What is a retaining wall

The retaining wall is a structure, the main purpose of which is to keep from slipping or collapse a soil massif located on slopes. In other words, it is nothing but a structure acting as a supporting element. That is, it does not allow various structures located on an inclined plane and the ground beneath them to collapse or collapse under the influence of the gravity of their own mass.

The retaining wall can perform the following functions:

• Prevention of soil slipping;
• Organization of optimal terracing;
• Rationalization of land use;
• Division of territory into zones.

In suburban construction, such support structures are built on sites with large elevations. That is, on hills, steep slopes, in ravines. But also the retaining walls have found application as art-decorative elements in landscape design. Hence it is possible to single out the first gradation of such constructions proceeding from their functional purpose.

• Decorative . Any retaining wall of this type serves as an architectural and decorative element. They are used in landscape design, even on flat areas.
• Firming . This type of structure is used to hold the soil on different gradients. They are widely used for terracing slopes to expand the useful area. Such buildings should be built at a slope of 8%.
• Combined . This type of structure performs both decorative and strengthening functions.

The retaining wall is a rather complicated construction. Its components are:

• Foundation (underground part of the wall);
• Body (aboveground part of the structure);
• Drainage and drainage.

The construction of retaining walls is a complex and responsible task. Particular attention is paid to design. It is at this stage that all the performance characteristics of the future design are calculated. So, the calculations take into account own weight, tested loads from objects located on it, ground pressure on the body and foundation of the wall, water flows during showers and floods, wind impact, soil swelling during frosts.

Strength characteristics - this is a very important issue when building walls. But no less importance should be given to ensuring sustainability. For these purposes, during construction, a number of measures are taken, calculated at the design stage:

• The formation of the slope of the back edge of the wall in the direction of backfilling;
• Increase the roughness of the rear part to reduce the ground pressure on it;
• The device of the drainage system;
• Formation of a protrusion from the front of the wall.

Types of retaining walls

By construction technology:

• Monolithic.
• National teams.

According to the depth of the deposit:

• Shallow (the width of the walls is comparable or less than the depth of the embankment);
• Deep deposition (the width of the walls is 1.5 or more times less than the depth).

Height:

• Low (less than 1 meter);
• Average (1-2 meters);
• High (more than 2 meters).

By massiveness:

• Massive . This type of retaining walls is material-intensive, as well as labor-intensive. Stability to overturning and shear is achieved due to its own mass.
• Semi-massive . Stability of structures of this type is achieved due to the mass of the structure itself, as well as the weight of the filling soil.
• Fine-element . This type of retaining walls is usually built of reinforced concrete slabs. For stability in this case, the filling soil is responsible.
• Thin . Stability of the walls of this type is provided by pinching the base in the soil.

By location:

• Integrated (linked to adjacent facilities);
• Stand-alone (stand-alone).

According to the material of manufacture:

• Retaining wall made of concrete . The design of this species is one of the most stable. For its erection it is required to equip the formwork and drainage holes.
• Stone . When forming such a wall, it is necessary to equip a reinforced foundation laid below the freezing point. Also, in the body of the finished structure, outlet openings must be provided to reduce water pressure.
• Wooden . When constructing such a retaining wall, a drainage system should be provided. All wooden structural elements must be treated with an antiseptic.
• Brick . The technology of construction is similar to that of the construction of stone retaining walls.
• Metal . The retaining wall of this type is suitable only for stable soils. When it is erected, a concrete foundation should be formed to strengthen the structure.
• Retaining wall from building blocks . The technology of erection is the same as in the case of stone structures.
• Retaining wall from geogrids . This type of structures can be equipped on vertical slopes. The geogrid modules are interconnected using conventional staples.
• Retaining wall of gabions . This material has a solid weight, which allows you to create a fairly stable design. The construction of walls with the use of gabions can be performed year-round. Also in this case there is no need for preliminary preparation of the foundation or foundation.
• Retaining wall made of concrete blocks . The construction of the structure is quite easy. The construction of the wall assumes a preliminary ramming of the base and filling of the rubble.