Retaining wall constructed using sandbags

Abstract

A retaining wall structure to support a slope comprises courses of vertically adjacent sandbags forming a wall face. The sandbags of each course are positioned adjacent to each other side to side along their lengths, rather than their widths, so as to extend at about a right angle from the slope being supported. Interconnecting members for connecting the sandbags together are positioned between adjacent courses in a staggered arrangement. The structure provides a wall face that is relatively deep and has a high density of sandbags.

1 . A retaining wall structure made using sandbags which have a length and a width and opposed ends, said length being greater than said width, said retaining wall structure forming a wall face of a slope, comprising: 
 (a) vertically-adjacent courses of said sandbags forming said wall face, said sandbags within said courses being positioned adjacent to one another side to side along their said lengths such that one said end of each said sandbag forms part of an inner side of said wall face adjacent said slope and said opposed end of said sandbag forms a part of an outer side of said wall face; and    (b) interconnecting members positioned between said vertically-adjacent courses to connect said sandbags of said courses to sandbags of vertically-adjacent said courses such that adjacent said interconnecting members along a given said course alternate between a position proximate to said inner side of said wall face and a position proximate to said outer side of said wall face.    
   
   
       2 . A retaining wall structure made using sandbags which have a length and a width and opposed ends, said length being greater than said width, said retaining wall structure forming a wall face of a slope, comprising: 
 (a) vertically-adjacent courses of said sandbags forming said wall face;    (b) one said course comprising sandbags positioned adjacent to one another side to side along their said lengths such that one said end of each said sandbag of said course forms part of an inner side of said wall face adjacent said slope and said opposed end of said sandbag forms a part of an outer side of said wall face;    (c) said course of paragraph (a) being vertically adjacent to a lower course and to an upper course, each of said lower and upper courses comprising sandbags positioned adjacent to one another end to end along their said widths such that a side of each said sandbag of said upper course and of said lower course forms part of an inner side of said wall face adjacent said slope and an opposed side of said sandbag forms a part of an outer side of said wall face;    (d) interconnecting members positioned between said vertically-adjacent courses to connect said sandbags of said courses to sandbags of vertically-adjacent said courses such that adjacent said interconnecting members along a given said course alternate between a position proximate to said inner side of said wall face and a position proximate to said outer side of said wall face.    
   
   
       3 . A retaining wall structure according to  claim 1  wherein said interconnecting member is a plate having an upper side and a lower side, each said side having a plurality of projections thereon, said plate being capable of extending across at least part of two adjacent sandbags in one said course with said projections on said upper side or said lower side protruding into said two adjacent sandbags.  
   
   
       4 . A retaining wall structure according to  claim 2  wherein said interconnecting member is a plate having an upper side and a lower side, each said side having a plurality of projections thereon, said plate being capable of extending across at least part of two adjacent sandbags in one said course with said projections on said upper side or said lower side protruding into said two adjacent sandbags.  
   
   
       5 . A retaining wall structure according to  claim 1  wherein said sandbags are made of geotextile.  
   
   
       6 . A retaining wall structure according to  claim 1  further comprising plants on said outer side of said wall face growing from said sandbags.  
   
   
       7 . A retaining wall structure according to  claim 2  further comprising plants on said outer side of said wall face growing from said sandbags.