Reinforced Soil Retaining Wall System and Method of Construction

Abstract

A reinforced soil retaining wall system ( 10 ) in which a plurality of blocks ( 12 ) are arranged in courses ( 14 ) to form a wall ( 16 ). Soil reinforcement is provided to the wall ( 16 ) using a plurality of lengths of strip reinforcement ( 18 ) inserted in and extending from the blocks ( 12 ), the strip reinforcement ( 18 ) being buried under compacted backfill ( 20 ) either as each course ( 14 ) is laid or after construction of the wall ( 16 ). Also disclosed is the use of a second plurality of sections of soil reinforcement, spaced apart from the first plurality of sections and arranged to extend perpendicular to the wall.

1 . A reinforced soil retaining wall system comprising:
 a plurality of blocks arranged in courses above a base course to form a wall, the wall having a retained side and a dredge side, each block comprising a front face oriented in use towards the dredge side of the wall, a rear face spaced from said front face by a distance defining the depth of said block and oriented in use towards the retained side of the wall, a top surface, a bottom surface spaced from said top surface by a distance defining the height of said block, opposing side surfaces spaced from each other by a distance defining the width of said block, and a passage extending through at least a portion of the height of the block and terminating in a first opening in the top or bottom surface, the passage and first opening configured to receive a first portion of a length of strip reinforcement; and,   a plurality of lengths of strip reinforcement for anchoring the wall, each length of strip reinforcement insertable within at least one of the plurality of blocks such that a first portion of the length of strip reinforcement is received within the passage of the block, a second portion of the length of strip reinforcement is arranged in coplanar alignment with the top or bottom surface of the block and a third portion of the length of strip reinforcement is arranged to extend outwardly from the rear face of the block and secured in position substantially perpendicular to the wall during backfilling and compaction.   
   
   
       2 . The reinforced soil retaining wall system of  claim 1  wherein the passage is substantially vertically oriented relative to the top or base section of the block. 
   
   
       3 . The reinforced soil retaining wall system of  claim 1  wherein each length of strip reinforcement is resiliently flexible. 
   
   
       4 . The reinforced soil retaining wall system of  claim 1  wherein the block further comprises a guide slot extending from the first opening passage along the top or bottom surface of the block, the guide slot terminating at the rear face of the block and configured to house the second portion the length of strip reinforcement. 
   
   
       5 . The reinforced soil retaining wall system of  claim 1  wherein the third portion of the length of strip reinforcement is arranged in coplanar alignment with the top and or base surface of the blocks immediately prior to backfilling and compacting. 
   
   
       6 . The reinforced soil retaining wall system of  claim 1  wherein the passage extends through the full height of the block from a first opening provided in the bottom surface of the block to a second opening provided in the top surface of the block. 
   
   
       7 . The reinforced soil retaining wall system of  claim 6  wherein a length of strip reinforcement is inserted through the passage from the first opening to the second opening and a fourth portion of the length of strip reinforcement is arranged to extend outwardly from the rear face of the block to be secured in position substantially perpendicular to the wall during backfilling and compaction. 
   
   
       8 . The reinforced soil retaining wall system of  claim 7  wherein the fourth portion is arranged in general coplanar alignment with respect to the top or bottom face of the block away from the wall immediately prior to backfilling and compaction. 
   
   
       9 . The reinforced soil retaining wall system of  claim 1  wherein the passage is a cavity extending from the bottom surface to the top surface, the cavity configured to receive a quantity of ballast. 
   
   
       10 . The reinforced soil retaining wall system of  claim 10  wherein the ballast is drainage aggregate. 
   
   
       11 . The reinforced soil retaining wall system of  claim 10  wherein the ballast is impermeable. 
   
   
       12 . The reinforced soil retaining wall system of  claim 1  wherein the passage is one of plurality of passages. 
   
   
       13 . The reinforced soil retaining wall system of  claim 1  further comprising one or more shear pins to resist sliding movement of a first course over an adjacent second course. 
   
   
       14 . The reinforced soil retaining wall system of  claim 1  further comprising a drainage channel configured to direct moisture from the retained side of the wall towards the dredge side of the wall. 
   
   
       15 . The reinforced soil retaining wall system of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of lengths of strip reinforcement are divided into a threaded section inserted into at least one block and a free section co-operatively associated with the threaded section and arranged to arranged to extend outwardly from the rear face of the block and be secured in position substantially perpendicular to the wall during backfilling and compaction. 
   
   
       16 . The reinforced soil retaining wall system of  claim 1  forming a lower section of a composite wall, the composite wall being divided a transition depth into an upper section and the lower section 
   
   
       17 . The reinforced soil retaining wall system of  claim 16  wherein the upper section is a gravity retaining wall. 
   
