Planning for Future Height Adjustment through Overbuilding
At 7:31 in
Building a TALL engineered retaining wall on a steep slope #2
What happens here
The narrator highlights a change order where the customer requested an additional two feet of height be added to the previously built 9-foot retaining wall. This request was accommodated without issue because the initial wall was 'overbuilt' with extra geogrid. This 'overbuilding' involves installing longer and more frequent layers of geogrid reinforcement than strictly necessary for the original design height. The philosophy is that while it adds a small amount to the initial cost, it provides crucial flexibility for future changes. If a wall is not designed from the 'ground up' to accommodate the ultimate desired height and any potential 'surcharge' (additional load on top), attempting to increase its height later can lead to 'technical engineering failure' or require a complete, costly tear-down and rebuild. By integrating this proactive overbuilding into the initial design and construction, the wall gains the inherent capacity to be safely extended or support heavier loads in the future, providing value and adaptability to the client.
Goal: This crucial step explains the strategic decision to 'overbuild' the retaining wall by installing longer and more extensive geogrid layers than initially required. This proactive engineering ensures the wall can accommodate future height adjustments or increased loads without needing to be torn down and rebuilt.
Tools and materials
- Geogrid
What they say
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What they say
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