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Counterfort Retaining Walls

Related Links:

What Retaining Walls Do

General Retaining Wall Design

Building Codes for Retaining Walls

What is Lateral Earth Pressure?

Gravity Retaining Walls

Semi-Gravity Retaining Walls

Cantilever Retaining Walls

Counterfort Retaining Walls

Monolithic Concrete Retaining Wall Proportions

Provisions for Joints in the Construction of Walls

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Decorative Poured Concrete Walls

Groundwork and Compaction: Important Issues

Four Types of Poured Concrete Retaining Walls

Counterfort retaining walls are similar to cantilever walls except they have thin vertical concrete webs at regular intervals along the backside of the wall. These webs are known as counterforts.

Counterfort retaining walls:

  • The counterforts tie the slab and base together, and the purpose of them is to reduce the shear forces and bending moments imposed on the wall by the soil. A secondary effect is to increase the weight of the wall from the added concrete.
  • Can be precast or formed on site.
  • Counterfort retaining walls are more economical than cantilever walls for heights above 25 ft.

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