This document discusses different methods of reinforced brickwork for retaining walls. It describes three typical examples of brick retaining wall designs: 1) a battering wall design with large granular fill and perforated pipe for drainage, 2) buttresses to reinforce the wall, and 3) reducing the size of buttresses using plinth bricks or tumbling in. Reinforced concrete and gabion walls are also summarized as effective retaining wall options. Precast concrete blocks and interlocking timber walls complete the overview of reinforced brickwork construction methods.

1. Building Methods & Construction
Technology
Reinforced Brickwork

2. Tutor Copy

3. RETAINING WALLS
Definition:
A wall so designed and constructed to withstand any forces and
detrimental (harmful) effects imposed upon it.
Forces and detrimental effects could be :-
• Lateral thrust from the ground being retained, can be caused by:
wall not being thick enough causing cracking or collapse.
incorrect choice of bond.
topple or slide from its foundation.
• Soaking from ground water in the soil, can cause breakdown of
brickwork and mortar:
sulphate attack
frost attack
efflorescence / unsightly dampness
• Rising dampness
• Dampness from above

4. Moist Earth 50°
Angles of repose
Drained Clay 45°
Dry Sand 38°
Dry Earth 28°
Wet Clay 16°

5. 3 TYPICAL EXAMPLES OF BRICK
RETAINING WALLS

6. LARGE SIZE
GRANULAR FILL
PERFORATED
PIPE
BATTERING WALL DESIGN
BATTER
NOT TO
EXCEED
1 IN 5
PERFORATED PIPE (LAND DRAIN)

7. BUTTRESSES

8. SIZE OF BUTTRESS
REDUCED USING PLINTH
BRICKS
SIZE OF BUTTRESS REDUCED
USING TUMBLING IN

9. Reinforced Brickwork

10. REINFORCED CONCRETE
RETAINING WALL
The reinforced
concrete wall is
designed to absorb /
counteract all the
forces of thrust – the
masonry ‘cladding’ is
only cosmetic.
STEEL
REINFORCEMENT
CONCRETE
SLOTTED
TIES
BRICKWORK or
STONEWORK etc.

11. GABIONS
Gabions are free-draining walls constructed by filling large baskets with broken
stone. The baskets are made from galvanised steel mesh, woven strips, or plastic
mesh. A typical basket is rectangular with dimensions of about 500 mm by 150 mm.
Retention is achieved form a combination of the stones weight, and its interlocking
and frictional strength. The wall face is battered at approximately 6 degrees from the
vertical. The maximum height is approximately 10 m. They are constructed with
either a stepped face or a stepped back.
For the stone filling, the stones must conform to BS 5390 for hardness and
resistance to weathering

12. ANDACRIB pre-cast concrete
retaining wall
STRETCHER UNITS
ALL UNITS CONNECTED WITH NON-FERROUS DOWELS
CRANKED
HEADER
UNITS

13. BETOATLAS
Pre-cast concrete cellular
retaining wall blocks 250
x 250 x 200mm – laid dry
- bonded

14. PERMACRIB
Interlocking timber retaining wall.