Retaining Walls - Types, Analysis and Design Methods

This course is intended to provide knowledge of the various types of retaining walls. Earth retaining walls can be grouped into three broad categories: mass gravity, flexible and mechanically stabilized earth walls. The methods of analysis of Rankine and Coulomb are conventionally used to determine the active pressure of the earth. The courses also describe the method used to determine the stability of simple land retention structures. Two examples of basic calculations for the Rankine and Coulomb methods are provided.

 After completing this course, the reader will be familiar with the forces that produce failures and the methods of analysis of the land retention structures. In addition, in which situations the Rankine or Coulomb theories should be used.