Bricks, Masonry, Asphalt and Concrete - Retaining Wall is Leaning & Cracking
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sentrase
10-14-05, 03:39 AM
Hi! I have a retaining wall made of solid rock, held together with mortar. It holds back a hill of dirt. Lately, from the force of the dirt coming down the hill over time, has made the wall lean forward a little & is cracking in a few places. I've been shoveling the dirt away from the wall, trying to get some of the weight off of it. Can anyone please tell me if this is a smart thing to do? Should I do something else? What do I do when I get the weight off of it?
Thank you!
Thank you!
Concretemasonry
10-14-05, 08:34 AM
Removing some of the retained soil should stop or slow the movement. Permitting drainage of water in the soil behind the wall also will help. You can't do much with the type of soil under or in back of the wall.
From a technical standpoint your wall has failed if it is moving. From a practical standpoint, it can still be functional for a period of time.
The cause could be number if things - inadequate design, not enough steel, soil movement. moisture buildup, frost. A rigid retaining wall is one of the most difficult structure to design and build. Mother Nature does not like rigid structures to upset her activities.
Rigid retaing walls need to be very, very rigid and strong and usually are not strong enoug or have a wide enough base to prevent tipping and cracking.
Non-rigid walls can last a long time. This is why you hear of the "old stone walls" lasting for 100's of years. They last because they are gravity walls and can move slightly and slowly. They rely on gravity, which is always there. If they were mortared, they would not last nearly as long.
When you get some of the weight off it is when you decide whether to replace it of use other means to preserve a stable slope. Each site is different.
It is possible to built non-rigid walls using individual elements that are interlocked, but can still move slightly. You see these used by many municipalities. They are constructed of concrete cribbing or other concrete units such a segmental retaining walls units. Timber (RR ties, treated logs) are used rarely because of the short life.
Much will depend on the details of your site (height, soil, length, climate, moisture...etc.)
Dick
Dick
From a technical standpoint your wall has failed if it is moving. From a practical standpoint, it can still be functional for a period of time.
The cause could be number if things - inadequate design, not enough steel, soil movement. moisture buildup, frost. A rigid retaining wall is one of the most difficult structure to design and build. Mother Nature does not like rigid structures to upset her activities.
Rigid retaing walls need to be very, very rigid and strong and usually are not strong enoug or have a wide enough base to prevent tipping and cracking.
Non-rigid walls can last a long time. This is why you hear of the "old stone walls" lasting for 100's of years. They last because they are gravity walls and can move slightly and slowly. They rely on gravity, which is always there. If they were mortared, they would not last nearly as long.
When you get some of the weight off it is when you decide whether to replace it of use other means to preserve a stable slope. Each site is different.
It is possible to built non-rigid walls using individual elements that are interlocked, but can still move slightly. You see these used by many municipalities. They are constructed of concrete cribbing or other concrete units such a segmental retaining walls units. Timber (RR ties, treated logs) are used rarely because of the short life.
Much will depend on the details of your site (height, soil, length, climate, moisture...etc.)
Dick
Dick
sentrase
10-15-05, 12:29 AM
Thank you for your reply. What you said makes sense. I have one more question if you don't mind. (And by the way, I'm a 41-yr-old woman with a lot of do-it-yourself experience, but still a woman none-the-less, so please excuse me when I ask this "dingy" question!!)
In my retaining wall there are drain pipes. Could the reason for the failure be that one of those pipes are clogged? If so, how can I unclog them? Thanks again!
In my retaining wall there are drain pipes. Could the reason for the failure be that one of those pipes are clogged? If so, how can I unclog them? Thanks again!
Concretemasonry
10-15-05, 09:34 AM
Just one clogged drain should not cause a failure.
I you do not see any drainage, that means there is no water behind the wall, it is getting out some other way or the soil behind the wall will not let the water get to the drain.
Since someone bothered to put in a drain, they may have put the proper soil (granular sand or gravel) in as a backfill. This backfill can become clogged with clay and silt over time if a filter blanket (mesh) was not used. Most older walls do not have this.
The only way to find out what you have is to do some exploritory digging.
Dick
I you do not see any drainage, that means there is no water behind the wall, it is getting out some other way or the soil behind the wall will not let the water get to the drain.
Since someone bothered to put in a drain, they may have put the proper soil (granular sand or gravel) in as a backfill. This backfill can become clogged with clay and silt over time if a filter blanket (mesh) was not used. Most older walls do not have this.
The only way to find out what you have is to do some exploritory digging.
Dick