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Courses/Engineering/Geotechnical Engineering

Retaining Wall Design and Slope Stabilization Techniques

Master the principles, analysis, and construction of retaining walls and slope stabilization techniques. Design resilient earth retention systems and mitigate geotechnical risks effectively.

Created byHalfMoon Educationworkspace_premium
5.0
(10 reviews)
BeginnerUpdated Nov 10, 2025
Retaining Wall Design and Slope Stabilization Techniques

What You'll Learn

check_circleAnalyze stability of retaining walls.
check_circleDifferentiate retaining wall types.
check_circleDesign with various earth pressures.
check_circleEvaluate MSE structure stability.
check_circleAssess slope stabilization techniques.
check_circleRecognize common wall failure modes.

About This Course

Dive into the comprehensive world of "Retaining Wall Design and Slope Stabilization Techniques." This course, led by a seasoned professional engineer, offers an in-depth exploration of earth structures, from traditional retaining walls to advanced mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) systems and reinforced slopes.

Understand the critical principles that govern the stability of earth structures and learn to identify and mitigate potential design and construction pitfalls. We'll demystify complex concepts such as earth pressure theory (Coulomb and Rankine methods), hydrostatic pressures, and surcharges. Throughout the course, we'll demonstrate the practical application of these theories through detailed examples and real-world case studies.

Key learning outcomes include:

  • Gaining a thorough understanding of different retaining wall types, including gravity, modular block, gabion, and shoring systems.
  • Mastering the calculation of external stability against sliding, overturning, and bearing capacity, including the nuances of eccentricity.
  • Exploring the impact of water on wall stability, from hydrostatic pressure to buoyancy effects and frost heave.
  • Delving into the intricate internal stability analysis of MSE walls, covering grid pullout, overstress, internal sliding, crest toppling, and facing connections.
  • Understanding the design and construction considerations for various reinforced and unreinforced slope stabilization techniques.
  • Learning to perform global stability and compound stability analyses, crucial for identifying deep-seated failures.
  • Discovering critical considerations for site layout, utility placement, soil testing, and construction verification to ensure long-term structural integrity.
  • Analyzing common failure modes and lessons learned from a wide array of retaining wall and slope stabilization projects.

Whether you're looking to enhance your design skills, improve project oversight, or simply gain a deeper appreciation for the complexities of earth structures, this course provides invaluable insights and practical knowledge to prevent costly mistakes and build with confidence.

Your Instructors

HalfMoon Education
HalfMoon Education

Online Courses for Engineers

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HalfMoon Education is a nonprofit continuing education provider offering live webinars and on-demand courses for engineers, architects, landscape architects, land surveyors, attorneys, paralegals, accountants and others. Since 1996, we’ve helped thousands of professionals nationwide stay current with industry standards and codes, earn CE hours, and advance their expertise through practical, expert-led learning experiences. Learn more about us at: www.halfmoonseminars.org

Samuel William  Simpson III
Samuel William Simpson III

Geotechnical Structure Design Specialist at Gradelta Engineering

Mr. Simpson founded Gradelta Engineering in 2020 with the intent to help clients better understand the combination of geotechnical and structural engineering that he has worked with for the past 20 years. He earned his B.S.C.E. and M.S.C.E. degrees from Georgia Institute of Technology. He currently provides engineering services to contractors and fellow engineers for earth structure pricing, along with the plans and calculations needed for construction. He frequently consults with clients regarding the optimal structure type and location on the construction site to minimize risk and maximize useable space. He also works in the education sector providing not just seminars such as this one, but also acting as a subject matter expert creating study guide and test prep content for the NCEES Professional Civil Engineer exam. Mr. Simpson has also worked with lawyers and insurance companies during forensic investigation and lawsuits surrounding retaining walls and slope failures. His hope is that through the instructional services that he currently provides, slopes will remain stable and retaining wall failure will be eliminated

Credit Information

Do these courses count toward my professional development requirements?

This portal is provided as a training and development resource for City of Markham employees. Every course is delivered by a qualified subject matter expert or learning organization, is quantifiable in hours, and is verifiable — you receive a documented certificate of completion for every course you finish, stored on LearnFormula indefinitely.

If you hold a professional designation (for example in engineering, accounting, human resources, or law), courses may be counted as professionally relevant, verifiable learning activities toward your continuing professional development. Individual practitioners are responsible for confirming that an activity meets the requirements of their professional body. For questions about the City of Markham's training and development policies, please speak with your people leader or Human Resources.

What Students Are Saying

5.0
Student's Choice
10 reviews

Frequently Asked Questions

We are a registered provider with 327+ associations and regulatory bodies worldwide. We operate across 29 global markets including Canada, the US, Australia, and the UK. Every course page clearly displays its specific accreditations. Upon completion, you receive a professional certificate that can be validated online. Our certificates include all necessary accreditation details, credit hours, and completion dates, and are formatted specifically to meet the submission requirements of most global regulatory bodies.