The owners
of Emerald Lake Golf Course in Charlotte, North Carolina, wanted the
quality appearance of segmental retaining wall systems, but the landscaping
budget was tight. The golf course needed a system that would incorporate
an effective drainage system to prevent wall damage during rapid draw
downs without additional costs. Segmental retaining walls were the
solution.
When
the water elevation is above the base of the wall for extended periods
of time, the retained and infill soils may become saturated. This
rapid draw down can cause damage to the wall, unless accounted for
in the wall's design by increasing the reinforcement length or adding
drainage. When the water level drops rapidly, the hydrostatic pressure
of the saturated soil against the wall is no longer counteracted by
water pressure. By maintaining the lake's elevation and lowering the
water level slowly when needed, the owner was able to avoid costly
drainage measures.
It was
determined that the golf course's lake elevation could be kept constant,
except during rare maintenance shutdown times. There was a certain
level at which the lake could always be maintained, but during necessary
maintenance periods the owner agreed to lower the water level slowly,
reducing the risk of rapid draw down.
Since
the water level was predictable and controlled, gray straight-face
units were used at the bottom of the wall, up to one foot below the
normal water elevation. Above the water elevation, beveled concrete
masonry units in two sizes were laid in alternating courses. Earthy
brown, split-face units add a decorative touch to this high-end golf
course.
In total,
four segmental retaining walls were constructed at Emerald Lake, with
3,000 units covering 3,500 square feet (325.2 square meters) at an
approximate cost of $15 per square foot ($53.82 per square meter).
Landscaping
|
Roadway Applications | Bridge
Abutments | Design
and Construction
Building
Applications |
Interlocking Concrete Paving | Segmental
Retaining Walls | Articulated
Concrete Block Paving | Concrete
Masonry Units
