A retaining wall that uses a combination of self-weight and passive soil pressure is known as?

A retaining wall that utilizes a combination of its own weight and passive soil pressure to resist lateral earth pressure is classified as a gravity wall. The inherent weight of the gravity wall, which is typically made of concrete or masonry, provides stability by leveraging gravitational forces to counteract the lateral forces exerted by the soil behind it.

Gravity walls are designed with a broad base that increases the wall’s stability against tipping and sliding, enabling it to effectively retain soil without the need for additional structural elements. The self-weight of the wall is crucial in ensuring that it remains in place under various loading conditions.

In contrast, cantilever walls rely on their structural design to transfer loads down to the foundation, while buttress and counterfort walls incorporate additional structural elements to provide support and resist earth pressure. These types of walls often require consideration of reinforcing techniques to enhance stability, as they do not primarily depend on their weight. Thus, gravity walls are distinctive in their reliance on mass for stability.