Clauses as per IRC 112 for Retaining walls/gravity walls
16.3 R.C. Walls and Wall Type Piers
(1) These clauses deal with reinforced concrete walls of which the larger dimension measured horizontally is more than
four times the smaller dimension.
(2) The amount and proper detailing of reinforcement may be derived from FEM analysis or strut-and-tie model within the
dispersal zone of concentrated loads. For walls subjected to predominantly out of plane bending, the rules of slab apply if
they are more severe.
16.3.1 Vertical reinforcement
(1) The diameter of bar should not be less than 12 mm.
(2) The total area of the vertical reinforcement should be between 0.0024Ac and 0.04Ac outside the locations of laps of
vertical steel.
(3) This reinforcement should be provided at two faces taking into account the direct axial force and biaxial bending, but
shall not be less than 0.0012 Ac on either face.
(4) The distance between two adjacent vertical bars shall not exceed 200 mm.
16.3.2 Horizontal reinforcement
(1) Horizontal reinforcement running parallel to the faces of the wall should be provided and arranged at each surface
between the vertical reinforcement and the nearest surface. The area of total horizontal reinforcement should not be less
than 25 percent of the area of total vertical reinforcement or 0.001Ac whichever is greater.
(2) The spacing between two adjacent horizontal bars shall not be more than 300 mm.
(3) The diameter shall not be less than one quarter of that of the largest diameter of vertical bars, nor less than 8 mm.
16.3.3 Transverse reinforcement
If the area of the load carrying vertical reinforcement in two faces exceeds 0.02 Ac this reinforcement
should be enclosed by stirrups in accordance with Clause 16.2.3 for columns.
Hollow Piers/Columns
Hollow piers/columns shall satisfy all of the following conditions:
(1) The largest overall dimension is not greater than four times the smallest overall dimension.
(2) The height is such that the ratio of effective length to radius of gyration is not less than 12.
(3) The two ends are capped by solid structural members of sufficient thickness to ensure that for unit as a whole, the
plane sections remain plane under action of axial load and bending. A solid reinforced concrete slab, having thickness not
less than one-third the size of clear inside dimension of the hollow section in the direction of spanning of the slab and
integrally connected to the walls of the hollow pier/column, may be considered to fulfil the requirement.
(4) The wall thickness shall not be less than 300 mm.
16.4.1
Detailing rules
(1) For wall type pier of non-circular hollow section with length less than four times the width, the rules for solid columns
stipulated in Clause 16.2 will apply.
(2) For wall type pier of non-circular of hollow section with length more than 4 times the width, the rules as per Clause
16.3 will apply.
Depth of foundation as per IRC 78:2014 cl.705.2
Foundation tapered section as per IRC 78:2014 cl. 707.2.4
To ensure proper load transfer, a limiting value of ratio of depth to length/ width of footing equal to 1:3 is specified. Based
on this, for sloped footings the depth effective at the critical section shall be the minimum depth at the end plus 1/3rd
of the distance between the extreme edge of the footing to the critical section for design of the footing for all purposes.
Factor of safety against overturning as per IRC 78:2014 cl. 710.1.3
Geometry of wall as per IS 1080 cl. 4.8
Ductile detailing as per IRC 112 Cl.17.1
