Soil Mechanics-Retaining Wall Brief explanation for retaining wall in soil mechanics, including types with figures and type of forces acting on them.

1. Retaining Wall
Prepared by: Vian AbuBakir

2. Content
 Definition of Retaining Wall
 Types of Retaining Wall
 Stability Conditions
 Sheet Piles
 Alternative Retaining Techniques:
 Soil Nailing
 Gabion meshes

3. Retaining Wall
 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.

4. Types of Retaining Wall
 Gravity.
 Cantilevered.
 Sheet piling.
 Anchored.
 Soil nailing.
 Gabion.

5. Types of Retaining Wall

6. Stability Conditions
 Should be able to resist the pressure coming from it.
 Never overturn by lateral pressure.
 The weight of the wall and the force coming on it due to the earth pressure should
not push its foundation to a value more than the S.B.C ( safe bearing capacity) of
the soil on which it is established.
 Avoid accumulation of water behind the retaining wall.
 In case of long masonry retaining wall, expansion joints should be used at 6 to 9
meter apart

7. Sheet Piles
 Used to build continuous walls for waterfront structures and for temporary
construction wall heights > 6 m if used with anchors

8. Sheet Piles
 Advantages
 Provides higher resistance to driving stresses
 Is of an overall lighter weight
 Can be reused on several projects
 Provides a long service life above or below the water table
 Easy to adapt the pile length by either welding or bolting

9. Alternative Retaining Techniques:
Soil nailing
 Soil nailing is a technique in which soil slopes, excavation or retaining walls are
reinforced by the insertion of relatively slender elements – normally steel
reinforcing bars.

10. Alternative Retaining Techniques:
Soil nailing
 Advantages
 Overhead construction requirements are smaller than those for ground anchor
walls because soil nail walls do not require the installation of soldier beams
 Less disruptive to traffic and causes less environmental impact compared to
other construction methods.
 Provide a less congested work place, particularly when compared to braced
excavations.
 Soil nail walls are typically equivalent in cost or more cost-effective than ground
anchor walls.

11. Alternative Retaining Techniques:
Soil nailing
 Disadvantages
 may not be appropriate for strict deformation control is required for structures and
utilities located behind the proposed wall
 requires specialized and experienced contractors.
 Deflections can be reduced by post tensioning but at an increased cost

12. Alternative Retaining Techniques:
Gabion

13. Alternative Retaining Techniques:
Gabion
 Advantage
 Use of smaller rocks gives greater flexibility in design
 Less easy to erode
 Can use local beach material to reduce visual impact

14. Alternative Retaining Techniques:
Gabion
 Disadvantages
 Unnatural appearance
 Unpleasant if mesh breaks - risk of injury
 Shorter lifespan than other techniques
 Ongoing maintenance costs

15. Refrences
http://www.deepexcavation.com
http://www.dailycivil.com

16. Thank you