Weep holes in retaining walls serve to allow the drainage of water that may accumulate behind the wall. They prevent hydrostatic pressure build-up, reducing the risk of wall failure. Proper spacing is typically around 6 to 8 feet apart, and the cover (distance from the bottom of the weep hole to the ground) is generally recommended to be at least 2 inches. This helps maintain effective drainage while preventing soil erosion.
Retaining wall weep holes functions, spacing and cover, hi guys in this article know about weep holes in retaining wall spacing. The small round or square opening provided at base in retaining wall, culvert, Bridge, external brick masonry work, underpasses, winning wall and ground level to remove hydrostatic pressure develop from water lodge on retaining wall is known as weep hole.
Weep Holes are small opening provided in base earth retaining structures like retaining walls, external brick wall,underpasses, wing walls and other below ground drainage structures.
in civil engineering weep Holes is provided in retaining wall structures to relieve hydrostatic pressure or water pressure on the walls. Reducing the water pressure on the retaining walls will reduce the structural design demand of the water.
And earth resisting wall by reducing its thickness as well as steel reinforcement requirements.
Weep hole is a small round or square opening that allows water to drain from within retaining wall and mostly weep are located at the bottom of the retaining wall.
Retaining wall weep holes
Weep holes provided at the the bottom of retaining wall mostly it will be small round or square opening to remove hydrostatic pressure developed. Weeps may also be necessary in a retaining wall to drain water from retaining wall by means decrease the hydrostatic load or pressure on the wall and preventing damage to the wall from the excess water weight and dampness moisture.
Retaining wall weep holes may consist of a plastic, clay or metal pipe or cotton ball extending through the wall to a layer of porous backfill.
Retaining wall weep holes functions
There are various function of retaining wall which are discussed here:-
● 1) retaining wall weep holes provided at the bottom which allow water to drain from water lodge on retaining wall
● 2) weep holes reduces the buoyancy and uplift on the structures making, which make stable retaining wall structure of lighter weight.
● 3) weep hole remove hydrostatic pressure develop due to water lodge on retaining wall and prevent it from damaging and dampness.
● 4) providing weep holes in retaining wall is moisture control program, due to presence of weep hole, water lodge is not cause, it means it prevent dampness of retaining wall.
● 5) weep holes are the gaps left between some external masonry work they serve two important purpose it provide ventilation of internal wall cavity and remove hydrostatic pressure from water lodge.
How does Retaining wall weep Holes help
Now discuss how does weep holes help
Let us find out how this works. If a retaining wall structure is above water table, or there is no possibility of water collecting behind the wall, the earth pressure that can act on the soil will be based on the saturated unit weight of the soil under active, passive or at-rest condition.
When the retaining wall structure is below water table, the unit weight of soil considered is submerged weight. Though the submerged density of soil is lesser than saturated soil weight , thus lesser pressure, there is an additional water pressure acting on the structure whose net effect is more than saturated pressure alone.
Whereas for below water table or submerged condition total pressure acting on the wall. Thus, by providing weep holes the effective height of water table and water pressure is reduced thereby reducing total pressure on the wall.
Retaining wall weep holes spacing and cover
Spacing in presence of weep hole much as decided as design that allowed and make sound structure that can be resist hydrostatic pressure. Retaining wall weep holes covers may consist of a plastic, clay or metal pipe or cotton ball extending through the wall to a layer of porous backfill.
A weep, a weep hole, or a weep-brick is a small opening that allows water to drain from within an assembly. Weeps are located at the bottom of the object to allow for drainage; the weep hole must be sized adequately to overcome surface tension.
Weep holes are provided using sand or gravel drains to ensure proper functioning of these holes. The number of holes provided depends on the size of structure and height of water table. The Height at which weep hole is provided depends up on the maximum possible height of water accumulation or natural ground water-table.
Apart from this, there are different types of weep holes which are provided in retaining wall masonry. Primary function of these kind of weep holes are to provide ventilation for internal cavity walls and drainage to prevent damage due to capillary action and condensation in areas with heavy rainfalls.
◆You Can Follow me on Facebook and Subscribe our Youtube Channel
You should also visits:-
1)what is concrete and its types and properties
2) concrete quantity calculation for staircase and its formula