Concrete Block Retaining Wall Design Guide
An information series from the national authority on concrete masonry technology ncma tek 15 8a 1 guide to segmental retaining walls introduction segmental retaining walls are modular block retaining walls used for vertical grade change applications.
Concrete block retaining wall design guide. How to build a concrete wall figure a. The concrete block act as a protective facing to the wall and allow the reinforced earth wall be built safely. Foundation all concrete block walls must rest on a sturdy foundation of poured concrete. Soil mechanics simplified 4.
Tall wall excavate a trench deep enough to accommodate 4 to 6 in. Geotextilea permeable polymeric material which may be woven non woven or knitted. Planning the retaining wall a locking flange on the blocks for this project makes your retaining wall ideas easier to accomplish. Concrete masonry unitsconcrete blocks manufactured to provide an attractive durable stable face to a retaining wall.
Follow the block manufacturer s instructions for wall height limits. Concrete block design table you can use the concrete lego block retaining wall design table above as a guide. Concrete block retaining wall construction consists of number of phases including excavation foundation soil preparation retaining wall base construction concrete block unit placement grouting and drainage system installation. It is commonly used to separate drainage material from other soil.
The interlocking retaining wall block can be used to build walls up to 24 to 36 inches high depending on the size of the block. The walls are designed and constructed as either gravity retaining walls conventional or reinforced soil retaining walls. The system consists. Design procedure overview 3.
The geo mat is attached to the blocks with galvanized steel fixing. Excavation work for concrete block retaining walls. Of leveling sand and half the height of the first course of blocks. The depth and size of the foundation will vary depending on the size of the concrete block wall and the weight it must support but a typical freestanding wall requires a foundation that is about twice as wide as the wall itself and which extends about 1 foot down below the frost line.
These phases are explained briefly. Retaining wall design 10 editionth a design guide for earth retaining structures contents at a glance. Reinforced earth walls can be built to 15 20m high and is a very economical solution to high retaining walls. The table gives you a number of wall heights and the number and size of blocks required for the height of the wall.
They are commonly h or double u configuration. Soil bearing and stability 8. Of compacted base 1 in. Cross section of a retaining wall a cinder block retaining wall is only as straight and solid as the base it s built on.