Retaining wall made of concrete: technology and device

Not every owner of his own plot can boast a perfectly smooth relief, from which it should be concluded that the retaining wall of concrete, the technology of construction of which will be described in the article, is sometimes an indispensable element that can act as a garden decoration and a building that divides it into zones . The construction of such a structure can not be called a complex process, in the course of which it is possible to realize different fantasies of landscape design.

Wall device

A retaining wall of concrete, the construction technology of which must be observed by you during the work, may have a certain design that determines its function. Thus, some walls decorate, while others - strengthen. Each is designed for its degree of impact and consists of the main elements, among them: foundation, body, drainage and drainage. The foundation is an underground part and is designed to withstand the gravity of soil pressure. The ground part is the body, the inner side of which is in contact with the soil and traces the elevation on the site. The outer, front side is open and can have an even or oblique appearance. Protective communications are drainage and drainage. In the design process, it is necessary to provide methods for removing excess moisture that will accumulate from the inside.

Parameters that determine the stability of the wall

The construction of retaining walls of concrete should provide for each of the above elements. Only in this way the design will be maximally stable and will exhibit the ability to undergo high pressure. Therefore, it is necessary to calculate the factors that affect the strength. On the wall will be affected by some physical forces, namely: own weight, the force of friction and adhesion to the soil, the pressure of the soil, as well as the additional weight of the elements. The latter can be strengthened on the wall.

Impact on the wall

It is important to take into account those phenomena that will influence the design, among them: soil swelling during the winter, vibration (if a railway is laid nearby), rainwater washing, seismic phenomena and wind. Considering the last factor, it should be noted that the retaining wall of concrete (2 m or more in height) will undergo strong wind loads.

Construction technology

The described design is a rather complex engineering structure, therefore, in its arrangement it is necessary to take into account certain factors on which reliability, strength and durability will depend. Construction of such structures can begin on stable soils that contain clay, gravel, sandy loam, and gravel. To successfully complete the work, it must be remembered that the freezing level of the soil should not exceed 1.5 m from the surface.

Underground water should be 1 meter, as an optimal option is an indicator of 1.5 meters from the surface of the earth. If you yourself decided to carry out construction work, then the ground part of the wall should not be above 1.4 meters. If you need a retaining wall of concrete (height 3 m), then it's best to turn to professionals, because for this you will need complex calculations that take into account the soil pressure and its mobility.

Recommendations for the construction of a foundation

The retaining wall of concrete, the photo of which you can see in the article, must have a foundation that is reliable if the structure has a height of more than 30 centimeters. In this case, it is necessary to follow the rule, which is the dependence of the depth of foundation of the base on the characteristics of the soil. The more unstable and easier the soil, the deeper it is necessary to lay the foundation. If the soil is characterized by density, then the ratio of the depth of the foundation and the height of the ground part should correspond to a proportion of 1 to 4. If it is necessary to work with medium-mild soil, the depth of the base should be 1/3 of the height of the support. If the soil is soft enough and loose, the depth of the base of the structure should be equal to 1/2 of the height. The composition of the foundation must be concrete, gravel and crushed stone, as well as heavy length or compacted cement.

Waterproofing, drainage and drainage

The retaining wall of concrete, technology and equipment of which you can study and implement independently, should provide for a drainage and waterproofing, which will ensure reliability and durability. It is not enough to build a good foundation and install a wall, protect the structure from the effects of moisture, which can have a destructive effect. It is necessary to waterproof the inner side of the support.

The drainage system is divided into longitudinal, transverse and combined. Crosswise implies the installation of holes in every second-third row, their diameter should be about ten centimeters. You can lay the pipes in a slope, then the water will immediately leave the site. If you decide to equip a longitudinal drain, it is located along the wall under the ground at the foundation level. For this, a corrugated, asbestos cement or ceramic pipe with a diameter of 10 centimeters is laid. The elements wrap around the geotextile, which will absorb moisture, getting through small holes. In order to exclude the penetration of water into the structure of the masonry, which, when the temperature drops, causes the destruction of the wall, it is necessary to provide for the presence of a cornice block or visor with a slight slope.

Laying the drainage layer between the wall and the soil

If you need a retaining wall made of concrete, the technology and the device with your own hands should be studied and produced according to a certain technology. The technique involves the arrangement of a drainage layer, which is located between the ground and the structure itself. After completing the assembly of the wall, you can proceed to fill the space formed by the wall and the slope. For this, it is possible to use coarse clastic soils by the type of pebbles, gravel and coarse sand. To do this, often used brick bricks and construction materials waste.

It is important to note that the gravel will exert some pressure on the support, but act as a drainage layer. The mixture for drainage should be covered layer by layer, each separate layer must be sealed. Preferred are coarse-grained soils and sands, taken from sandy loam. The retaining wall of concrete, the technology of which is described in the article, should have the upper part of the laying layer, which can consist of vegetative soil. After tamping the last layer it is necessary to leave everything in this state for several days without exposing the surface to loads. Strengthening materials due to this will gain their properties. After the completion of all of the above works, you can begin the arrangement of the terrace.

Features of wall construction

The casting of the monolith is carried out in a formwork, in which quality the shields of a broken configuration act. Individual components are strengthened from the outside with supports so that the formwork can withstand the pressure of the concrete. Inside, reinforcing mesh rows are installed, which consist of metal rods and trimming pipes. They should be connected with each other by wire. At a height of 5 centimeters from the surface of the earth, plastic tubes must be laid, which will ensure the tapping of collecting water. The distance between them should be 1 meter.

To obtain a smooth outer surface, the formwork is lined with plywood or roofing material inside. If you need a retaining wall of concrete, the construction technology of which is described in the article, then you can build it out of butane concrete, and there is no need to produce reinforcement. The design of this design allows you to save cement, as a significant amount of stones.

The first row is laid dry, the formed voids should be covered with rubble and pour the solution. After a new row of stones, they must be drowned in the solution, continuing the work until the formwork is filled. As in the case of monolithic walls, concrete structures must contain pipes for draining water.

Calculation of concrete for wall construction

The retaining wall made of concrete, the calculation of which you can carry out independently, should be filled without major interruptions in the work, otherwise it will not be possible to exclude the formation of seams. In order to calculate how much concrete to buy, you should determine the inner volume of the future wall. For this, its area is initially determined, and then the value is multiplied by the depth of the wall. This will allow you to understand how much solution should be ordered at the factory. But if there is no such possibility, it is better to rent a concrete mixer.