Explain about the forces acting on a gravity retaining wall.

Forces Acting on a Gravity Retaining Wall:

In a general way the forces that act on a gravity retaining wall. The bearing force resists the weight of the walls plus the vertical components of the other forces. The active thrust is developed due to the placement of the backfill and any surcharge on its surface and tends to push the wall outward. The outward motion is resisted by sliding resistance along the base of the wall and by the passive resistance of the soil lying above the toe of the wall. The overturning is resisted by the weight of the wall, weight of the soil and the vertical component of the active thrust.

Forces Acting on a Gravity Retaining Wall

The weight of the wall and the soil resists overturning and causes sliding resistance at the base of the wall. In gravity retaining wall the weight of the wall is the major component of resistance while in cantilever wall, the weight of soil is the major component.