ABSTRACT
Retaining structures may be built for a number of reasons, for example,
• To provide a platform (e.g. for housing or highway construction) by excavating into sloping ground (Figure 3.1)
• To provide a quay in a dock (Figure 3.2) • To support the sides of temporary excavations, for example, around
basement construction for buildings (Figure 3.3) • As part of the permanent structure of a building, to provide a basement • To provide abutments for a bridge deck
Whatever the reason for construction, a retaining wall is typically needed to support any vertical or near-vertical face of soil or rock. Only in exceptional circumstances (for example, unfractured or horizontally bedded rock) will an excavation stand for any signicant length of time without support.
