NZ768993A

NZ768993A - A Retaining Wall

Info

Publication number: NZ768993A
Application number: NZ768993A
Authority: NZ
Inventors: Issa Pasha Agha Al-Saleem Faheem
Original assignee: Retaining Wall Supplies Ltd
Priority date: 2020-10-15
Filing date: 2020-10-15
Publication date: 2023-04-28
Also published as: AU2021250881B2; AU2021250881A1

Abstract

It is known to use retaining walls to prevent soil or other types of earth from moving. Retaining walls may for example be used to keep the ground stable under or adjacent to buildings, roads, paths, terraced areas, parks or playing surfaces, etc. A problem with many known retaining walls is that they are undesirably expensive and labour intensive to construct. It is an object of preferred embodiments of the invention to go at least some way towards addressing the above problems. According to the invention there is a retaining wall 1 comprising pre-stressed cementitious columns 2, in each case having a lower end secured at or in the ground. Each column is prestressed by way of metallic strands 10 combined with metallic stirrups 11, wherein the stirrups are in contact with and encircle the strands. The wall has a series of cementitious planks 3 engaged with and extending between pairs of the columns 2. Each plank is reinforced by way of metallic tensioning strands 16 combined with metallic stirrups 17, wherein the stirrups are in contact with and partially encircle a pair of strands, the stirrups being at spaced intervals for reinforcing. There is a body of earth behind the planks that exerts pressure on the columns but is retained by the columns and planks.

Description

TITLE A Retaining Wall.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a retaining wall, for example to ise a body of earth.

BACKGROUND It is known to use retaining walls to prevent soil or other types of earth from moving.

They in essence withstand pressure from a body of earth.. Retaining walls may for example be used to keep the ground stable under or adjacent to buildings, roads, paths, terraced areas, parks or playing surfaces, etc.

A problem with many known retaining walls is that they are undesirably expensive and labour intensive to uct. Some need to be excessively ered to withstand moving forces on the body of earth that they retain.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION It is an object of preferred embodiments of the invention to go at least some way towards addressing the above problems. While this applies to preferred embodiments, the object of the ion per se is simply to provide a useful choice. Therefore, any objects or advantages applicable to preferred embodiments should not be taken as a tion on claims expressed more broadly.

DEFINITIONS The term ising" as used in this document in relation to a series of features or steps means that they are present as a minimum combination, but does not rule out the option of there being other features or steps.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to one aspect of the invention there is a ing wall comprising: • pre-stressed cementitious (e.g. concrete) columns, in each case having a lower end secured at or in the ground; • a series of cementitious (e.g. concrete) planks engaged with and extending between pairs of the s; and • a body of earth behind the planks and that exerts pressure on the columns but is retained by the columns and planks.

Optionally each column is prestressed by way of ic (e.g. steel) strands.

Optionally each column has metallic (e.g. steel) internal reinforcing.

Optionally the metallic (e.g.steel) reinforcing comprises stirrups .

Optionally each column has a rebate g along each side and each plank is engaged in two rebates, one from each of two immediately adjacent columns.

Optionally each column has a flange at each side of the rebate, one flange being wider than the other (e.g. a front one of the s being wider than a rear one of the Optionally the columns are cantilevered.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is a retaining wall comprising: • columns, in each case having a lower end secured in the ground, each column having a rebate running along each side; • a series of planks engaged with and extending between pairs of the columns, each plank being engaged in two of the rebates one from each of two immediately adjacent columns; and • a body of earth behind the planks and that exerts pressure on the s but is retained by the columns and planks.

Optionally each column has a pair of flanges, one of these flanges (e.g. a front flange) being wider than the other (e.g. a rear flange) .

Optionally the planks have been put into the s from above their respective columns after those columns have been secured into the ground.

Optionally the columns are cantilevered.

According to another aspect of the invention there is a retaining wall for a body of earth, comprising a series of upwardly extending cantilevered itious (eg concrete) pre-stressed columns with earth retaining planks extending between these.

Optionally the planks are formed from cementitious material (e.g. te).

