Reinforced Earth®

Reinforced Earth® MSE retaining walls are coherent gravity structures engineered to resist specific loading requirements.  The primary components of a Reinforced Earth wall consist of alternating layers of granular backfill, and linear metallic, high-adherence soil reinforcing strips or ladders to which a modular precast concrete facing is attached.  Its strength and stability are derived from the frictional interaction between the granular backfill and the reinforcements, resulting in a permanent and predictable bond that creates a unique composite construction material. A mechanical connection between the facing panels and the soil reinforcing strips is achieved by way of a special tie strip embed and high strength nut/bolt/washer assembly.  This connection creates a system that is technically sound and highly reliable. All necessary design checks have been performed to confirm that the connection is stronger than the soil tensile member it is connecting. With the bolt hole diameter only 1mm larger than the bolt, panel misalignment due to connection free-play is restricted, making construction alignment easy. Metal loss at the connection is minimized due the sandwiching of the reinforcing strip within the tie strip which limits exposure of the elements within the connection.

Reinforced Earth retaining walls are an economical way to meet every-day earth retention needs for highway and bridge grade separations, railroads and mass transit systems, waterfronts, airports, loading docks, industrial facilities and commercial and residential developments. They are also used in response to difficult design conditions such as very high structures, restricted space, where obstructions within the MSE soil mass are present and poor foundation soils. The inherent strength and flexibility of the overall wall system gives designers a powerful way to economically solve difficult stability issues for structures subject to flooding or other hydrodynamic forces, or those in seismically active areas. Benefits include:

• Considerable advantages over cast-in-place, both in construction time and quantity of materials

• Flexibility, making it possible to build directly upon compressible soils

• High load-carrying capabilities, both to static and dynamic loads

• Ease of installation since construction using prefabricated components is rapid and predictable

• Superior appearance since the facing is highly suited for architectural finishes