Retaining wall what is

Walls used in landscaping can have similar looks but provide very different functions. A few uses for outdoor walls: Retaining slopes and creating more usable land space Defining a garden bed Support Seating A retaining wall is a strong structure that is made to keep a hill, slope or mound of earth in place.

Garden walls Garden walls are low walls, usually about inches in height, that line a landscape feature. Support walls A landscape wall built for supporting outdoor structures are sturdy installations that are designed to hold the vertical weight of architectural elements like pillars, gazebos, gates, pergolas or fencing. Seating wall Seating walls are built to provide a permanent arrangement for guest accommodation. Caps Depending on what style wall you choose, you may need cap stones to finish the installation.

Published: August 10, Previous Article. Next Article. Like this content? Want more? Steel sheet pile walls are constructed by driving steel sheets into a slope or excavation up to the required depth. Their most common use is within temporary deep excavations. They are considered to be most economical where retention of higher earth pressures of soft soils is required.

It cannot resist very high pressure. Subscribe to our Newsletter. Stay informed - subscribe to our newsletter. Email The subscriber's email address. Search AboutCivil. Similar Articles. Frame Structures - Types of Frame Structures. Minimum Steel Reinforcement in Concrete. Steps in Designing a Transfer Floor. Excess Steel Reinforcement: Problems and Remedies. Many manufacturers have their own staff of engineers available who focus on wall design and can offer support.

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Industry Insights. Share This. Written by Building Solutions. Design Guidance The purpose of all retaining walls is to hold soil behind them. Location : When choosing a location for your wall, make sure you have a detailed understanding of property lines and both above ground and underground utilities including stormwater management systems and irrigation.

Additional factors to consider about the location might include: If your wall is on a slope, where will you store additional infill that must be brought to the site?

Excess soil. If you are cutting into a hillside, where will the excess soil be stored? Natural drainage patterns. Depending on the wall size, a retaining wall can impede on natural drainage patterns and have environmental consequences downstream. If your wall is along the property boundary, will the reinforcement system encroach the property line?

Surcharge Loads. Will there be additional weight or vertical forces above the wall such as fencing, guardrails, driveways, parking lots, or swimming pools? Soil : The soil that creates the foundation, or base, needs to be examined to ensure it meets the strength required to support the wall. You should determine the type, bearing capacity the capacity of soil to support a load , stress parameters, and friction angle resistance to movement of the soil used for the foundation and reinforced zone along with the retained soil zone.

In general, the base soil needs to be firm, solid, and strong, and it should not be moist. Wet soils such as clay soil are also not recommended for infilling. They are already saturated with water, so additional moisture cannot make its way through to the drainage channels. Also, in areas where there is freezing, wet soil can expand and contract which will damage the wall.

On the other hand, sandy soils allow for good drainage. Consult the geotechnical report which describes the on-site soils, expansive soils, poor chemical properties, groundwater conditions, and more. Design : To begin the design, you must calculate the corresponding wall heights, footprint sizes, slopes, and the setback angle which are dependent on the site elevation and grade.

You must also consider that gravity will cause the retained material to naturally move downslope. This should be counteracted within the design to minimize the amount of lateral earth pressure behind the wall, which, at maximum value, can ultimately overturn the wall.

Over the years many different retaining wall materials have helped to alter the landscape in which we live. Common retaining wall products include railroad ties or treated timbers as well as wall stones, natural stones, bricks and concrete block. While wood is often an inexpensive and simple choice for a retaining wall, its short lifespan makes it a relatively poor choice.

As the wood decomposes, so does your retaining wall and the integrity of your usable space. Stones, rocks or boulders can create beautiful retaining walls, but the installation of these materials can be expensive and labor intensive. Furthermore, maintenance of stone walls can be difficult, because over time or they may erode or become home to rodents and weeds. Cast-in place or mortared retaining walls are another option.