TOPICS TO BE COVERED

BASEMENT CONSTRUCTION
and RETAINING WALLS

By: Engr Sally Manneh

 BASEMENT CONSTRUCTION and
RETAINING WALLS cont….

1. What is a Basement
2. What are the purposes of basements?
3. Types of basement and their advantages

By: Engr Sally Manneh

 BASEMENT CONSTRUCTION and
RETAINING WALLS cont….

4. What are retaining walls?

5. The different types of retaining walls
6. Design and construction principles

By: Engr Sally Manneh

 BASEMENT CONSTRUCTION and
RETAINING WALLS cont….
1. What is a basement?
A basement can be defined as a storey which is below the
ground storey and is therefore constructed below ground
level. Most basements can be classified into one of three
groups

By: Engr Sally Manneh

 BASEMENT CONSTRUCTION and
RETAINING WALLS cont….
1.What is a retaining wall?
The major function of any retaining wall is to act as on earth
retaining structure for the whole or part of its height on one face the
other being exposed to the elements. Most small height retaining
walls are built entirely of brickwork or a combination of brick facing
and blockwork or mass concrete backing. To reduce hydrostatic
pressure on the wall from ground water an adequate drainage
system in the form of weep holes should be used, alternatively
subsoil drainage behind the wall could be employed. 5

By: Engr Sally Manneh

 BASEMENT CONSTRUCTION and
RETAINING WALLS cont….
Types of retaining wall?
Small Height Retaining Walls
Retaining Walls up to 6000 High
Mass Retaining Walls
Cantilever Retaining Walls
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By: Engr Sally Manneh

 BASEMENT CONSTRUCTION and
RETAINING WALLS cont….
Small Height Retaining Walls- Retaining walls
must be stable and the usual rule of thumb for
small height brick retaining walls is for the
height to lie between 2 and 4 times the wall
thickness. Stability can be checked by
applying the middle third rule
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By: Engr Sally Manneh

 BASEMENT CONSTRUCTION and
RETAINING WALLS cont….
Small Height Retaining Walls- sample

By: Engr Sally Manneh

 BASEMENT CONSTRUCTION and
RETAINING WALLS cont….
Retaining Walls up to 6000 High-these can be
classified as medium height retaining walls and
have the primary function of retaining soils at an
angle in excess of the soil's natural angle of
repose. Walls within this height range are designed
to provide the necessary resistance by either their
own mass or by the principles of leverage
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By: Engr Sally Manneh

 BASEMENT CONSTRUCTION and
RETAINING WALLS cont….
Retaining Walls up to 6000 High- cont…Design
the actual design calculations are usually carried
out by a structural engineer who endeavors to
ensure that :-

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By: Engr Sally Manneh

 BASEMENT CONSTRUCTION and
RETAINING WALLS cont….
1. Overturning of the wall does not occur.
2. Forward sliding of the wall does not occur.
3. Materials used are suitable and not
overstressed
4. The subsoil is not overloaded.
5. 5. In clay subsoils slip circle failure does not
occur.
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By: Engr Sally Manneh

 BASEMENT CONSTRUCTION and
RETAINING WALLS cont….
Factors considered:
I. Nature and characteristics of the subsoil(s).
II. Height of water table - the presence of water can create
hydrostatic pressure on the rear face of the wall, it can
also affect the bearing capacity of the subsoil together
with its shear strengthS reduce the frictional resistance
between the underside of the foundation and the subsoil
and reduce the passive pressure in front of the toe of the
wall.
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By: Engr Sally Manneh

 BASEMENT CONSTRUCTION and
RETAINING WALLS cont….
Factors considered :cont….

I. Type of wall.
II. Material(s) to be used in the construction of
the wall.

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By: Engr Sally Manneh

 BASEMENT CONSTRUCTION and
RETAINING WALLS cont….
Typical example

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By: Engr Sally Manneh

 BASEMENT CONSTRUCTION and
RETAINING WALLS cont….
Earth Pressures these can take one of two forms namely :-
1. Active Earth Pressures - these are those pressures which tend
to move the wall at all times and consist of the wedge of earth
retained plus any hydrostatic pressure. The latter can be reduced
by including a subsoil drainage system behind and/or through
the wall.
2. 2. Passive Earth Pressures- these are a reaction of an equal and
opposite force to any imposed pressure thus giving stability by
resisting movement.
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By: Engr Sally Manneh

 BASEMENT CONSTRUCTION and
RETAINING WALLS cont….
ACTIVE EARTHPRESSURE eg…

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By: Engr Sally Manneh

 BASEMENT CONSTRUCTION and
RETAINING WALLS cont….
PASSIVE EARTH PRESSURE eg…

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By: Engr Sally Manneh

 BASEMENT CONSTRUCTION and
RETAINING WALLS cont….
Mass Retaining Walls -' these walls rely mainly on their
own mass to overcome the tendency to slide forwards.
Mass retaining walls are not generally considered to be
economic over a height of 1800 when constructed of
brick or concrete and 1000 high in the case of natural
stonework. Any mass retaining wall can be faced with
another material but generally any applied facing will not
increase the strength of the wall and is therefore only
used for aesthetic reasons 18

By: Engr Sally Manneh

 BASEMENT CONSTRUCTION and Typical Brick Mass
RETAINING WALLS cont…. Retaining Watt Details

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By: Engr Sally Manneh

 BASEMENT CONSTRUCTION and Typical Brick Mass
RETAINING WALLS cont…. Retaining Watt Details

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By: Engr Sally Manneh

 BASEMENT CONSTRUCTION and
RETAINING WALLS cont….
Cantilever Retaining Walls - these are constructed of reinforced
concrete with an economic height range of 1200 to 6000. They
work on the principles of leverage where the stem is designed as a
cantilever fixed at the base and base is designed as a cantilever
fixed at the stem. Several formats are possible and in most cases a
beam is placed below the base to increase the total passive
resistance to sliding. Facing materials can be used in a similar
manner to that shown on page 220.

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By: Engr Sally Manneh

 BASEMENT CONSTRUCTION and
RETAINING WALLS cont….
Typical examples Cantilever Retaining Walls

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By: Engr Sally Manneh

 BASEMENT CONSTRUCTION and
RETAINING WALLS cont….
1. the construction of a basement

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By: Engr Sally Manneh

 END OF
PRESENTATION
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By: Engr Sally Manneh

 THANK YOU FOR
LISTENING
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By: Engr Sally Manneh

 QUESTIONS ARE
INVITED?
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By: Engr Sally Manneh