Glossary – Definitions
Retaining stuctures

Mur poids; gravity wall

Stone, concrete or reinforced concrete retaining structure with a footing at its base, with or without heel, shoulder or buttress, whose weight, which depending on the type of wall may include a ground stabilizing mass, plays an important role in the retaining function.

Reinforced soil wall; Mechanically Stabilized Earth (MSE)

Retaining structures in which the soil is reinforced with flexible, tensile-resistant inclusions (geosynthetics, metal reinforcements).

Mur en gabions; gabion retaining wall

Monolithic structure made up of gabion modules tied or stapled together, whose overall geometry is similar to that of a weight wall. Gabions are rectangular...