeply into the ground using cables or rods for additional support.

1. Aesthetic 

These walls look more natural than concrete or stone retaining walls. Geogrid-reinforced soil or gravity walls are a good choice for parks, basements and residential areas.

2. Durability

These walls have high longevity due to reinforcements that provide them stability. These walls hold heavy loads and harsh weather.

3. Budgetary constraint

These walls required less cost and time. Gravity walls require less material for their construction than other retaining walls.

4. Environmental impact

These walls have a lower environmental impact than concrete walls. These walls help to control soil erosion.

5. Geotechnical considerations

The success of geogrid walls depends on the soil properties and the load they need to support. 

6. Available space for construction

Gravity geogrid reinforced walls need less space for their construction. These walls are best for areas with limited space, such as near roads, buildings and slopes.

1. Drainage and Water Management

It’s important to design systems that prevent water accumulation, which can reduce the wall’s stability.

2. Frost Heave

Frost heave is a serious problem in winter. To prevent frost heaves, walls should be designed with proper protection measures, such as a proper drainage system that helps prevent water from accumulating near the base of the wall. 

3. Soil Characteristics

Understanding the type of soil ( e.g., sandy, loose, clay, or gravel) is essential for the design of the wall.

Lateral Earth Pressure

The sideway pressure that soil pushes against the structure of the wall is known as lateral earth pressure and is experienced by retaining walls.

Three different types of lateral earth pressure explain this pressure as given below:

1.Active Pressure: 

When the wall moves away from the soil, this pressure can exist.

2.Passive Pressure:

When the wall moves toward the soil, this pressure exists.

3.At-Rest Pressure:

When the wall does not move, so at rest, pressure exists means there is no pressure.

Groundwater and Pore Pressure

Managing groundwater through drainage systems is critical to avoiding water pressure buildup.

Ground-Bearing Capacity

The soil beneath the wall must be able to bear the load from the wall and retain the material.

Sliding Resistance

Increasing wall friction or embedding the wall deeper into the ground helps resist sliding forces.

Retaining wall design

A geotechnical engineer designed the retaining walls. Geotechnical engineers give instructions to the engineers who make structural designs. The structural engineer decides the designs according to soil type.

Every retaining wall differs from other retaining walls in design. Make sure that better-retaining structural and geotechnical engineers engineer better-retaining walls.

What is a retaining wall? Retaining walls are essential for stabilizing slopes and help to prevent sliding. Different types of walls suit different needs, depending on the soil, space, and budget. Choosing the right wall ensures long-lasting support and a stable landscape.