Precast concrete walls come in many different designs and cover a variety of uses. Units can be made from precast or prestressed elements, and how they are installed and constructed will generally be determined by the purpose for which they were made.
The most simple form of a concrete wall would be a prestressed or precast concrete panel which is placed between steel supports. In this scenario a prestressed panel will perform a lot more effectively than a simple precast panel (because of the strength gained during the prestressing process). If the wall is being designed to retain, then the panel will normally be 150mm thick or more, and can span up to 6000mm between the steels. Depending on what pressures are being placed on the wall, will determine; the types of steels, the foundation required, the thickness of the panel, and the span between the steels.
Prestressed concrete panels can also be used for creating cantilever walls. This requires the panel to be used vertically and sunk into a concrete foundation. The panel will generally be embedded by 500mm into a foundation foundation and tied in with reinforcement. Again the panels will typically be 150mm thick or more.
Another option for precast concrete walls is to use L shape units which can be bolted down or cast into a concrete foundation. Depending on the design, these units can be used for many different applications and specialist walls can be made to offer retention up to 6000 mm and higher.
Precast concrete blocks offer a variety of solutions for constructing concrete walls. Interlocking units allow 'gravity' type retaining walls to be constructed. There are many different units in the market but the basic principle is that the units lock together and the mass of the combined units gives the wall its retaining ability.
Precast concrete walls come in many different guises. The main thing to consider is the purpose of the wall and the environment surrounding it. Make sure you have a good look around the market at the different products and consider which one will suit your needs most effectively. It is also advisable to consult a structural engineer if you are in any doubt about the requirements for a retaining wall.