Reinforced Earth Wall
REINFORCED SOIL WALL
A Reinforced Soil Wall is a composite retaining wall that consists of soil reinforcement and compacted backfill constructed in alternate layers and having the soil reinforcement connected to a wall facing.
Reinforced Soil Walls are most suited to fill areas where there is enough available space to accommodate the block of backfill and soil reinforcement behind the wall face. There are several Reinforced Soil Wall ‘systems’ to consider.
The three major components to a Reinforced Soil Wall are, Wall Facing, Soil Reinforcement and Compacted Backfill.
Wall Facing
Wall facings are either ‘split faced’ modular blocks, precast concrete panels or wire mesh panels/ gabion baskets.
The ‘split faced’ modular blocks are available in a selection of colours, they are installed without using heavy machinery at an angle of 70º to 90º from the horizontal. Due to their natural stone appearance, these modular blocks tend to be the more appropriate facing in residential areas.
The larger precast concrete panels are mechanically lifted into a vertical position and due to their heavy duty properties and industrial appearance are more commonly seen in major highway and built up environments.
Inclined or vertical wire mesh panels/gabion baskets filled with the appropriate sized hardstone may offer a more economic facing solution.
Gabion Face
Geogrid
Soil Reinforcement
There are several types of soil reinforcement, such as geogrids, steel strips, steel ladders and polyester straps.
The type of soil reinforcement used is determined by the choice of Reinforced Soil Wall ‘system’. Each type of soil reinforcement has several options to choose from relating performance characteristics to various environmental conditions.
In each system the soil reinforcement has a mechanical connection to the wall facing units.
Soil Reinforcement
There are several types of soil reinforcement, such as geogrids, steel strips, steel ladders and polyester straps.
The type of soil reinforcement used is determined by the choice of Reinforced Soil Wall ‘system’. Each type of soil reinforcement has several options to choose from relating performance characteristics to various environmental conditions.
In each system the soil reinforcement has a mechanical connection to the wall facing units.
Geogrid
Compacted Backfill
Granular backfill is required for both the modular block and precast concrete unit wall facings. The backfill to a mesh faced wall may be a granular material, a dry cohesive material or a recycled material. The engineered solution regarding the material that will be used as backfill will be based on the works specific parameters.
The backfill will be compacted sufficiently in specified layers between each lower and upper level of soil reinforcement.
Compacted Backfill
Advantages
Height of retention
Versatile alignment
Rapid, repetitive construction
Free draining due to granular backfill and open joints
Soil reinforcement can easily accommodate obstructions
Disadvantages
Cost – if importing granular backfill