52

Counterfort
Retaining
Walls

Faster, Cleaner, Cost Effective

A proven building innovation that
uses concrete masonry without
mortar

www.smartmasonry.com

Retaining Walls Counterfort Engineering Drawings

The Smart Masonry wall system is a dry-stacked concrete masonry block wall system and offers quicker and more cost-effective
concrete construction solutions by utilising mortar-less technology.
The Australian Masonry Standard AS 3700:2001 restricts the height of free standing walls constructed in 150 series and 200
series block units to approximately 12 times the width of the block, ie 1.6m and 2.2m respectively. Drawings for these are
available in Datasheet 20.
Traditional free-standing retaining walls utilise the vertical bending and shear capacities of the concrete masonry for strength
and stability. A method of construction to permit greater heights to be retained is to use counterforts behind the retaining wall
face.
The counterforts are short wing walls that project at 90 degrees to the longitudinal axis of the retaining wall external face and
are tied with steel reinforcement to the rear of the wall and the reinforced concrete base. In this type of construction, up to the
top of the counterforts, the horizontal bending and shear capacities of the concrete masonry are utilised for strength and
stability. The retaining wall above the tops of the counterforts is then designed as a typical free-standing retaining wall.
The absence of mortar, combined with the complete filling of internal voids due to the high strength, high slump and fine
aggregate core-filling grout used, results in a wall which is less permeable and more resistant to moisture penetration than
conventional mortared masonry. Smart Masonry walls however have a similar texture to conventional masonry walls. Smart
Masonry are ideally suited to both free standing and counterfort retaining walls and may be left bare or coated to provide a
suitable finish. A thinner render coating is achievable due to the improved alignment of blocks and the absence of mortar.
There are drawings and tables for both the 150 series (140mm wide) block and for the 200 series (190mm wide) block for the
following five heights of walls.
(a) 150 series Smart Blocks - 2.4m, 3.0m, 3.6m
(b) 200 series Smart Blocks - 4.2m; 4.8m

Claybrick and Paver Design and Advisory Service Pty Ltd

18 Bergion Street, Rochedale South
QLD 4123, Australia

Structural Certification Counterfort Retaining Walls

1. Description
The following Certification applies to counterfort retaining walls described in Smart Masonry Counterfort Retaining Walls Data Sheet No 52.
2. Loads & Design Assumptions
(a) Dead and Live Loads Normal
(b) Surcharge Loads Nil
(c) Soil Friction Angle 27 degrees
(d) Back Fill free draining material compacted to Class II Material Strength Density = 19 kN/cubic metre
(e) Foundations Natural in-situ soil material - Minimum Safe Bearing Pressure 150 kPa
(f) Smart Masonry Strength
(i) Compression

Characteristic unconfined compressive strength of unit, fuc = 25MPa

Characteristic compressive strength of grouted masonry, fmg = 9.6MPa

Design characteristic compressive strength of Smart Masonry core filling grout, fcg = 32 MPa.
(ii) Bending

Characteristic compressive strength of masonry, fm = 25 MPa

(iii) Shear

Characteristic shear strength of reinforced masonry, fvm = 0.35 MPa

(g) Yield Strength of Steel Reinforcement, fsy = 400 MPa
3. References
The following information was consulted during the design of the Counterfort retaining walls:
(a) AS 1170.1 SAA Loading Code
(b) AS 4678 2002 Earth-retaining Structures
(c) AS 3600 2001 Concrete Structures
(d) AS 3700 - 2001 Masonry Structures
(e) Smart Masonry Test Reports
4. Certification
It is certified that provided the counterfort retaining walls are constructed with Smart Masonry concrete blocks with fuc = 25 MPa, good
building practice in accordance with AS 3700-2001, in accordance with the drawings contained in Smart Masonry Counterfort Retaining Wall
Data Sheet No. 52, and provided the design loads are not exceeded and the design assumptions are followed; then the structures will be
structurally stable.

W.J.Moore PC Eng,
B.E. Civil R.M.I.T
R.P.E.Q. 2403
th
29 August, 2002

Block Quantities (approximate estimates)

Table (A): Number of Blocks in Wall Face & Counterforts, for a single Counterfort spacing
Wall Height
(m)

Counterfort
Spacing (m)

2.4
3.0
3.6
4.2
4.8

1.8
1.4
1.2
1.6
1.2

Block Type and Quantities

Counterforts only (quantities based on single counterfort wall)
15.01
15.03
15.21
20.01
20.03
20.21
7
7
4
10
10
12
17
13
12
16
12
28
23
16

(1)

Wall Face
15.01
20.01
54
53
54
84
72

Note (1): Block quantities include blocks contained in one counterfort, for each counterfort spacing.
Allowance must also be made for blocks in wall over-run at wall ends.

