Types of retaining walls, calculation and precise design to retain.

The types of retaining walls are based primarily on the function they are to perform, the terrain or soil, the materials of construction, and the cost.

Types of retaining walls, characteristics and uses

The types of retaining walls and their design must include a series of aesthetic, structural and functional aspects to prevent them from becoming a hazard or from collapsing. Advanced planning and precise choice will result in constructions that are stable against earth-mass breakage and to withstand water fills or mining products.

What is a retaining wall?

It is a structural element that is designed to generally contain land or part of a land and provide lateral support to vertical or semi-vertical slopes of the soil.

It not only supports the horizontal thrusts transmitted by the ground, it also receives the vertical forces coming from the pillars, load-bearing walls and floors that rest on them.

Its stability is basically provided by the weight of the wall itself and the material that is on its base plate.

Types of retaining walls

There are different classifications of retaining walls, however, one of the most used is the following.

gravity retaining walls

They work with their own weight to counteract the thrust of the ground. They practically do not suffer bending stresses; they are firm, robust and voluminous. The base plate should be constructed as narrow as possible, yet wide enough to provide stability against sliding or tipping.

They are mostly made of concrete, cyclopean concrete or stones, without reinforcements. They are economical and functional in heights less than 3.5 m.

These walls, at the same time, can be classified into:

Crib retaining walls, made with interconnected individual boxes.

Gabion retaining walls, made of metal cages filled with stones and arranged manually.

cantilever walls

They are built in reinforced concrete or reinforced concrete, prefabricated or prestressed, with a T or L profile and connected to the foundation. To ensure stability, they use part of the weight of the filling (from the earthenware base).

Types of Buttress Retaining Walls

They are made up of large, reinforced, spaced vertical plates called buttresses that are attached to cantilevered walls.

Counterweights function as tension supports and connect the wall slab and base in order to decrease shear and bending stresses

Anchored retaining walls

Used in confined spaces, when a thin retaining wall is needed, or for loose soil over rocks. For its construction, rods are used that are directed to the sides of the earth and then filled with concrete to make the anchor.

Stacked Retaining Walls

Reinforced concrete piles are used and placed side by side deep enough to counteract the force of the earth.

They can maintain lateral pressure at digging depths without significantly altering the surrounding environment.

Mechanically stabilized earth retaining walls

They are the most common and economical, since they are based on granular fillers and are kept together through reinforcements such as plastic mesh or metal strips.

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In summary, the types of retaining walls are built based on the function they must fulfill, the condition of the land, the construction materials and the cost. The bulkiest and heaviest are the gravity retaining walls, the most resistant are those to which buttresses are added and the most common are the mechanically stabilized earthen ones.