What is the main cause of failure of a retaining wall?
Answer:
Lateral earth pressures are typically smallest at the top of the wall and increase toward the bottom. Earth pressures will push the wall forward or overturn it if not properly addressed. Also, any groundwater behind the wall that is not dissipated by a drainage system causes an additional horizontal hydraulic pressure on the wall.
Unless the stem literally breaks , a failed retaining wall is invariably due to an inadequate foundation design or something happening to decrease the bearing capacity of the subsoil. usually moisture.
If the wall was reinforced for a specific a load which is increased due to unanticipated surcharge loading or trapped saturated water behind the stem, the wall may show what we call in my business, "wall distress" which usually manifests itself as "bowing" in the wall or "wall tilting". In my engineering opinion, these are classified as wall "failures" since the condition may get worse and actually cause the wall to break. These catastrophic failures can kill unsuspecting people.
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