Blowout, wet soil & frost heave 3 common failures in retaining wall structural design

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Blowout, Wet Soil & Frost Heave - 3 Common Failures in Retaining Wall Structural Design Published By: Nikunj Patel

A retaining wall might seem to some, a simple structure of stone, concrete or timber, however designing and building a retaining wall structure involves complex engineering. Retaining wall restricts and binds the tons of soil that can erode due to water flows and damage the foundation of the surrounding property.

The retaining walls protect a site or property, and in the process undergo a lot of wear. They have to stand the test of time, and if not designed well - they crumble as time passes, and eventually fail to serve the purpose they are built for.

Retaining wall structure - Common causes of failures & ways to avoid these failures: Blowout Failure This type of failure occurs when excessive load is added within 3 feet of the wall, in such cases the wall leans out and eventually crumbles under the load. Engineers should ensure that the

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retaining structure is designed strong enough to bear loads and face several other ‘what if’ scenarios that might occur.

Having a strong and a broader base and addition of tiebacks can add strength to the structure.

Wet Soil Failure In such instances, the soil at the base and behind the retaining structure gets saturated. This, results in excessive hydrostatic water pressure and due to this there are chances that the wall structure weakens over time and topples.

The best solution to avoid wall crumbling due to hydrostatic water pressure is to excavate native soil around 2 feet, and replace it with bank run gravel. The inside base of the wall can also be lined by perforated tile drains on a gravel bed. The top soil should take up to 6 inches behind the wall.

Frost Heave Failure When the retaining wall does not allow appropriate draining at the footer, then here the soil saturates and freezes, it heaves upwards and hence the wall structure breaks under the pressure. In order to avoid structural crumbling and failure due to heaving it should be ensured that the wall base or the foundation is laid beneath the frost line. Well drained gravel beneath the frost line can diminish heaving and hence avoid crumbling and structure failure.

A retaining wall structure is a barrier usually erected for blocking flood or flowing water from a nearby water body into the owners site or property.

When architects and engineers collaborate to build one, they can be designed such that they look very much a part of the surrounding landscape and only heighten its beauty and utility.

There barriers can also create constructive space by terracing slopped properties. These terraced or flat lands can be used for developing inviting landscapes and also for building residential structures on to them.

Hi-Tech CADD Services is an India based architectural design and engineering service provider.

The full range of services delivered by the company include and are not limited to; 3D modeling, CAD conversion, architectural MEP and structural engineering, landscape design and many more. The company has a proven track record of developing highly complex but very strong and stable retaining wall structures thus garnering client appreciation and ongoing business.

The Original Article Published at: http://archinect.com/firms/release/73680680/blowout-wet-soil-frost-heave-3-commonfailures-in-retaining-wall-structural-design/112920888

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Copyright Š 2014 Hi-Tech CADD Services. All Rights Reserved.