Civil Engineering - RCC Structures Design - Discussion

What is cantilever retaining wall?

What is cantilever retaining wall?

In cantilever wall, stem toe slab heal slab are all acting as cantilevers due to pressure from back fill and soil pressure.

Cantilever wall are used upto 8 m, there is no restriction on the height only thing is with the increase in height bearing pressure increases and if the foundation soil is not strong then failure will occur,

Nowadays instead of RCC retaining wall, reinforced soil retaining wall are used upto a height of 100 m, in Sikkim a reinforced soil retaining wall of 100 m height is under construction.

Cantilever retaining walls can safely be used for a height not more than 5 m.

Rcc cantilever retaining wall can be constructed up to 150m height if the underlying soil strata are hard enough to have the soil bearing capacity.

Retaining wall is that which retain the lateral pressure of soil.

Cantilever retaining wall has a maximum height not more than 5 m.

Is there any specific provision in Code?

I believe that this conjecture that cantilever retaining wall cannot be used for height less than 5m is logically incorrect owing to the fact that with the increase in the span of the cantilever wall, the maximum bending moment at the support will increase thereby making it necessary to increase the thickness of the wall. Even for wall of height greater than 5m, let us say 6m, the thickness of the wall required may be higher and also the base area of the wall for the stability conditions like against overturning, sliding etc. Can also be checked and the wall as overall may come out safe depending upon the design and geometry of the wall. For instance, a shear key may be provided to take into account the sliding force and similarly for overturning, the dimensions of heel and toe slab can be adjusted accordingly.

I also want to know whether there is a standard recommendation on the maximum height of a cantilever retaining wall. If yes, then kindly enlighten me about the same.