Cornerstone 100 retaining wall blocks

Is anyone familiar with them? Can the cornerstone 100 be installed vertically without a setback? At the highest point of my new retaining wall the height would be about 5.5 feet above ground (front of wall). A contractor is telling me that this block allows for a vertical installation. It would be easier for him as he needs to connect the new block to an existing concrete cinder block wall which is vertical and has no setback. The length of the new wall is about 100 feet. The connection between the new and old wall is 90 degrees. It is L shaped.

 

You will need an engineer. - The drawings and brochure are pretty and cute, but provide little real information or technical support, but are meant for estimating ONLY. The brochure clearly shows they are meant for estimating only and not for construction.

These units are a take off on the long established major systems that have been used for 30 years nationally and internationally.

There is no positive shear resistance provided by the units and the geo-grid reinforcement is only held in place by the weight of the wall itself and the sand and moisture between the blocks can be a lubricant and allow sliding. The gravel required in the cores is bot continuous and can be interrupted by the geo-grid layers. All the major systems have some sort of shear key or positive to prevent sliding and grid slipping. I am surprised the geo-grid has a regular spacing and length, as is usually required, but maybe that is just for simpplicity in the brochure.

A vertical wall is not as strong as a battered wall.

A segmental retaining wall (SRW) is a "flexible" wall and should not be rigidly connected to a rigid structure.

The units can work for your 5.5' wall if engineered and constructed stricktly according to the installation guide and his requirements.

Dick