The old retaining wall (which failed) was constructed on soils that were sliding downhill! The rock was too deep to put the new retaining wall on the bedrock, so we drilled piers down to the bedrock to stop the hill from sliding and to support the new retaining wall.
This video shows you how to prevent a retaining wall failure when there are sliding soils!
Joseph Kowalski, P.E.
www.RetainingWallVideos.com
Current State PE Registrations
When one retaining wall is constructed above another retaining wall, the two walls together are called a
Tiered Wall System. Tiered walls look like this:
When dealing with tiered walls, a retaining wall contractor will ask:
- How far apart are the walls?
- How high are the walls?
- Are they really two separate, independent walls?
- Do the two tiers of wall join and become one (merged) wall?
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Obviously, retaining wall design
involves contracts. These
contracts between the Engineer and the Client are important. Does the contract benefit both
parties? Is using contracts a win-win?
Contracts are important to:
1.
Memorialize everyone's understanding of each
party's roles and responsibilities;
2.
Reach a mutual understanding of the project
requirements;
3.
Establish the rules to which the parties will
adhere; and,
4.
To identify and allocate risk fairly.
A good contract fairly allocates reasonable
risk to both parties, based on the benefits of the project to each party.
Here's an example of fair
allocation of reasonable risk: when the contract includes a Limitation of Liability for the
Engineer. Why, you might ask, am I
limiting the Engineer's liability and how is that fair?
Well, here's how it is fair: The Engineer doesn't demand an
Unlimited Fee. With an unlimited
fee comes unlimited liability.
With a limited fee there is limited liability.
Sounds fair to me. What do you think?
