BACKFILL DRAINAGE OF RETAINING WALL WITH RELIEVING SHELVES P.B, Uttacapor’ ano R. D. Panny ABSTRACT One area that can be commbnly overlooked, or at least underestimated, is the necessity to drain the backfill of rainwater and/or groundwater. Hydrostatic pressure ean cause or induce retaining wall failure, orat least damage Drainage of water as a result of rainfall or other wet conditions is very important to the stability of any type of retaining wall. Without proper drainage, the backfill can become saturated, which has the dual impact of increasing the pressure on the wall and lessening the resistance of the backfill material to sliding, Granular ~ bact ill material offers the benefits of good drainage, easy compaction, and increased sliding resistance. vod draina; tance. . easy compaction, and increased sliding res The primary function of a drainage system behind a retaining wall is to prevent water from accumulating in the backfill and coming in contact with the back of the wall and thereby subjecting the wall to hydrostatic pressure. However, any increase in carth pressure which may be caused by pore pressures in the water sccping to the drains should be considered. In some cases, such systems may be installed to prevent pressures from building up due to frost action in the backfill, and to eliminate pressures duc to the swelling of cohesive backfills because of increases in their moisture content.