Segmental retaining walls

Study Notes by – Shiddalingesh Banagar

Source: https://www.concretenetwork.com/concrete/segmental_retaining/

Project – Internal roads & infrastructure works at Baniyas East 11, Abu Dhabi

Scope – Review of the document

Introduction

Segmental retaining walls consist of modular concrete blocks that interlock with each other. They are
used to hold back a sloping face of soil to provide a solid, vertical front. Without adequate retention,
slopes can cave, slump or slide. With the unique construction of segmental retaining walls, higher and
steeper walls can be constructed with the ability to retain the force of lateral earth pressure created by
the backfill soil.

Segmental retaining walls can be installed in a wide variety of colors, sizes, and textures. They can
incorporate straight or curved lines, steps, and corners. They are ideal for not only slope support, but
also for widening areas that would otherwise be unusable due to the natural slope of the land.

What are Concrete Segmental Retaining Walls

Segmental retaining walls consist of a facing system and a lateral tieback system. The facing systems
usually consist of modular concrete blocks that interlock with each other and with the lateral
restraining members. The lateral tiebacks are usually geogrids that are buried in the stable area of the
backfill. In addition to supporting the wall, the geogrids also stabilize the soil behind the wall. These
two factors allow higher and steeper walls to be constructed.

Advantages of Concrete Segmental Retaining Walls

Segmental retaining walls offer many advantages:

 rapid construction
 horizontal and vertical curvatures
 easy grade changes
 a wide variety of colors, sizes and textures
 no need for a concrete footing

Segmental Concrete Retaining Wall Design

Retaining wall design and wall type selection is driven by several factors. These factors include cost,
required wall height, ease and speed of construction, ground water conditions and soil characteristics.

Other factors can include skilled labor and material availability, building codes, site accessibility,
aesthetics, local building practice, etc

Ultimately, all retaining walls serve to hold back a vertical or near vertical face of soil that would,
without adequate retention, cave, slump or slide to a more natural slope.

Backfill Drainage Issues

One area that can be commonly overlooked, or at least underestimated, is the necessity to drain the
backfill of rainwater and/or groundwater. Hydrostatic pressure can cause or induce retaining wall
failure, or at least damage the wall.

Drainage of water as a result of rainfall or other wet conditions is very important to the stability of a
retaining wall. Without proper drainage the backfill can become saturated, which has the dual impact
of increasing the pressure on the wall and lessening the resistance of the backfill material to sliding.
Granular backfill material offers the benefits of good drainage, easy compaction, and increased sliding
resistance.