QUALTIY ASSURANCE DOCUMENT

SUBJ: BACK WALL

1. PURPOSE

It is the vertical wall at the end of most bridges that extend up from the abutment seats

and support the expansion joint. A small retaining wall which also supports the

approach slabs and hold back embankment under the approach slabs.

2. SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS

This covers the installation of a backwall and the specifications of the materials. Backwall

play an important role in bridge construction and other structure. The backwall supports

the soil on one side and facilitating a change in elevation.

3. Survey of the Area

In Bridge/Road construction surveying the area is a necessity to determine the plan for

the structure and the location and other information that can help the design. A location

survey is done to lay out the bridge according to the plans. A preliminary survey is made

at the best site to establish horizontal and vertical control and to obtain information for

the bridge design and construction planning.

4. REQUIRED LABOR AND EQUIPMENT

The required labor and equipment of constructing a backwall are carpenters, steel

fixers, masons, labors and the equipment that are needed are concrete mixer and

vibrator.

5. SHUTTERING AND SHORING

Formwork (shuttering) in concrete construction is used as a mould for a structure in

which fresh concrete is poured only to harden subsequently. Types of concrete

formwork construction depends on formwork material and type of structural element.

While shoring, form of prop or support, usually temporary, that is used during the repair

or original construction of buildings and in excavations. Temporary support may be

required, for example, to relieve the load on a masonry wall while it is repaired or

reinforced.

6. POURING OF CONCRETE

When pouring of concrete just like the wing wall the back wall is also the same., the

contractor must prepare their transit or concrete mixer from the batching plant for the

pouring procedures. Prepare the following equipment and manpower. Just like wing wall

reinforced poured concrete is typically the material of choice for backwalls attached to

bridges or buildings.
7. REMOVAL OF FORMWORK

The removal of concrete formwork also called as strike-off or stripping of formwork

should be carried out only after the time when concrete has gained sufficient strength, at

least twice the stress to which the concrete may be subjected to when the formworks

are removed. It is also necessary to ensure the stability of the remaining formwork

during formwork removal. With that said there are some issues to consider. The single

biggest issue with forms is whether the concrete will support itself, so beams, especially

beam bottom forms, high wall forms, and other structures that don’t allow for concrete to

support itself until it has cured require leaving forms in place for 3 to 7 days for side

forms, and up to 28 days for bottom forms and shoring.

Curing is another concern. If you pour a 12 inch thick wall, 12 feet tall, for instance, the

concrete would support itself the next day, but would not cure as well since moisture

would be lost when the forms are removed. This means a curing compound or another

method of curing the exposed concrete would be desirable.

8. RISK ASSESSMENT

The most common problem associated with backwalls occurs when the backwall gets

pushed into the ends of the beams due to pavement pressure (or pavement growth).

This most commonly occurs on bridges that are on highways constructed of several

miles of concrete pavement. The concrete approach pavement expands in the summer

months, but then in the winter, the pavement contracts. As the pavement contracts, the

joints between the pavement slabs open up and dirt, sand, and other incompressible get

into the open joints.

 Content: (70%)________

Report : (30%)_________

Total: (100%)

CE 23 – Construction Methods and Project Management

Plate No. F2-Quality Assurance Document (Bridge Construction)

B.1.5 BACKWALL

Submitted by: Verified:

Churchlouie M. Romualdo _________________________

Date Submitted

Engr. Carlos T. Basadre, ce, mp, rme, lpt

Instructor