Retaining walls are subjected to various forces and the load-bearing capacity of a retaining wall means the capacity of the wall to hold these forces. They account for both the retained soil and any additional surcharge loads, such as vehicles, buildings, or even large gatherings of people. Calculating these forces is essential to ensure the wall can bear the load without failing. Structural engineering principles, often guided by standards like ACI 318, ensure that the wall can handle these loads without compromising safety.
Designing a retaining wall involves more than just choosing the right type. Here are some things you need to consider before designing and building a retaining wall:
Soil Analysis
One of the most critical aspects of retaining wall design is understanding the soil you’ll be working with. Soil type and soil pressure, including active, at-rest, and passive pressure can greatly influence the wall’s stability, as different soils have varying levels of strength, drainage capacity, and susceptibility to erosion. For instance, clay soils tend to retain water and expand, which can increase the pressure on the wall, while sandy soils drain well but may not provide as much support. Engineers often use the Rankine or Coulomb theories to calculate earth pressure coefficients, which help in designing walls that can resist these forces.
Sheet pile walls use interlocking sheets of steel, vinyl, or wood driven into the ground to hold back soil. These walls are particularly effective in tight spaces or when dealing with soft soils. When additional support is needed, anchored retaining walls come into play. These walls use cables or rods driven deep into the ground behind the wall structure to provide additional support, making them ideal for handling higher soil pressures or surcharge loads. They can also be combined with other types, like gravity or cantilevered walls, to enhance their strength.
Gabion and Stone Walls
Gabion walls are made of wire cages filled with stone or other materials, offering a permeable and flexible retaining solution. Stone walls, whether dry-stacked or mortar-bound, provide a timeless aesthetic while still offering the necessary support. Both types are excellent choices for environmentally friendly designs, allowing for water passage and blending seamlessly into natural landscapes.
Retaining walls can be built in different ways according to the needs and conditions and choosing the right type of wall is the first step in your retaining wall design process. Here are the most common types:
Gravity Retaining Walls
Gravity retaining walls are the walls that solely rely on their weight to resist and hold back the soil. In general, this type of retaining wall is constructed using a variety of materials, including natural stone and concrete blocks. They can even be gabion walls filled with rock or other heavy materials. The primary design principle for these types of walls is to counterbalance the retaining soil pressure through sheer weight. This is what makes them suitable for lower heights and areas where space isn’t a constraint.
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At Fieldmaster, we sell Pet Turf that is specially designed to withstand your animal’s daily activities. Our artificial grass for pets has a high-quality urethane backing mimicking the way natural grass would drain rainwater. Your dog can pee as he pleases on the artificial grass, and our pet turf effortlessly drains the liquid so that no lingering odours occur.
During a consultation with a member of the Feildmasters Team, make sure to mention that you have pets. We can help recommend the perfect artificial grass for animals and add a turf deodorizer or a membrane installed between the turf and ground to offer more airflow.
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Synthetic Pet Grass
For pet owners, our artificial pet grass is a game-changer. It’s designed to be durable, non-toxic, and easy to clean, making it perfect for homes and businesses in Fresno or Clovis, CA with dogs, cats, or other pets. It’s also designed to resist odors and stains, so you do not have to worry about unpleasant smells or unsightly stains ruining your lawn.
If your pet enjoys spending time outdoors in the summers, consider scheduling artificial dog turf installation today – before we run out of appointment times.
But just because you are installing synthetic grass does not mean you have to sacrifice on aesthetics. At SYNLawn Central California, our synthetic grass looks and feels just like conventional turf. Our advanced manufacturing techniques ensure that our grass has a realistic texture and color, and our blades are designed to stand upright, even after heavy foot traffic, to provide your property with a perfectly manicured lawn or landscape all year round.
Artificial Grass for Homes in Fresno & Clovis, CA
For homeowners, our residential artificial grass is perfect for creating a beautiful, low-maintenance outdoor space in Fresno or Clovis, CA. Whether you are looking to create a cozy backyard retreat or a play area for your kids, our residential artificial grass can help! It’s also ideal for those who want to save money on their water bills, reduce their carbon footprint, or avoid using harmful chemicals on their lawns. And it can be yours sooner rather than later by contacting us to schedule installation before our summer rush!
For property owners in Fresno, California, there are many benefits of switching from traditional grass to artificial grass from SYNLawn Central California, including but not limited to the following:
Lower maintenance time
Lower maintenance cost
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Great, green appearance year-round
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No weeds
Long lasting durability
Further benefits include that you are more likely to avoid bugs, allergens, and mud with synthetic grass!
Dog relaxing on artificial grass
Avoid Bugs
Most home and business owners in Fresno do not appreciate bugs infesting their yards. Whether it is ants, mosquitos, or other pests, bugs can be a real nuisance. They eat conventional grass, lay eggs, buzz around your food at the backyard barbecue, sting, bite, and so on. Bugs and other critters can also damage traditional grass over time, leaving patches that are not pleasing to the eye and may cost quite a bit of money to repair.
Fortunately, our artificial grass is not conducive to bug life. The synthetic material does not provide a comfortable or edible place for them to nest. As such, they are more likely to stay away when you have synthetic turf installed on your property.