   
       18 . The reinforced soil retaining wall system of  claim 16  further comprising a soil reinforcement protection barrier at the transition depth in general coplanar alignment with the top uppermost course of blocks forming the lower section of the composite wall. 
   
   
       19 . The reinforced soil retaining wall system of  claim 18  wherein the soil reinforcement protection barrier is a concrete slab. 
   
   
       20 . A method of construction of a reinforced soil retaining wall system, the system comprising a plurality of blocks arranged in courses above a base course to form a wall, the wall being anchored by backfilling and compacting soil over a plurality of lengths of strip reinforcement operatively connected to at least a portion of the plurality of blocks laid in courses, the method of construction comprising the steps of:
 a) providing a level surface for laying a course of blocks, each block comprising a front face, a rear face spaced from said front face by a distance defining the depth of said block, a top surface, a bottom surface spaced from said top surface by a distance defining the height of said block, opposing side surfaces spaced from each other by a distance defining the width of said block, a passage extending through at least a portion of the height of the block and terminating in a first opening in the top or bottom surface, the passage and first opening configured to receive a first portion of a length of strip reinforcement;   b) inserting a length of strip reinforcement into a block to be laid in the course such that a first portion of the length of strip reinforcement is received in the passage, a second portion of the length of strip reinforcement is arranged in coplanar alignment with the top or bottom surface of the block and a third portion of the length of strip reinforcement is arranged to extend outwardly from the rear face of the block;   c) positioning the block and the inserted length of strip reinforcement onto the level surface such that the rear surface of the block and the third portion of the length of strip reinforcement is directed towards the soil to be retained by the wall;   d) repeating step (a) to (c) until a required height for the retaining wall has been achieved; and,   e) anchoring the position of the third portion of the length of strip reinforcement by backfilling and compacting a quantity of soil behind the rear face of the block.   
   
   
       21 . The method of construction of  claim 20  wherein step (e) is conducted after step (c) after each course is completed. 
   
   
       22 . The method of construction of  claim 20  wherein construction is mortarless and each block further comprises a guide slot extending from the first opening along the bottom surface of the block and terminating at the rear face of the block, the guide slot being configured to accommodate the second portion the length of strip reinforcement. 
   
   
       23 . The method of construction of  claim 20  wherein the third portion of the length of strip reinforcement is arranged in coplanar alignment with the top and or base surface of the blocks immediately prior to step (e). 
   
   
       24 . The method of construction of  claim 20  wherein the passage extends through the full height of the block from a first opening provided in the bottom surface of the block to a second opening provided in the top surface of the block and step (b) comprises the step of inserting a length of strip reinforcement through the passage from the first opening to the second opening such that a fourth portion of the length of strip reinforcement is arranged to extend outwardly from the rear face of the block. 
   
   
       25 . The method of construction of  claim 24  wherein step (e) further comprises the step of anchoring the position of the fourth portion of the length of strip reinforcement by backfilling and compacting a quantity of soil behind the rear face of the block. 
   
   
       26 . The method of construction of  claim 25  wherein the fourth portion is arranged in general coplanar alignment with respect to the top or bottom face of the block away from the wall immediately prior to backfilling and compaction. 
   
   
       27 . The method of construction of  claim 20  wherein the passage is a cavity extending from the bottom surface to the top surface and the method further comprises the step of adding a quantity of ballast to the cavity after each block or each course of blocks has been laid. 
   
   
       28 . The method of construction of  claim 27  wherein the ballast is drainage aggregate. 
   
   
       29 . The method of construction of  claim 27  wherein the ballast is impermeable. 
   
   
       30 . The method of construction of  claim 20  further comprising the step of installing one or more shear pins to resist sliding movement of a first course over an adjacent second course. 
   
   
       31 . The method of construction of  claim 20  wherein the plurality of lengths of strip reinforcement are divided into a threaded section inserted into at least one block at step (b) and a free section co-operatively associated with the threaded section and arranged to extend outwardly from the rear face of the block and be secured in position during step (e) substantially perpendicular to the wall during backfilling and compaction. 
   
   
       32 . The method of construction of  claim 20  wherein the reinforced soil retaining wall forms a lower section of a composite wall, the composite wall being divided a transition depth into an upper section and the lower section and the method further comprises the step of constructing a gravity or cantilever retaining wall to form the upper section of the composite wall. 
   
   
       33 . The method of construction of  claim 32  further comprising the step of installing a soil reinforcement protection barrier at the transition depth in general coplanar alignment with the, top uppermost course of blocks forming the lower section of the composite wall. 
   
