Not every owner of his own site can boast of an absolutely even relief, from which it can be concluded that the retaining wall made of concrete, the construction technology of which will be described in the article, is sometimes an indispensable element that can act as a decoration of a garden and a structure that divides it into zones . The construction of such a construction cannot be called a complex process; in the course of it, various fantasies of landscape design can be realized.
Wall device
A retaining wall made of concrete, the construction technology of which must be observed by you during the work, may have a certain structure that determines its function. Thus, some walls decorate, while others strengthen. Each is designed for its own degree of impact and consists of the main elements, among them: foundation, body, drainage and drainage. The foundation is an underground part and is designed to withstand the severity of soil pressure. The ground part is the body, the inner side of which is in contact with the soil and encircles the hill in the area. The external, front side is open and may have a flat or beveled appearance. Drainage and drainage are protective communications. During the design process, it is necessary to provide methods for removing excess moisture, which will accumulate from the inside.
The parameters that determine the stability of the wall
The device of retaining walls made of concrete should include the presence of each of the above elements. Only in this way will the design turn out to be as stable as possible and will show the ability to undergo high pressure. Therefore, it is necessary to calculate factors that affect strength. Some physical forces will act on the wall, namely: dead weight, friction and adhesion to the ground, soil pressure, as well as the additional weight of the elements. The latter can be mounted on the wall.
Impact on the wall
It is important to take into account those phenomena that will affect the structure, among them: swelling of the soil during the winter season, vibrations (if a railway is laid nearby), washing with rainwater, seismic phenomena and wind. Considering the last factor, it should be noted that the concrete retaining wall (height 2 m or more) will undergo strong wind loads.
Construction technology
The design described is a rather complicated engineering structure, therefore, when it is equipped, certain factors must be taken into account, on which reliability, strength and durability will depend. You can start building such structures on stable soils that contain clay, gravel, sandy loam, as well as gravel. For successful completion of work, it is necessary to remember that the level of soil freezing should not be more than 1.5 m from the surface.
Groundwater should be 1 meter, an indicator of 1.5 meters above the surface of the earth is the best option. If you yourself decide to carry out construction work, then the ground part of the wall should not be higher than 1.4 meters. If you need a concrete retaining wall (height 3 m), then it is best to contact professionals, as this will require complex calculations that take into account the pressure of the soil and its mobility.
Foundation building guidelines
A retaining wall made of concrete, the photo of which you can see in the article, must have a foundation that is reliable, if the structure has a height of more than 30 centimeters. In this case, it is necessary to follow the rule, which consists in the dependence of the depth of the foundation on the characteristics of the soil. The more unstable and lighter the soil, the deeper it is necessary to lay the foundation. If the soil is different in density, then the ratio of the depth of the base and the height of the ground part should correspond to a ratio of 1 to 4. If you have to work with soil of medium friability, then the depth of the base should be 1/3 of the height of the support. If the soil is soft and loose enough, then the depth of the base of the structure should be 1/2 height. The foundation should include concrete, gravel and crushed stone, as well as heavy length or compacted cement.
Waterproofing, drainage and drainage
A retaining wall made of concrete, the technology and device of which you can study and implement yourself, should provide for drainage and waterproofing, which will ensure reliability and durability. It is not enough to build a good foundation and install the wall, you should protect the structure from moisture, which can have a destructive effect. It is necessary to waterproof the inner side of the support.
The drainage system is divided into longitudinal, transverse and combined. Cross involves mounting holes in every second or third row, their diameter should be about ten centimeters. You can lay the pipes at an angle, then the water will immediately leave the site. If you decide to equip a longitudinal drainage system, then it is placed along the wall under the ground at the foundation level. For this, a corrugated, asbestos-cement or ceramic pipe with a diameter of 10 centimeters is laid. Elements are wrapped with geotextile, which will absorb moisture entering through small holes. In order to exclude the penetration of water into the masonry structure, which, when the temperature decreases, will cause the destruction of the wall, it is necessary to provide the presence of a cornice block or visor with a slight slope.
Laying the drainage layer between the wall and the soil
If you need a retaining wall made of concrete, the technology and device with your own hands should be studied and produced using a certain technology. The technique provides for the arrangement of a drainage layer, which is located between the soil and the structure itself. After completing the assembly of the wall, you can begin to fill the space formed by the wall and the slope. For this, coarse-grained soils like pebbles, gravel and coarse sand can be used. For this, brick bricks and waste from building materials are often used.
It is important to consider that gravel will exert some pressure on the support, but will act as a drainage layer. The drainage mixture should be poured in layers, each individual layer must be densified. Coarse soils and sands taken from sandy loam are preferred. A retaining wall made of concrete, the arrangement technology of which is described in the article, should have an upper part of the laying layer, which may consist of plant soil. After tamping the last layer, you need to leave everything in this state for several days without exposing the surface to stress. Reinforcing materials due to this will gain their properties. After completing all of the above works, you can begin arranging the terrace.
Wall construction features
The monolith is poured into the formwork, which will serve as shields of a broken configuration. The individual components are reinforced on the outside with supports so that the formwork can withstand the pressure of concrete. Reinforcing mesh rows are installed inside, which consist of metal rods and pipe scraps. Between themselves they should be connected by wire. At a height of 5 centimeters from the surface of the earth, plastic tubes must be laid that will ensure the collection of collected water. The distance between them should be 1 meter.
To obtain a smooth outer surface, the formwork is sheathed inside with plywood or roofing material. If you need a retaining wall made of concrete, the construction technology of which is described in the article, then you can build it from but concrete, without the need for reinforcement. A device of this design allows you to save cement, since a significant amount of stones will make up.
The first row is laid dry, the formed voids should be covered with crushed stone and filled with a solution. After a number of stones are laid again, they need to be drowned in the solution, continuing to work until the formwork is filled. As in the case of monolithic walls, concrete structures must contain pipes for water drainage.
Calculation of concrete for wall construction
The concrete retaining wall, the calculation of which you can carry out yourself, must be flooded without long interruptions in work, otherwise it will be impossible to exclude the formation of joints. In order to calculate how much concrete to acquire, you should determine the internal volume of the future wall. To do this, its area is initially determined, and then the value is multiplied by the depth of the wall. This will help to understand how much solution should be ordered at the factory. But if this is not possible, it is better to rent a concrete mixer.