Precast concrete retaining wall

Abstract

A retaining wall comprises a precast concrete face panel with integral counterfort connected to the rear of the facing and a precast concrete base supporting the facing and the counterfort. The counterfort comprises a reinforced concrete slab having a substantially vertical front portion at a substantially right angle to a base portion, and a rear portion running from substantially the top of the counterfort to the rear of the base portion thereof. The face and counterfort module is connected to the base module through the use of rebar and openings which are fixedly attached together using a high strength group.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A precast concrete retaining wall assembly comprising:
 a first module comprising a precast concrete face panel and at least one integral counterfort, wherein said first module includes reinforcement bars; and   a second module comprising a substantially solid precast concrete base platform, wherein said second module includes reinforcement bars.   
     
     
         2 . The precast concrete retaining wall of  claim 1  wherein the first module has a bottom surface and at least one reinforcement bar within said first module has an exposed end which extends beyond the bottom surface of said first module; and further wherein the second module has a top surface and at least one opening within the top surface of the base sized to accept at least one exposed end of said reinforcement bar. 
     
     
         3 . The precast concrete retaining wall of  claim 1  wherein said second module has a top surface and at least one reinforcement bar within said base has an exposed end which extends beyond the top surface of the base; and further wherein the first module has a bottom surface and at least one opening within the bottom surface of the first module sized to accept at least one exposed end of said reinforcement bar. 
     
     
         4 . The precast concrete retaining wall of  claim 1  wherein the integral counterfort is generally triangular when viewed from a side elevation view. 
     
     
         5 . The precast concrete retaining wall of  claim 1  wherein the integral counterfort is generally rectangular when viewed from a side elevation view. 
     
     
         6 . The precast concrete retaining wall of  claim 1  wherein the integral counterfort has a top portion and a bottom portion and said counterfort is generally rectangular at the top portion and then generally triangular at the bottom portion when viewed from a side elevation view. 
     
     
         7 . The precast concrete retaining wall of  claim 1  wherein there are multiple integral counterforts attached to the face panel. 
     
     
         8 . The precast concrete retaining wall of  claim 1  wherein the base further comprises a shear key sized to accept a bottom surface of said face panel. 
     
     
         9 . The precast concrete retaining wall of  claim 1  wherein the base further comprises a lip protruding from a top surface of the base. 
     
     
         10 . The precast concrete retaining wall of  claim 1  wherein the base further comprises at least one grout pour opening which extends completely through said base. 
     
     
         11 . The precast concrete retaining wall of  claim 1  wherein the base further comprises a textured bottom surface. 
     
     
         12 . The precast concrete retaining wall of  claim 1  wherein the base further comprises a shear key on a bottom surface of the base. 
     
     
         13 . The precast concrete retaining wall of  claim 1  wherein the face panel further comprises a precast concrete impact barrier attached to and located above a top surface of said face panel. 
     
     
         14 . A method for installing a precast concrete retaining wall assembly which includes a first module comprising a precast concrete face panel and at least one integral counterfort, wherein said first module includes reinforcement bars, and a second module made of a precast concrete base, wherein said second module includes reinforcement bars and wherein one of said first module or second module further comprises a plurality of said reinforcement bars, each with an exposed end portion protruding from an outer surface and the other module further comprises at least one opening sized to receive said exposed end portion of said reinforcement bars, the method comprising the steps of:
 placing the second module into a generally horizontal position;   placing the face of the first module in a generally vertical position and raising said first module above said second module;   aligning the exposed ends of the reinforcement bars of the selected first or second module with the at least one opening of the other module;   placing at least one shim on top of the second module;   moving the first module on top of the second module such that the exposed ends of the reinforcement bars of the selected first or second module are placed within the openings in the other module;   adding grout into said openings; and   backfilling the space behind the precast concrete retaining wall assembly.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising having grout openings in the base and further comprising the steps of placing shims underneath the base and then pumping grout through the base and into a void created by the shims placed underneath the base. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising the step of creating texture on a bottom surface of the base. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising the step of creating a shear key on a bottom surface of the base. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising the step of not using temporary shoring to resist temporary loads during installation. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising the step of driving at least one pile or drilled shaft under the base. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising having at least one grout opening in the base;
 creating at least one pocket in a bottom of the base sized to cover at least one pile or drilled shaft; 
 driving said at least one pile or drilled shaft under the base; and 
 pumping grout through said at least one grout opening in the base. 
 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising having a shear key in the base sized to accept the face panel; and
 grouting the shear key into the base after the first module has been placed on the second module. 
 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising grouting any gaps between the interface of the first module and second module. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising placing one or more of either a butyl mastic joint sealant or wrap, a shear key, or ship lap between adjacent retaining walls. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising having at least one exposed reinforcement bar extend vertically from a top surface of the face panel; and
 further comprising the step of casting in place an impact barrier around said at least one exposed reinforcement bar. 
 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising having at least one exposed reinforcement bar extend horizontally from a location adjacent to a top surface of the face panel; and
 further comprising the step of casting in place an impact barrier around said at least one exposed reinforcement bar. 
 
     
     
         26 . A precast concrete retaining wall assembly comprising:
 a first module comprising a precast concrete face having opposed top and bottom surfaces, opposed side surfaces, opposed front and rear surfaces, and at least one integral counterfort integrally attached to the rear surface of the face, wherein said counterfort further comprises at least one side surface and at least a bottom surface, wherein said first module further includes reinforcement bars; and   a second module comprising a precast concrete base having opposed top and bottom surfaces, opposed side surfaces and opposed front and rear surfaces, wherein said second module further includes reinforcement bars.