"Something there is that doesn't love a wall". So begins Robert Frost's famous poem, Mending Wall. Frost proceeds to mention a number of forces that work against the structural integrity of walls, such as weather conditions and human interference. Although the poet is not, strictly speaking, describing an engineering problem, he does, in a roundabout way, demonstrate the importance of having well-built walls. Walls are built to perform a specific function. If they fail at that function, the consequences may be as simple as straying livestock or, in the case of Retaining Walls, a potentially dangerous amount of soil spilling into places it is not supposed to go.
Engineers use retaining walls to hold or retain inclined earth in place, thereby creating a useable level of terrain where there would not be one if gravity were left to settle the soil on its own. A retaining wall can be subject to significant pressure from the soil it is keeping stable, so the wall itself must be constructed of adequately strong materials.
Perhaps the simplest type of retaining wall is a gravity wall. This type of wall relies mainly on the weight of the materials used in the wall's construction to hold back the soil, although the angle of construction may play a part as well. In some instances, this may be done using massive precast concrete slabs to provide bulk. In other cases, a stack of Retaining Wall Blocks might be used to achieve the same effect with a bit more flexibility built into the wall (to resist the effects of freezing and thawing, for example).
A piling wall or piling sheet wall is, as the name suggests, one where the majority of the wall materials (normally concrete or reinforced concrete pieces) are buried in the earth (like concrete pilings). Around 66 percent of the wall pieces may be underground, which adds quite a bit of resistance against the soil being retained. However, care must be taken that the sheets themselves can withstand the forces without breaking at surface level.
Cantilevered walls are a sort of retaining wall that relies on a structural feature to give it strength, namely a buried foot or T-shaped piece that is attached perpendicular to the wall. Cantilevered walls do not need to use as much material as gravity walls to attain the same degree of resistance to the slope.
Whenever engineers decide to employ a retaining wall, they will examine the amount of soil they have to hold back, its consistency, and the local weather conditions. Then they will choose the type of wall that best suits the job. Luckily, precast concrete comes in many hues and surfaces, so no matter which wall is chosen, it can be integrated into the look of the project, while still serving its purpose completely.
Engineers use retaining walls to hold or retain inclined earth in place, thereby creating a useable level of terrain where there would not be one if gravity were left to settle the soil on its own. A retaining wall can be subject to significant pressure from the soil it is keeping stable, so the wall itself must be constructed of adequately strong materials.
Perhaps the simplest type of retaining wall is a gravity wall. This type of wall relies mainly on the weight of the materials used in the wall's construction to hold back the soil, although the angle of construction may play a part as well. In some instances, this may be done using massive precast concrete slabs to provide bulk. In other cases, a stack of Retaining Wall Blocks might be used to achieve the same effect with a bit more flexibility built into the wall (to resist the effects of freezing and thawing, for example).
A piling wall or piling sheet wall is, as the name suggests, one where the majority of the wall materials (normally concrete or reinforced concrete pieces) are buried in the earth (like concrete pilings). Around 66 percent of the wall pieces may be underground, which adds quite a bit of resistance against the soil being retained. However, care must be taken that the sheets themselves can withstand the forces without breaking at surface level.
Cantilevered walls are a sort of retaining wall that relies on a structural feature to give it strength, namely a buried foot or T-shaped piece that is attached perpendicular to the wall. Cantilevered walls do not need to use as much material as gravity walls to attain the same degree of resistance to the slope.
Whenever engineers decide to employ a retaining wall, they will examine the amount of soil they have to hold back, its consistency, and the local weather conditions. Then they will choose the type of wall that best suits the job. Luckily, precast concrete comes in many hues and surfaces, so no matter which wall is chosen, it can be integrated into the look of the project, while still serving its purpose completely.
About the Author:
John G. Stone is an independent Web-based journalist who concentrates on landscaping renovations and related subjects. He has a particular interest in Retaining Walls, including those built with Retaining Wall Blocks.
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