Reinforced concrete cantilever retaining wall 1. A reinforced concrete cantilever retaining wall is a rigid structure consisting of a vertical stem and a base slab (heel and toe) that resists lateral earth pressure primarily through the weight of the wall and the soil resting on the heel. 2. Steel reinforcement is placed in the stem and base to resist bending moments and shear forces generated by the retained soil and any surcharge loads. 3. The wall is typically designed as a gravity-type structure in which the overturning moment is counteracted by the resisting moment from the self-weight and the soil mass above the heel. 4. Drainage provisions such as weep holes or a perforated drain pipe behind the stem are essential to prevent hydrostatic pressure buildup that would increase lateral loads. 5. Cantilever walls are commonly used for heights up to about 6–8 m; beyond this range, counterforts or other systems are often more economical.