retsining wall
RETAINING WALLS AND REINFORCED SOIL SLOPES
Retaining walls and reinforced soil slopes are used in areas where free-standing (natural) earth slopes are undesirable, usually because of space restrictions. These walls have, in the past, normally been poured reinforced concrete (gravity or cantilever), timber, steel, or precast concrete cribbing, stone-filled wire-basket gabions, timber or steel sheeting, or steel soldier pile and lagging walls, all of which provide external support to the retained soil mass. Several innovations in types of retaining walls have become available, including using inherent characteristics of retained or reinforced soil as part of the support system.
Inadequate drainage of the backfill material can result in unsatisfactory long-term performance of the retaining wall system. A subsurface drainage system is typically installed simultaneously with the erection of the wall to ensure a continuous, uninterrupted system to serve to prevent the accumulation of destabilizing water pressure on the wall. Regional Designers should consult with the Regional Geotechnical Engineer during the retaining wall design phase
Good, long term performance of any wall is dependent on the use of well-compacted, good quality backfill. It is not possible to adequately compact backfill in below-freezing temperatures, unless special material that does not require water for compaction (i.e. crushed stone) is used.
Definitions
There are three categories of support systems based on their intended functional life: permanent, temporary, and interim.
1. Permanent: A permanent system provides a structural support function for the life of the facility. 2. Temporary: A temporary system is designed to provide structural support during construction, and is removed when construction is complete.
3. Interim: An interim system is identical to a temporary system in function, except it remains in place (although it no longer provides a
Retaining walls and reinforced soil slopes are used in areas where free-standing (natural) earth slopes are undesirable, usually because of space restrictions. These walls have, in the past, normally been poured reinforced concrete (gravity or cantilever), timber, steel, or precast concrete cribbing, stone-filled wire-basket gabions, timber or steel sheeting, or steel soldier pile and lagging walls, all of which provide external support to the retained soil mass. Several innovations in types of retaining walls have become available, including using inherent characteristics of retained or reinforced soil as part of the support system.
Inadequate drainage of the backfill material can result in unsatisfactory long-term performance of the retaining wall system. A subsurface drainage system is typically installed simultaneously with the erection of the wall to ensure a continuous, uninterrupted system to serve to prevent the accumulation of destabilizing water pressure on the wall. Regional Designers should consult with the Regional Geotechnical Engineer during the retaining wall design phase
Good, long term performance of any wall is dependent on the use of well-compacted, good quality backfill. It is not possible to adequately compact backfill in below-freezing temperatures, unless special material that does not require water for compaction (i.e. crushed stone) is used.
Definitions
There are three categories of support systems based on their intended functional life: permanent, temporary, and interim.
1. Permanent: A permanent system provides a structural support function for the life of the facility. 2. Temporary: A temporary system is designed to provide structural support during construction, and is removed when construction is complete.
3. Interim: An interim system is identical to a temporary system in function, except it remains in place (although it no longer provides a