What is retaining wall? Types of retaining wall, applications of retaining wall, weep holes
Retaining wall
Retaining wall is the wall structure which is constructed to
hold, or retain or prevent the sliding of nearby soil.
Highway road projects or rail projects required much more
construction of the retaining wall to prevention of the sloped soil sliding.
Construction of the retaining wall can be done by both cast-in-situ and pre-cast method.
Depending upon the location or function, different types of retaining wall can be used.
Following are the types of retaining wall which is used in various location.
Types of retaining wall
Cantilever retaining wall
The height of cantilever retaining wall is generally taken
as 3-10 meters and the width of the base is taken as 0.5 to 0.8 times the
height of the wall.
It is the inverted T and works based on the principle of
leverage. It contains thin stem and base. It can be casted on site or it can be
borrowed from the manufacturing unit.
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| Cantilever retaining wall |
Gravity retaining wall
Gravity retaining wall constructed with the stone masonry or
the plain concrete. Gravity retaining wall is stable with its own weight.
The width of the base is 0.5-0.7 times the height of the
wall.
If the required height of the wall is high, then gravity
wall is not economical.
This type of wall is not application for the pile
foundation.
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| Gravity retaining wall |
Semi-gravity retaining wall
When the small number of reinforcements are required, then semi-gravity types of retaining wall are generally used.
Counterfort retaining wall
The counter fort retaining wall is similar to that
cantilever type of retaining wall except in counterfort retaining wall, the
counterfort or concrete web is provided.
The concrete web or the counterforts are provided along with
the length of the wall to provide the additional stability to the wall.
This type of wall is generally used when the required height
is high.
The height is more than 10 m and the base is taken as 0.5-0.7
times the height.
This type of wall can be applicable in the pile foundation
but the construction is difficult.
Buttress retaining wall
Buttress retaining wall is same as counterfort except, the
concrete webs are provide at the opposite face of the wall (at the backfill
side)
Applications of retaining wall
- For the prevention of the soil erosion
- To retain the soil nearby, Culvert, Underpass, Bridge, etc.
- To provide the stability in sloped soil
- Landscaping
- Building basement
- Embankments (Gabion wall)
- Various structure where soil retention is required
Weep holes
Weep holes are provided in retaining wall because allowing
water to pass from soil through retaining wall. In short, for proper drainage
system.
Sometimes additional pipes are provided for the extra
drainage purpose.
Also, the hydrostatic pressure acting due to water will be
reduced if the weep holes are provided in the retaining wall.
Conclusion
Retaining wall is mainly used based on the type of soil to be retained and suitable site condition. People who works in infrastructure sector should have good knowledge about retaining wall. any query related to this article will be acceptable in the comment section or in mail.
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