What causes retaining walls to fail?

The number one cause of retaining wall failure is poor drainage. If too much water gets absorbed into the soil behind the wall, the hydrostatic pressure can push on the wall causing it to bow out or crumble.

What are the factors contributing to instability of retaining wall?

The important factors which are affecting the stability of the retaining wall are the distribution of earth pressure on the wall, material of backfill & its reaction against earth pressure. There are several types of retaining walls, out of them the cantilever retaining wall is adopted for present design and study.

Why is my retaining wall leaking water?

“It is the natural irregularities in the stone that leave small gaps between the stones, allowing water to trickle through during periods of heavy rainfall or soil saturation,” Berzins said. “Seeing water trickle through a dry stacked stone wall, such as the one pictured, is a good thing.

How do you stop a retaining wall from leaking?

How to Prevent Water From Seeping Through Retaining Walls

1. Apply LIquid Waterproofing Membrane.
2. Allow the Membrane to Cure.
3. Measure the Retaining Wall’s Length.
4. Add a Layer of Gravel.
5. Position the Perforated Pipe.
6. Connect Drainage Pipes.
7. Cover the Pipe With Gravel.
8. Cover With Dirt.

Why do retaining walls fail?

Retaining wall failures are commonly observed in hilly areas due to the slope stability issue. However, as discussed in the latter part of this article, there are many causes for the failures of a retaining wall. What is a retaining wall?

Why does a retaining wall slide?

If there is loose soil, expected passive pressure will not be mobilized and as a result, the retailing wall could slide. The base of the retaining wall also provides considerable resistance against the sliding. Depending on the condition of the ground there are two types of base resistance.

What is a catastrophic retaining wall failure?

This would be considered a catastrophic failure. Catastrophic failures of retaining walls do indeed occur in events such as earthquakes, floods and even high-wind damage. However, most retaining wall failure occurs gradually and over time. A crack here or there… or maybe the entire wall is sliding ever so slowly just a little bit each year.

What is the failure mode of soil in retaining wall?

The above figure clearly indicates the failure mode of the soil. So whether there retaining wall is stable or not, if it subject to this type of failure, the whole thing will collapse. There will be a similar type of failure planes from the top to bottom of the wall. The factor of safety against each failure mode needs to be calculated.