Earth Pressures - Retaining Walls

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. Passive Earth Pressures - these are a reaction of an equal and opposite force to any imposed pressure thus giving stability by resisting movement.