   
       34 . The method of construction of  claim 33  wherein the step of installing a soil reinforcement protection barrier comprises the step of laying a concrete slab. 
   
   
       35 . A block for use in constructing the reinforced soil retaining wall system of  claim 1 . 
   
   
       36 . A length of strip reinforcement for use in constructing the reinforced soil retaining wall system of  claim 1 . 
   
   
       37 . A reinforced soil retaining wall system comprising:
 a plurality of blocks arranged in courses above a base course to form a wall, the wall having a retained side and a dredge side, each block comprising a front face oriented in use towards the dredge side of the wall, a rear face spaced from said front face by a distance defining the depth of said block and oriented in use towards the retained side of the wall, a top surface, a bottom surface spaced from said top surface by a distance defining the height of said block, opposing side surfaces spaced from each other by a distance defining the width of said block;   a first plurality of sections of soil reinforcement for anchoring the wall to the backfill, the first plurality of sections of soil reinforcement arranged between adjacent courses of the wall and extending outwardly from the rear face of the blocks on the retained side of the wall; and,   a second plurality of sections of soil reinforcement for stabilizing a quantity of backfilled and compacted soil on the retained side of the wall, the second plurality of sections of soil reinforcement being spaced apart from the first plurality of sections of soil reinforcement and arranged to extend substantially perpendicular to the wall during backfilling and compaction.   
   
   
       38 . The reinforced soil retaining wall system of  claim 37  wherein the second plurality of sections of soil reinforcement is spaced apart from the rear face of the wall. 
   
   
       39 . The reinforced soil retaining wall system of  claim 37  wherein one or both of the first or second plurality of sections soil reinforcement is/are resiliently flexible. 
   
   
       40 . The reinforced soil retaining wall system of  claim 37  wherein the wall has a height and the plurality of second sections of soil reinforcement have a length that is equal to at least 60% of the height of the wall. 
   
   
       41 . The reinforced soil retaining wall system of  claim 39  wherein the wall has a height and the plurality of second sections of soil reinforcement have a length that is equal to at least 70% of the height of the wall. 
   
   
       42 . The reinforced soil retaining wall system of  claim 40  wherein the wall has a height and the plurality of second sections of soil reinforcement have a length that is equal to at least 80% of the height of the wall. 
   
   
       43 . The reinforced soil retaining wall system of  claim 37  wherein the plurality of second sections of soil reinforcement have a length that extends at least through the anticipated plane of rupture of the backfill. 
   
   
       44 . The reinforced soil retaining wall system of  claim 37  wherein one or both of the first or second plurality of sections of soil reinforcement is/are planar. 
   
   
       45 . The reinforced soil retaining wall system of  claim 37  wherein the one or both of the first or second plurality of sections of soil reinforcement is/are geomesh. 
   
   
       46 . The reinforced soil retaining wall system of  claim 37  wherein one or both of the first or second plurality of sections of soil reinforcement is/are in the form of elongated strips. 
   
   
       47 . The reinforced soil retaining wall system of  claim 37  wherein the first and second plurality of sections of soil reinforcement are arranged in horizontal coplanar arrangement with respect to each other. 
   
   
       48 . The reinforced soil retaining wall system of  claim 37  wherein the first plurality of sections of soil reinforcement are arranged in a first layer and the second plurality of sections of soil reinforcement are arranged in a second layer offset from the first layer. 
   
   
       49 . The reinforced soil retaining wall system of  claim 37  wherein one or both of the first or second plurality of sections of soil reinforcement is/are arranged in coplanar alignment with the top and or base surface of one or more of the plurality of blocks immediately prior to backfilling and compacting. 
   
   
       50 . The reinforced soil retaining wall system of  claim 37  wherein the blocks further comprise one or more cavities extending from the bottom surface to the top surface, the cavity configured to receive a quantity of ballast. 
   
   
       51 . The reinforced soil retaining wall system of  claim 49  wherein the ballast is drainage aggregate. 
   
   
       52 . The reinforced soil retaining wall system of  claim 50  wherein the ballast is impermeable. 
   
   
       53 . The reinforced soil retaining wall system of  claim 37  further comprising one or more shear pins to resist sliding movement of a first course over an adjacent second course. 
   
   
       54 . The reinforced soil retaining wall system of  claim 37  further comprising a drainage channel configured to direct moisture from the retained side of the wall towards the dredge side of the wall. 
   
   
       55 . The reinforced soil retaining wall system of  claim 37  forming a lower section of a composite wall, the composite wall being divided a transition depth into an upper section and the lower section. 
   
   
       56 . The reinforced soil retaining wall system of  claim 54  wherein the upper section is a gravity retaining wall. 
   
