Using Carbon Fiber for Retaining Wall Repair

Because of the pressures often being applied upon them, retaining walls are prone to cracking and deterioration.

When this happens, the retaining wall must be strengthened and stabilized, a job that can be accomplished with carbon fiber straps.

A Structural Strengthening Solution for Retaining Walls

The pressure pushing against a retaining wall from the soil behind it can eventually begin to cause structural problems. This can include the same types of horizontal cracks that are seen in bowing basement walls.

The solution has some similarities to how carbon fiber is used for basement walls. Vertical straps of uni-directional carbon fiber will be placed periodically along the wall with bidirectional carbon fiber placed horizontally along the crack. The bidirectional carbon fiber provides 35,000 lbs/sq ft of confinement strength over the cracks while the tensile strength of the vertical straps stabilizes the wall.

In cases in which a portion has experienced more significant deterioration the entire section can be encapsulated with bidirectional carbon fiber.

Much like with basement wall repair, it is important to fill all the cracks in the wall with epoxy before application. In cases of more extreme deterioration, other work might be required as well. In this case study for retaining wall repair with carbon fiber, a non-shrink, high strength repair mortar was used.

Carbon Fiber: A Versatile Choice for Retaining Wall Repair

Not only can carbon fiber be used on its own for retaining wall repair, but it can also be used in conjunction with other retaining wall repair methods such as tiebacks and plate anchors, strengthening the cracked sections of the wall while the tiebacks anchor the wall in the soil behind it.

Even in cases where other methods might be advantageous, carbon fiber can play a role in providing a more complete solution.

Application Note

As with all outdoor applications of carbon fiber, it is important to protect the epoxy adhesive from breaking down in the sun’s UV light. While all of our CFS epoxies have UV inhibitors built in, covering the repair with anything from UV-resistant exterior paints to an elastomeric stucco can improve the look of the wall while ensuring the repair will last the lifetime of the structure.