Retaining Wall Engineering

Retaining wall engineering is engineered structures designed to retain soils at different levels where there is insufficient space to allow stable slopes to be provided. As structural engineers, we encounter multiple site conditions that require retaining walls. At times, it’s replacing a wall that has failed or is failing. Some new developments need retaining walls to shape the land. In a broad sense, retaining structures can be classified according to their face inclination: if it is greater than 70 degrees, they are typically characterized as retaining walls, while slopes have face inclination flatter than 70 degrees. There are several types of retaining structures, including gravity, sheet pile, cantilever, and anchored earth/ mechanically stabilized earth (reinforced earth) walls and slopes. Utah Engineering Services provides innovative, high-quality, efficient, and timely retaining wall engineering solutions for a variety of complex projects to a diverse group of clients in Utah. Retaining walls can help you create different elevations for the future site of your building. They can be used to reinforce a foundation or make extra space at the right elevation, for a parking lot or another area.

We specialize in retaining wall engineering and designing retaining walls of various material shape and sizes. There are many options for retaining wall engineering construction and factors such as weight of the retained soil and weight of any vehicles above will govern the design. Retaining walls rely on their weight to hold back soil, most of the time there are large concrete walls or cyclopean stone masonry. Retaining walls get a little more efficient when you design a reinforced concrete wall to hold back soil. The most important element in any earth retaining structure is the sub soil drainage. If the retaining wall cannot discharge water that is in the soil, eventually the soil load becomes very substantial that it would displace the retaining wall, or even worse, causing it to fail or collapse. The most important consideration in proper design and installation of retaining walls is to recognize and counteract the tendency of the retained material to move downslope due to gravity. This creates lateral earth pressure behind the wall which depends on the angle of internal friction and the cohesive strength of the retained material, as well as the direction and magnitude of movement the retaining structure undergoes.

Utah Engineering Services is the structural engineer who you can count on to ensure a robust and comprehensive retaining wall engineering design and analysis. Nothing is more dangerous than having a property that is at risk of failing due to topographical conditions. For this reason, we can create a design or analyze an existing wall to guarantee its functionality for your every need. Our consulting engineers have years of experience in designing retaining walls for a range of applications. Whether you require retaining walls for subdivision, road embankments, shoring, anchored, cantilever or gravity retaining walls our engineers can design a solution that is buildable and cost-effective.

If you require any assistance in choosing the right retaining wall for your project, do not hesitate to contact us.