Geotechnical Engineering

DHARM

504 GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING

Stem

Backfill

Base slab

Toe slab

To e Heel

Foundation soil

Reinforcements

Heel slab

Fig. 13.45 Cantilever retaining wall

Toe slab

Vertical

slab

Counterfort

Heel slab

Base slab

Foundation soil

Fig. 13.46 Counterfort retaining walls
It is usually constructed in reinforced concrete and the thickness of the stem and base
slab will be small in view of the reinforcements provided to take care of flexural stresses.

Counterfort Retaining Wall

This type of wall, as shown in Fig. 13.46 resists the lateral earth pressure by beam action
between counterforts, which are wedge-shaped slabs. The base slab in the heel portion also
resists the upward pressure of the foundation soil by beam action. This type also is constructed
in reinforced concrete and is used for greater heights of the backfill.