COMPARISION STATEMENT

Parameter Reinforced Earth Wall Counterfort Retaining Wall

The counterfort retaining wall is a type

Mechanically stabilized earth or MSE is
soil constructed with artificial
Definition reinforcing. It can be used for retaining
walls, bridge abutments, dams,
seawalls, and dikes.
of retaining wall with counterforts
attached to the inside face of the wall
to further resist lateral thrust and
materials used for retaining walls are
treated lumber, concrete block
systems, stone, brick, and poured
concrete.

1. Geosynthetic reinforecement 1. Vertical stem

Structural (Geogrids) 2. Base slab
components 2. Fascia of Geo-cell 3. Counterfort
3. Wire mesh / concrete block

Purpose for
Counterfort is provided to reduce the
provision of The Geo-grid reinforces the soil while
shear force and bending moment in
the main the fascia protects the wall face.
vertical stem and base slab
component

External mode:
1. Base Sliding
2. Overturning
3. Bearing capacity

Internal Mode:
1. Sliding
1. Sliding along Reinforcement layers
2. Overturning
Check for 2. Reinforcement pull-out
3. Bearing capacity
stability 3. Reinforcement tensile overstress
4. Shallow Shear failure
4. Facing connection breaks and pull-
5. Deep Shear Failure
out
5. Material Uncertainty

Global Mode:
1. Rotational failure
2. Wedge transitional

Flexibility Flexible arrangement Rigid Arrangement

Seismic load Highly flexible and can undergo large Attracts large inertial force – failures
resistance deformation due to seismic events occur due to rigidity
Foundation Foundation preparation requirement is Large foundation pressures-needs
requirement very minimum good foundation
Construction Faster construction than traditional It takes huge time due to number of
time concrete walls components and curing
 COMPARISION STATEMENT
Ease of
Easy Difficult
Construction
Requirement
Unskilled labour can perform the Skilled labour is mandatory for
of skilled
maximum arrangement majority portion of construction
labour
Height
It can reach up to an height of 40 - 50m Height is restricted to 8 -10 m
Restrictions
Emission of CO2 is less and it is eco- High emission of CO2 due to usage of
Eco-friendly
friendly mass concrete
Structure is impermeable & very high
Structure is permeable resulting in less hydrostatic pressure can occur in the
Permeability
hydrostatic pressure. absence of sufficient drainage
measures
Due to the mass structure and tie-up
Degree of The settlement failure can be assessed
arrangement, the structure can’t hold
settlement and be replaced
the normal or differential settlement

1. Complicated structure
Construction 1. Simple construction
2. There requires a huge equipment for
feasibility 2. Usage of heavy equipment is reduced
construction

Area
Can be built in confined areas or areas Requires a lot of space for arranging
occupancy for
where a concrete wall is almost the equipment and for construction
construction
impossible to be constructed

Degree of Due to uniform vertical stem thickness,

Various shapes and forms can be made
uniformity it is not possible

Being a flexible system, failure

Indication of Being rigid system, the failure happens
indication signs can be detected and
failure to be sudden and spontaneous.
rectified

1. It requires a granular backfill (At site, 1. Counterforts create construction

if it is unavailable may lead to difficulty
uneconomical)
Disadvantages
2. when height increases the spacing of
2. Steel reinforcement may get counterforts becomes less and it
corroded becomes uneconomical

Life span 75 to 100 years 50 to 60 years

Cost