A　cantilever　retaining　wall　that　includes　a　relief　shelf　represents　a　unique　embodiment　within　the　realm　of　retaining　walls.　Semi-infinite　non-cohesive　soil’s　translational　mode　failure　mechanism　can　be　probed　utilizing　the　adaptive　finite　element　elastoplastic　analysis　(AFEEA).　This　methodology　indicates　that　such　walls　exhibit　dual　failure　surfaces,　one　originating　at　the　wall　heel　and　another　at　the　shelf’s　end　when　the　shelf　is　sufficiently　extended.　To　summarize,　comprehension　of　the　interrelation　can　be　achieved　by　classifying　walls　into　those　with　long　and　short　relief　shelves.　This　study　applied　equilibrium　limit　analysis　on　the　horizontal　differential　layer　to　determine　the　active　earth　pressure　of　cantilever　retaining　walls　with　the　relief　shelf　in　semi-infinite　non-cohesive　backfilled　soil.　The　investigation　of　four　key　parameters—relief　shelf　length,　position,　wall　heel　length,　and　soil　internal　friction　angle—highlights　their　significant　roles　in　altering　active　earth　pressure.　As　a　result,　when　the　relief　shelf　aligns　at　0.4　times　the　wall’s　height　from　its　pinnacle,　it　presents　minimal　total　active　earth　pressure　(Ea).　The　conclusion　drawn　is　that　within　a　specific　range:　The　active　earth　pressure　decreases　as　the　length　of　the　relief　shelf　increases　and　the　length　of　the　wall　heel　decreases.　©　The　Author(s),　under　exclusive　licence　to　Indian　Geotechnical　Society　2024.