4x4s for Retention Wall

The 4x4s for a Retention Wall calculator computes the number of 4x4s are needed for a vertical retention wall.  

INSTRUCTIONS: Choose units and enter the following:

• (L) Length of Retention Wall
• (H) Height of Retention Wall
• (BL) Length of 4x4s
• (MX) Minimum Cut-off Reuse Length

4x4s Needed (nB): The calculator returns the number of 4x4s needed to build a vertical retention wall.  The calculator also returns:

• (nR) Number of rows of 4x4s
• (TW) Total Weight of all the 4x4s
• (wt) Weight of Individual 4x4 boards

The Math / Science

The Retention Wall formula for 4x4s calculates the number of 4x4s needed to build a wall based on the length and height of the wall, and based on the assumption that the wall is one unit deep.   The user identifies the height and length of the wall. To do this, vCalc calculates the area of a wall and then uses the standard dimensions of the 4x4s to determine how many are needed for the construction of the wall.

This is an ESTIMATION, and actual number of units needed may vary based on the thickness of the joints and other factors. The margin flag set to YES causes the algorithm to be more conservative. It eliminates the reuse of partial units from one row to the next.

A Retention Wall is a vertical or diagonal wall structure used to retain soil or water at an elevated height on one side of the wall, keeping it above the natural level that the soil or water would achieve.  Retention walls are used to create relatively flat areas such as roads or gardens that are cut into a hillside. Retention walls are also used as levees to keep water out of an area.  The soil and moisture on one side of the wall exerts pressure (stress) on the wall.  This is why the materials used must be appropriate for the application in both density and porosity. 

Retention Wall Calculator Functions

• Blocks for Retaining Wall
• Railroad Ties for Retention Wall
• 4x4s for Retention Wall
• 6x6s for Retention Wall
• Boussinesq Equation for Wall Stress
• Horizontal Stress on Simple Retaining Wall
• Number of Sandbags Needed for a Dike or Wall
• Gabion Basket Wall
• Gabion Wall Ring