Drystone retaining walls: From full-scale testing to construction requirements

A series of full-scale drystone retaining walls have been constructed and tested to destruction as part of an EPSRC funded project at the University of Bath, UK. The properties of each wall have been varied to allow the investigation of various aspects of behaviour. In particular, the phenomenon of bulging has been successfully recreated. The testing regime is briefly described, along with the results of the tests. An analysis of these data is then given, describing the critical aspects within a wall which instigate phenomena such as bursting or toppling. Conclusions are also drawn concerning the construction of new retaining walls.