Table (B): Number of Blocks per metre length of Wall Face (includes blocks in Counterforts)
Wall Height
(m)
2.4
3.0
3.6
4.2
4.8

Counterfort
Spacing (m)
1.8
1.4
1.2
1.6
1.2

Block Type and Quantities in Total Wall/m Length of Wall

15.01
15.03
15.21
20.01
20.03
30
4
4
41
8
8
55
15
11
60
6
84
20

20.21

8
14

Total
150 series 200 series
38
57
81
74
118

SPECIFICATION SMART MASONRY COUNTERFORT RETAINING WALLS

1.0 INTRODUCTION
The Smart Masonry counterfort retaining wall system consists of a reinforced concrete base supporting a reinforced and grouted Smart
Masonry dry stack block wall. The wall is reinforced with vertical and horizontal bars with the vertical bars lapping with the starter bars from
the base. The wall is core-filled with Smart Masonry grout.
2.0 DESIGN ASSUMPTIONS - LOADINGS
(a) Design details are provided for a level back-fill with no surcharge.
(b) The counterfort wall has been designed to retain the following materials:
- Type A material material having an effective friction angle of 30 degrees (min); being sands, gravel or rock materials;
- Type B material material having an effective friction angle of 25 degrees (min); being coarse-grained soil with silt particles
3.0 WALL FOUNDATION
Construct the wall base in sound natural soil (Type A or B material) or rock having a minimum allowable bearing pressure of 150 kPa.
Professional engineering advice should be sought if founding conditions other than these are encountered, in particular soft, poorly
drained, or filled ground; ground containing organic matter; aggressive soils; or heavily fractured rock.
4.0 BACK-FILLING
The design assumes coarse grained, free draining soil without the inclusion of fine soil particles (clean sand or gravel, broken rock)
compacted to Class II requirements. An appropriate drainage system is required at the base of the wall, on the soil retention side, so that
excess water is removed to a drainage point beyond the ends of the wall.
5.0 DURABILITY REQUIREMENTS
For 150 series walls applications within 1 km of the coast, horizontal steel reinforcement in the front (exposed) face of the wall should be
hot dipped galvanised.
6.0 MATERIAL SPECIFICATION
Block: Characteristic unconfined compressive strength of masonry unit, fuc = 25 MPa
Wall: Axial compression - Characteristic compressive strength of grouted masonry, fmg = 9.6 MPa
Bending - Characteristic compressive strength of grouted masonry, fm = fuc = 25 MPa
Grout: Design characteristic compressive strength of Smart Masonry core-filling grout, fcg = 32 MPa; 250mm slump; 3 to 4mm
nominal maximum aggregate size
Base Concrete: fc = 25 MPa, 100mm slump.
Reinforcement: Grade 400Y as shown on drawing
Base Concrete Cover = 50mm (min)
All concrete masonry workmanship and materials shall be in accordance with AS3700-2001
All concrete construction shall be in accordance with AS3600-2001
All reinforcing bars shall conform to AS/NZS4671-2001

Available from:

www.smartmasonry.com
1-800 MASONRY

Any use of this brochure for building systems other than the Smart Masonry Building System is prohibited. For applications outside the scope of this
publication or where there are specific local authority requirements, consult a Registered Professional Engineer. Smart Masonry reserves the right to
change the details in this publication without notice. Smart Masonry Pty Ltd ABN 75 086 712 665

SM-C118--01

7.0 CONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS

a) Excavate wall footings such that steps in the concrete base accommodate a height change in increments of 200mm (to suit blockwork
coursing).
b) Place base reinforcement, including wall starter bars, accurately in position in accordance with the drawing. Use a template or similar
means to restrain starter bars during concrete placement.
c) Place base concrete using mechanical vibration and finish the base top surface accurately to the required levels with a wood float.
d) Lay the first course of Smart Masonry blocks on a Smart Masonry Grout levelling base, using a stringline to ensure the course is plumb
and horizontal. Construct the wall generally in accordance with Smart Masonry Data Sheet 5 How to install the Smart Masonry
system.
e) Provide 40mm dia. Weepholes at 2.4m cs through the wall in the first blockwork course above the top of the base height for all walls
1.8m and higher. Locate the hole away from the blocks internal webs.
f) Core-fill the wall using Smart Masonry Grout. Compact grout using a pencil vibrator (preferred), or by rodding.
g) Install waterproofing membrane to rear of wall, if required.
h) The contractor is responsible for maintaining the structure, and neighbouring structures, in a safe and stable condition during
construction.
i) Install specified drainage behind the wall and carefully backfill, compacting as necessary as the work proceeds. Compact a clay
capping layer in the upper 200mm of the backfill so as to prevent water flowing down behind the wall.