There is so much to consider when it comes to choosing the right retaining wall type for your project.
There are four main categories of retaining walls: gravity walls, cantilever walls, anchored walls, reinforced soil or nailed walls. An outline of these categories is below.
- Gravity walls
Gravity walls are arguably the oldest and most frequently used retaining wall type. Often made from stone or other heavy materials, gravity walls rely on the weight of their own mass to resist pressures from the retained material. Gravity walls include concrete crib walls, boulders, large precast concrete block walls and gabions. Gabions consist of a wire mesh cage, which is filled with roughly cut stone or other material.
Cantilever retaining wall
These walls are common for taller retaining walls. They use a lot less material than the gravity wall. This one works like a beam, cantilevering the load to a large, fixed base base and converting the horizontal pressures from behind the wall into vertical pressures on the ground below. Cantilever walls were used more before gravity walls came about.
- Anchored retaining walls
Walls that are anchored are pinned at the bottom and top with cables or stays going into the soil or rock behind. These anchors are sent into the soil or rock and expanded at the end or the cable mechanically or by injection of concrete. If using concrete, it is pressurized to expand and make a bulbous shape in the soil. These walls can be bedded in at the base and tied to something at the top; or a "deadman anchor" like a concrete structure is driven into the ground to give resistance. The horizontal cable and the deadman anchor resist the force that could cause the wall to be unstable.
- Reinforced soil or nailed retaining walls
These systems do not simply consist of the wall itself, but make use of reinforcing grids or straps to contain and stabilise the slope. Reinforcing layers are attached to outer facing walls (typically segmental retaining walls). The retaining wall face is usually made of precast concrete units that can tolerate some differential movement. When the reinforced soil mass is sufficiently large to retain the pressure from the soil behind it, it works with the wall to provide stability. Nailed concrete retaining wall make use of slender elements - normally steel reinforcing bars - which are inserted into a pre-drilled hole and grouted into place. The reinforcing bars are usually installed untensioned, at a slight downward angle.
There are four main categories of retaining walls: gravity walls, cantilever walls, anchored walls, reinforced soil or nailed walls. An outline of these categories is below.
- Gravity walls
Gravity walls are arguably the oldest and most frequently used retaining wall type. Often made from stone or other heavy materials, gravity walls rely on the weight of their own mass to resist pressures from the retained material. Gravity walls include concrete crib walls, boulders, large precast concrete block walls and gabions. Gabions consist of a wire mesh cage, which is filled with roughly cut stone or other material.
Cantilever retaining wall
These walls are common for taller retaining walls. They use a lot less material than the gravity wall. This one works like a beam, cantilevering the load to a large, fixed base base and converting the horizontal pressures from behind the wall into vertical pressures on the ground below. Cantilever walls were used more before gravity walls came about.
- Anchored retaining walls
Walls that are anchored are pinned at the bottom and top with cables or stays going into the soil or rock behind. These anchors are sent into the soil or rock and expanded at the end or the cable mechanically or by injection of concrete. If using concrete, it is pressurized to expand and make a bulbous shape in the soil. These walls can be bedded in at the base and tied to something at the top; or a "deadman anchor" like a concrete structure is driven into the ground to give resistance. The horizontal cable and the deadman anchor resist the force that could cause the wall to be unstable.
- Reinforced soil or nailed retaining walls
These systems do not simply consist of the wall itself, but make use of reinforcing grids or straps to contain and stabilise the slope. Reinforcing layers are attached to outer facing walls (typically segmental retaining walls). The retaining wall face is usually made of precast concrete units that can tolerate some differential movement. When the reinforced soil mass is sufficiently large to retain the pressure from the soil behind it, it works with the wall to provide stability. Nailed concrete retaining wall make use of slender elements - normally steel reinforcing bars - which are inserted into a pre-drilled hole and grouted into place. The reinforcing bars are usually installed untensioned, at a slight downward angle.
About the Author:
To find the perfect retaining wall for your project, talk to a consultant today. You can also visit our website and view our wide range of products/services such as interlocking walls, gabions and segmental retaining walls.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment