1. Technical Field
The invention relates to a retaining wall, in particular a retaining wall inclined against a soil backfill, composed of individual shaped blocks, the shaped blocks being arranged one above the other in layers and the shaped blocks of adjacent layers each engaging in a form-fitting manner with one another in the region of upper sides and lower sides of the shaped blocks.
2. Prior Art
Such retaining walls are known from practice in numerous variants. It is known here both to bond together the layers of shaped blocks with mortar or to construct them as a so-called gravity retaining wall without mortar. It is also known to couple the individual shaped blocks of the retaining wall by means of connecting pieces.
A retaining wall of the type mentioned initially is known for example from German utility model 90 15 718, originating from the applicant. The form-fitting connection of the shaped blocks in the region of the upper sides and lower sides produces a bond within the layers. This results in a wall element which, due to the bond of the shaped blocks, can be viewed statically as a plate element. The same applies when the shaped blocks are mortared.
A problem with the above-described retaining wall is that the plate element can fail as a whole under varying loading, with the result that the retaining wall is damaged or even destroyed. Such loading variations can be produced, for example, by alternating loading by the soil backfill, in particular by alternating applied loads or alternating moisture states.