What type of wall mainly holds backfill through its own weight?

A gravity wall is designed primarily to hold backfill through its own weight. These walls are typically made from heavy materials such as concrete or masonry and rely on their mass to resist the lateral pressure exerted by the soil behind them. The effectiveness of a gravity wall lies in its substantial weight, which provides stability and prevents soil from pushing the wall forward.

In contrast, other wall types have different mechanisms of support. A piling wall uses vertical piles driven deep into the ground to resist lateral loads, while a cantilever wall employs a T-shaped design that transfers the pressure to its base, relying on leverage rather than sheer mass. An anchored wall incorporates additional support systems, like cables or anchors, that secure the wall to the ground or other structures, thereby improving its stability but not depending solely on weight.

Gravity walls are straightforward in their design and function, making them ideal for specific applications where the weight-based mechanism is advantageous for retaining soil.