   
       57 . The reinforced soil retaining wall system of  claim 54  further comprising a soil reinforcement protection barrier at the transition depth in general coplanar alignment with the top uppermost course of blocks forming the lower section of the composite wall. 
   
   
       58 . The reinforced soil retaining wall system of  claim 56  wherein the soil reinforcement protection barrier is a concrete slab. 
   
   
       59 . The reinforced soil retaining wall system of  claim 37  wherein the first plurality of sections of soil reinforcement are fixedly held between adjacent courses of blocks using mortar. 
   
   
       60 . The reinforced soil retaining wall system of  claim 37  wherein the first plurality of sections of soil reinforcement are fixedly held between adjacent courses of blocks by gravity under the weight of the blocks forming the adjacent courses. 
   
   
       61 . A method of construction of a reinforced soil retaining wall system, the system comprising a plurality of blocks arranged in courses above a base course to form a wall, the method of construction comprising the steps of:
 a) providing a level surface for laying a course of blocks, each block comprising a front face, a rear face spaced from said front face by a distance defining the depth of said block, a top surface, a bottom surface spaced from said top surface by a distance defining the height of said block, opposing side surfaces spaced from each other by a distance defining the width of said block;   b) arranging a first plurality of sections of soil reinforcement for anchoring the wall to the backfill between adjacent courses of the wall whilst laying each course of blocks, the first plurality of sections of soil reinforcement being arranged to extend outwardly from the rear face of the blocks on the retained side of the wall;   c) laying each subsequent course until a required height for the retaining wall has been achieved;   d) arranging a second plurality of sections of soil reinforcement spaced apart from the first plurality of sections of soil reinforcement and arranged to extend during step (e) substantially perpendicular to the wall; and,   e) backfilling and compacting a quantity of backfill behind the rear face of the blocks so as to anchor the position of the first and second plurality of sections of soil reinforcement.   
   
   
       62 . The method of construction of  claim 60  wherein step (e) is conducted after step (b) and prior to step (c). 
   
   
       63 . The method of construction of  claim 61  wherein the second plurality of sections of soil reinforcement are arranged during step (e) so as to be spaced apart from the rear face of the wall. 
   
   
       64 . The method of construction of  claim 60  wherein the first and second plurality of sections of soil reinforcement are arranged in horizontal coplanar arrangement with respect to each other. 
   
   
       65 . The method of construction of  claim 60  wherein the first plurality of sections of soil reinforcement are arranged in a first layer and the second plurality of sections of soil reinforcement are arranged in a second layer offset from the first layer. 
   
   
       66 . The method of construction of  claim 60  wherein one or both of the first or second plurality of sections of soil reinforcement is/are arranged in coplanar alignment with the top and or base surface of one or more of the plurality of blocks immediately prior to backfilling and compacting. 
   
   
       67 . The method of construction of  claim 60  wherein the blocks further comprise one or more cavities extending from the bottom surface to the top surface, the cavity configured to receive a quantity of ballast and the method further comprises the step of adding a quantity of ballast to the cavity after each block or each course of blocks has been laid. 
   
   
       68 . The method of construction of  claim 66  wherein the ballast is drainage aggregate. 
   
   
       69 . The method of construction of  claim 66  wherein the ballast is impermeable. 
   
   
       70 . The method of construction of  claim 60  further comprising the step of installing one or more shear pins to resist sliding movement of a first course over an adjacent second course. 
   
   
       71 . The method of construction of  claim 60  wherein the reinforced soil retaining wall forms a lower section of a composite wall, the composite wall being divided a transition depth into an upper section and the lower section and the method further comprises the step of constructing a gravity or cantilever retaining wall to form the upper section of the composite wall. 
   
   
       72 . The method of construction of  claim 70  further comprising the step of installing a soil reinforcement protection barrier at the, transition depth in general coplanar alignment with the top uppermost course of blocks forming the lower section of the composite wall. 
   
   
       73 . The method of construction of  claim 71  wherein the step of installing a soil reinforcement protection barrier comprising the step of laying a concrete slab. 
   
   
       74 . The method of construction of  claim 60  wherein the first plurality of sections of soil reinforcement are fixedly held between adjacent courses of blocks using mortar. 
   
   
       75 . The method of construction of  claim 60  wherein the first plurality of sections of soil reinforcement are fixedly held between adjacent courses of blocks by gravity under the weight of the blocks forming the adjacent courses. 
   
   
       76 . A block for use in the method of constructing a reinforced soil retaining wall system of according to  claim 60 . 
   
   
       77 . A length of strip reinforcement for use in the method of constructing a reinforced soil retaining wall system according to  claim 60 . 
   
   
       77 .- 80 . (canceled)