Retaining wall contractors are often called to the location of the collapsing retaining wall just to find the wall made of concrete beams. The reason for the collapse is always clear. In accordance with the nature of the application, the retaining wall is intended to withstand the loads that come from behind the ground that is designed to maintain it.
When we study concrete blocks, the design itself can tell us a lot about why they failed when pressed from the side. Like hollow devices, they are most powerful when the load is carried from top to bottom when setting in a normal mounting orientation. You can navigate prime retaining wall blocks contractor in Atlanta, Georgia for getting more detailed knowledge about block retaining walls.
The way in which concrete beams are most often used, to build walls for buildings, most of the load is placed on top, pushing it to the ground, where the concrete foundation that is poured bears the burden.
Simple testing of beam strength is possible by taking a standard frame hammer and hit the sidewall of the beam. With a little effort, the wall will break and the block will no longer be useful.
Compared to concrete blocks, segmental retaining wall blocks are solid and made of high-density concrete. Using the same hammer as before, you can easily tire yourself out before you break the beam. You can break corners and round the ends, but you need chisels and sledgehammers to do real damage.
Another problem with concrete beams is their ability to absorb water. We are all familiar with the power of expansion of water when it freezes so that we can understand that the retaining wall, which has continuous contact with the earth behind it, will get wet most of the time. This cannot be said for the walls of buildings that are protected from the rain outside and open to the air inside.
Segmental retaining wall blocks are resistant to water. They can be put in a water bath for several years and will never absorb water deeper than eight inches. The high density of the concrete is too dense to allow water to enter the bond. Freezing won't have more effect than a hot day on this block.