Counterfort Retaining Wall

Question

How counterfort retaining wall of counterforts assist in resisting the earth pressure?

Answer 1

Counterforts can be used for high walls having height more than 8 to 12 m. They can also be used in the situations where there is high lateral pressure that means where the backfill soils are heavily surcharged.

The counterforts ties the base slab and the wall stem altogether and they act as a tension bracing which strengthens the connection between the wall and the base slab. The counterforts reduces the bending moment and shear forces made by the soil pressure to retaining wall. In addition, it also increases the self-weight of the retaining wall which add stability to the retaining wall.