Horizontal reinf in retaining wall

[scottiesei]

What is the purpose of horizontal reinforcement in a short retaining wall, say 5'-0" high? I have seen it detailed but fail to understand what force would create the need for that type of reinforcement in the wall.

 

[thenley]

My understanding is that horizontal reinforcement is primarily used to control shrinkage and temperature cracking.

 

[scottiesei]

Would expansion joints not solve that problem? FWIW, project location is Florida.

 

[valleyboy]

Crack control and protection against early thermal cracking.

The following link relates to requirements for UK highway structures:-

http://www.standardsforhighways.co.uk/dmrb/vol1/sect3/ba2487.pdf

Regards

VB

 

[PEinc]

The horizontal bars also help maintain the proper position of the vertical, main reinforcing bars.

 

[COEngineeer]

Some retaining wall are designed with horizontal. It really depends of the shape of the wall.

 

[scottiesei]

How about a simple cantilevered wall, straight line about 5'-0' tall, clay brick. Control joints @ 20' o.c. How about a retaining wall with the same specifications? There is no transverse shear so any horizontal reinforcement would be for crack control (that is what the control joints are for). Would your provide ladder reinforcement?

 

[COEngineeer]

Yeah, if its only straight cantilevered then its there just to hold the vertical and thermal crack. If you add buttress though, different story.

 

[scottiesei]

Buttressing (is that a word?!?) would cause the wall to span horizontally, which would require reinforcement in that direction, correct?!?

 

[COEngineeer]

Yeah, it is kind of like 2 way slab but the pressure is not even.