Foundation wall or retaining wall 1

[Anne651]

There is usually Inside Vertical Face and Outside Vertical Face for a retaining wall and a foundation wall. Which face is the "inside face" and which face is the "outside face?

Thanks.

 

[BAretired]

Inside Face (IF) and Outside Face (OF) is clear when it pertains to a basement foundation wall. When it pertains to a cantilevered retaining wall, it is not clear which face is inside and which is outside. The designation IF and OF should not be used unless the meaning is clear.

If you find an engineer using the term IF or OF for a cantilever retaining wall, report him to Eng-Tips so that he may receive the "DUH" award.

BA

 

[bridgebuster]

I've never used IF & OF for a cantilever retaining wall. I have used the terms Near Face & Far Face (side against the soil) and label them on the typical cross section.

 

[Qshake]

Similarly for cantilever I've used Fill Face and Near Face.

BAretired, I like the idea!

Regards,
Qshake

Eng-Tips Forums:Real Solutions for Real Problems Really Quick.

 

[msquared48]

Similarly, I use soil face for the side retaining the soil for cantilever walls, and leave the opposite side for ... well... other names.

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering
Motto: KISS
Motivation: Don't ask

 

[Anne651]

so far face is the face against the soil and near face is the face not against soil? Is that correct? How about retaining wall with soil on both sides?

 

[msquared48]

Then go to tension face and compression face assuming that there is a soil difference. If there is no soil difference and the wall is less than 10 inches in width, just put the steel in the center of the wall as there is no lateral soil load, assuming equal backfilling.

The tension face for free standing retaining walls (cantilever) is always on the side with the higher soil elevation.

The tension face for a basement wall is the side away from the soil as this condition is the same as a simple beam.

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering
Motto: KISS
Motivation: Don't ask

 

[hokie66]

You can prevent the ambiguous meaning of these terms by including sections and/or elevations of the walls. In sections, point to the bars. In elevations, near face and far face are not ambiguous.

I wouldn't agree with the use of tension face and compression face, as builders typically don't know the difference.