Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
FIGURE 9.116
Wire mesh installed to prevent blocks of gneiss from falling on the Harlem River Drive, New York City.
Soil Slopes
Purpose
Walls are used to retain earth slopes where space is not available for a flat enough slope or
excessive volumes of excavation are required, or to obtain more positive stability under cer-
tain conditions. Except for anchored concrete curtain walls, other types of walls that require
cutting into the slope for construction are seldom suitable for retention of a failing slope.
Classes
The various types of walls are illustrated in
Figure 9.125.
They may be divided into four
general classes, with some wall types included in more than one class: gravity walls, non-
gravity walls, rigid walls, and flexible walls.
