Simple wall profile with level ground behind & in front of the wall.
Basic, low risk retaining wall setup.

Wall Profile 1A Flat ground in front of and behind wall. With Building or Vehicle Surcharge

Wall Profile 2. Sloping ground in front of wall and flat ground behind. Reduced soil at base. Foundation and toe depth needs to be increased.

Wall Profile 2A Sloping ground in front of wall and flat ground behind wall With Building or Vehicle Surcharge 1/ Reduced soil at base of wall to resist sliding 2/ Increased loads on wall. 3/ Stronger wall required than Profile 2. 4/ Foundation and toe depth needs to be increased over Profile 2 wall.

Wall Profile 3: Flat ground in front, sloping behind. Increased load from soil wedge requires a stronger wall with deeper foundation and toe than Profile 1.

Wall Profile 3A. Flat ground, steep batter behind. Avoid failure: increase wall strength! 1/ Avoid consents, walls may fail. 2/ Added load from soil wedge. 3/ Increase wall size. 4/ Height: base to soil top. 5/ Unlikely engineer approval.

Sloping ground in front of wall, sloping behind wall. Additional load from the wedge of soil, increased loads on wall. Stronger wall required than Profile 2.

Retaining Walls Critical factors for design: 1/ High risk retaining walls. 2/ Extreme loads from upper wall 3/ Added loads from the upper wall 4/ Related retaining walls distance. 5/ Height from base to the top wall. 6/ Engineers site inspection required.