Indiacon Civil

Structures Library

Retaining walls

What it is

Walls that hold back soil where ground level changes sharply.

How it works

The wall resists the sideways push of soil by its weight, a cantilever stem and base, or by reinforcement placed in the soil.

Diagram: Indiacon original, not to scale.

Main components

Stem, base slab (heel and toe), shear key, weep holes, drainage backfill.

Key codes

IS 456, IS 14458, IRC 102. Cited by number only; get the text from BIS or the issuing body.

Notable projects

Hill road and metro ramp walls across India.

Videos

Last reviewed: 23 Oct 2026. Sources: official publications and cited standards, see sources and policy. Report an error: comment on the related video on YouTube.