Alpenstein® Technical Details
Installation
Alpenstein can accommodate a variety of slope inclinations up to 70 degrees. It can be utilized for most walls under 3.5 ft high without geogrid, while higher walls and tiered construction can be built with the aid of geogrid reinforcement. A qualified soil engineer should be consulted for walls over 6 ft high or when site and soil conditions are questionable.
Alpenstein is made by blending iron oxide pigments with a cement-rich concrete mixture. Utilizing pressure and vibration, specialize equipment mold this mixture into high-density segmental retaining wall units with exceptional strength and durability. Alpenstein meets or exceeds the industry standards of ASTM C1372.
ALPENSTEIN 12
- Width: 16 1/2"
- Block Length: 12"
- Block Height: 6 3/4"
- Height of Front Shield: 8 1/4"
- Width of Front Shield: 16 1/2"
- Unit Weight: 58 lb
ALPENSTEIN 20
- Width: 16 1/2"
- Block Length: 20"
- Block Height: 6 3/4"
- Height of Front Shield: 8 1/4"
- Width of Front Shield: 16 1/2"
- Unit Weight: 79 lb
STANDARD DESIGN PROCEDURE
The design details established for the construction of reinforced soil retaining walls are based upon generally accepted soil parameters for low plastic silty clay (CL), clayey silt (ML), sandy silt (ML), and granular soils where the soil fines do not exceed 50 percent by weight and the liquid limit does not exceed 50. A qualified engineer shall review the site and soil conditions to determine if the actual conditions match those used in this design. All soil parameters used in the design are under long-term, well-drained strength conditions.
The drawings and specifications address geo-reinforcement layout and drainage requirements for horizontal and sloping backfill for single walls, and two-tier walls with horizontal backfill. Each case includes a surcharge of 100 pounds per square foot (psf) above the wall. The following parameters and requirements were used in the development of the designs depicted hereon:
Reinforced wall fill
- Total Unit Weight, pcf: 125
- Cohesion, psf: 0
- Friction Angle: 28
- Hydrostatic Pressure, psf: 0
Retained fill
- Total Unit Weight, pcf: 125
- Cohesion, psf: 0
- Friction Angle: 28
- Hydrostatic Pressure, psf: 0
Foundation soil
- Total Unit Weight, pcf: 125
- Cohesion, psf: 0
- Friction Angle: 28
- Hydrostatic Pressure, psf: 0
Internal Stability of Wall
- Minimum factor of safety for geogrid strength: 1.5
- Minimum factor of safety for geogrid pullout: 1.5
- Wall-backfill interaction coefficient: 0.8
- Wall-foundation soil interaction coefficient: 0.8
- Percent coverage of geogrids: 100
- Wall batter: 20°
External Stability of Wall
- Factor of safety for sliding considerations: 1.5
- Factor of safety for overturning considerations: 2.0
External Loading
- Surcharge load = 100 psf at top of wall or 3:1 slope above wall
Bearing Conditions
Alpenstein® Planting Reference
Current building practices and unique project sites often force design professionals to rely on retaining walls to create additional outdoor living space. Segmental (concrete block) retaining wall systems are a popular, cost effective, frequently used wall system option.
The Alpenstein Retaining Wall System offers design professionals, property owners and wall installation contractors the advantage of creating a Vertical Garden space within a stabilized hillside.
Alpenstein plantable concrete wall units are unique in that a cavity is contained within each block, and the open body frame construction permits the placement of topsoil within the wall facing and allows roots from vegetation to grow deep. The high front shield of the unit provides an attractive finish to the wall, but more importantly prevents the topsoil within the wall facing from erosion.
Landscape design professionals should consider the following when developing an Alpenstein Vertical Garden:
- Location of wall on the project site
- Existing environmental conditions
- Wall face direction
- Irrigation system required
- Specific unit fill soil type
- Plant type, growth habits, flowering periods, color and sun / shade exposure
For your convenience we have included several landscape planting design options based on a variety of site conditions. The ultimate success and creativity of the Alpenstein Vertical Garden is dependent upon the plant material specified.
| Plant Type | Plant Name | Growth Type Cascading Erect |
Flowers Spring Summer Fall |
Foliage Color |
Wall Facing N/E S/W |
Exposure Shade Sun |
Soil Moist Dry |
Flower Color |
| Annual | Impatiens | X | X X | Green & Bronze | X | X | X | Wh, Pk, Rd, Or, Pu |
| Annual | Petunia - Wave & Maddness | X | X X | Green | X | X | X | Wh, Pk, Rd, Pu |
| Annual | Sweet Potato Vine | X | Purple & Lime Grn. | X | X | X X | ||
| Annual | Vinca Vine | X | X | Variegated | X X | X X | X X | |
| Vine | Virginia Creeper | X X | X | Green & Var. | X X | X X | X X | |
| Vine | Trumpet Creeper | X X | X | Green | X X | X X | X X | Yellow & Orange |
| Vine | Winter Creeper | X X | Green | X X | X X | X X | ||
| Vine | Clematis | X | X X | Green | X X | X | X | Wh, Pk, Rd, Pu |
| Perennial | Coreopsis 'Moonbeam' | X | X X | Green | X X | X | X X | Yellow |
| Perennial | Aster x frikartii | X | X X | Green | X X | X | X X | Pink & Purple |
| Perennial | Dianthus 'Maiden Pinks' | X | X | Green & Grey | X X | X X | X | White, Pink, Red |
| Perennial | Geranium sanguineum | X X | X | Green | X X | X | X | Pink & Blue |
| Perennial | Lambs Ear | X | X X | Silver Grey | X X | X | X | Pink |
| Perennial | Sedum (all species) | X X | X X | Grey, Green, Red | X | X | X | Pink, Red, Yellow |
| Shrubs | Cotoneaster | X X | X | Green | X X | X X | X X | White |
| Shrubs | Itea (Sweetspire) | X X | X | Green | X X | X | X X | White |
| Shrubs | Juniper (Rug & Procumbens) | X | Green & Blue/Grey | X X | X | X X | ||
| Shrubs | Spirea (Goldmound & Little Prn) | X X | X | Gold & Green | X | X | X X | Pink |
| Shrubs | Barberry (Crimson Pygmy) | X | X | Burgundy | X X | X | X X | Pink |
