Geotechnical Engineering

DHARM

LATERAL EARTH PRESSURE AND STABILITY OF RETAINING WALLS 503

Small batter

Backfill

Large

batter

Body

of

wall

Base

To e Heel

Foundation soil

Fig. 13.43 Gravity retaining wall

Semi-Gravity Retaining Wall

A semi-gravity retaining wall is one which resists the lateral earth pressure partly by its
weight and partly by the nominal reinforcements that are provided. It is usually thinner in
section as compared to the gravity type, and is shown in Fig. 13.44.

Nominal

reinforcements

Backfill

Wall

Base

Foundation soil

Fig. 13.44 Semi-gravity retaining wall

Cantilever Retaining Wall

A cantilever type of retaining wall resists the lateral earth pressure by cantilever action of the
stem, toe slab and heel slab. Necessary reinforcements are provided to take care of flexural
stresses, as shown in Fig. 13.45.