DRAWINGS Figure 1 is an isometric view of a retaining wall when assembled; Figure 2 is a transverse cross-sectional view through the wall; Figure 3 is a transverse cross-sectional view through a column forming part of the wall; Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view through two of the columns and one plank, illustrating the location of ning strands and reinforcing; Figure 5 is a longitudinal sectional view through the wall; Figure 6 is a transverse cross section through the same sort of wall, but arranged at an angle; and Figure 7 is a transverse cross sectional view of a preferred plank for use in the retaining wall.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring to Figures 1 and Figure 2, the retaining wall 1 comprises a series of columns 2 spaced from one another and connected by planks 3. As best seen in figure 2, the planks 3 sit on top of one another and are held in longitudinal rebates 4 in the sides of the columns. For each column the rebate extends between a wider flange 5 and a narrower flange 6 of the column.

In Figure 1, the rear of the wall 7 is facing the foreground and the front of the wall 8 is facing the ound. When the wall is in use the earth that it stabilises bears against the rear of the wall, and the front of the wall is clear. In Figure 2 the line of arrows 9 illustrates the direction of forces from the body of earth against the wall.

Referring to Figure 3 and Figure 4, the columns 2 are of cementitious material, for example concrete, and are t. They are able to be readily brought to site and assembled with the planks to provide a wall of the desired length and height. The columns 2 are pre-stressed using steel strands 10 and have steel rcing, for example in the form of stirrups 11. The planks are also preferably itious (e.g. concrete) and are precast and pre-stressed with ic strands.

Referring to Figure 5, each column 2 is preferably set into the ground 12 in a concrete g 13 sufficient to keep it upright and straight, preferably vertical, regardless of the force from the body of earth being stabilised. As best illustrated in Figure 1, the columns 2 are cantilevered in that in each case their upper end is not anchored to the ground, although it may be joined to adjacent columns by one or more of the planks 3.

The columns substantially free at their upper end, even if joined.

As shown in Figure 6, in some embodiments of the invention the s 2, and therefore the wall as a whole, may be held in the ground 12 by a concrete footing 13 in a sloped upright disposition. The earth stabilised or ise retained by the wall has two strata, comprising a layer of top soil 14 on a bottom combination of soil and drainage metal 15. In other embodiments of the invention the invention the columns may be other than concrete and may, for example, be driven into the ground rather than set in te.

A particularly preferred embodiment of one of the planks 3 is shown at Figure 7. The plank is substantially concrete and its steel tensioning strands 16 are combined with steel stirrups at spaced intervals for reinforcing, one of which is shown at 17.

In terms of disclosure, this document envisages any combination of one or more features mentioned herein, including repeating ces of the same feature, even if such combination is not claimed.

While some preferred embodiments of the invention have been described by way of example, it should be appreciated that modifications and improvements can occur without departing from the following claims.

Claims

1. A retaining wall having: • pre-stressed cementitious columns, in each case having a lower end secured at or in the ground; • a series of cementitious planks engaged with and extending between pairs of the columns; and • a body of earth behind the planks and that exerts pressure on the columns but is retained by the columns and planks.

2. A retaining wall according to claim 1, wherein the cementitious s are of concrete.

3. A retaining wall according to claim 1 or 2, n cementitious planks are of concrete.

4. A retaining wall according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein each column is prestressed by way of metallic strands.

5. A retaining wall according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each column has metallic internal reinforcing.

6. A retaining wall according to claim 5, wherein the metallic al reinforcing comprises ps.

7. A retaining wall according to any one of the preceding claims, n each column has a rebate running along each side, and each plank is engaged in two rebates one from each of two immediately adjacent s.

8. A retaining wall according to any one of the ing claims, wherein each column has a pair of flanges one being wider than the other.

9. A retaining wall having: • columns, in each case having a lower end secured in the ground, each column having a rebate running along each side; • a series of planks engaged with and extending n pairs of the columns, each plank being engaged in two of the rebates one from each of two immediately adjacent columns; and • a body of earth behind the planks and that exerts pressure on the columns but is ed by the columns and planks.

10. A retaining wall according to claim 9, wherein each column has a pair of flanges, one of these flanges being wider than the other.

11. A retaining wall according to claim 9, wherein the planks a have been put into the rebates from above their respective columns after those columns have been secured into the ground.

12. A retaining wall substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

13. A retaining wall for a body of earth, comprising a series of upwardly extending cantilevered cementitious (eg concrete) pre-stressed columns with earth retaining planks extending between these.