Mending Wall, by the poet Robert Frost, starts with the line: "Something there is that doesn't love a wall". Many engineers in the practical endeavours of landscaping and construction would no doubt agree. Frost talks about natural and human forces that work against the strength and wholeness of a wall, and these are real problems that engineers also have to face. Particularly in the case of Retaining Walls, which are often important linchpin features of building projects, they must be built strong and resilient in order to maintain the safety of their surroundings.
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.
A cantilevered wall is a different sort of design. It, too, has a buried segment for strength, but unlike a piling wall, a cantilevered wall does not rely on depth. Rather, it uses a specially constructed base or foot to hold it in place. This foot makes it possible to build a retaining wall with similar properties to a gravity wall, but requiring less mass.
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.
A cantilevered wall is a different sort of design. It, too, has a buried segment for strength, but unlike a piling wall, a cantilevered wall does not rely on depth. Rather, it uses a specially constructed base or foot to hold it in place. This foot makes it possible to build a retaining wall with similar properties to a gravity wall, but requiring less mass.
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 a freelance online writer who concentrates on landscaping renovations and related subjects. He has a particular interest in Retaining Walls, including those made from Retaining Wall Blocks.
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