Precast concrete wall with elevated roadway and method for constructing wall

Abstract

A precast concrete wall on a prepared subgrade, comprises standardized, precast, reinforced concrete foundation, wall and cap modules. The cap modules include parapets on opposed sides and an elevated roadway therebetween. A plurality of tie down rods, each extending through the cap modules, two or more courses of wall modules and at least partially into the foundation modules. An optional anti-tunneling barrier is provided in the subgrade, below the foundation. A method of constructing the wall includes specifying standardized reinforced concrete foundation, wall and cap modules so that they can be manufactured by multiple suppliers, and providing a logistical model to minimize shipping costs by matching each point of fabrication with the appropriate point of delivery.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A precast concrete wall on a prepared subgrade, comprising:
 a plurality of precast, reinforced concrete foundation modules arranged end to end in a foundation course,   a plurality of precast, reinforced concrete wall modules arranged in two or more courses, a first wall course on the foundation course,   a plurality of precast, reinforced concrete cap modules arranged end to end on an upper wall course, and   a plurality of tie down rods, each extending through one of the cap modules, two or more wall modules and at least partially into one of the foundation modules, an upper end of each tie down rod being secured to said one of the cap modules, and a lower end of each tie down rod being secured to said one of the foundation modules or subgrade.   
     
     
         2 . A precast concrete wall as in  claim 1 , further comprising an anti-tunneling barrier extending into the subgrade under the foundation course. 
     
     
         3 . A precast concrete wall as in  claim 2 , wherein the anti-tunneling barrier is at least one of the group of precast, steel-reinforced concrete panels, steel panels, and driven sheet piles. 
     
     
         4 . A precast concrete wall as in  claim 1 , wherein the cap modules have precast bores for receiving the tie down rods and recesses in an upper surface of the cap modules for accommodating rod fasteners, wherein in the wall modules have bores for receiving the tie down rods, and wherein the foundation modules have a tie down rod anchorage elements. 
     
     
         5 . A precast concrete wall as in  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of soil or rock anchors securing the foundation modules to the subgrade. 
     
     
         6 . A precast concrete wall as in  claim 1 , wherein the cap modules comprise parapet walls on opposed sides of the cap modules. 
     
     
         7 . A precast concrete wall as in  claim 1 , wherein the cap module is wider than the wall module and a top surface is of the cap modules is configured as a roadway accommodating motorized vehicles. 
     
     
         8 . A precast concrete wall as in  claim 1 , wherein the wall modules have one or more cavities and the cavities in at least the first wall course are filled with sand. 
     
     
         9 . A precast concrete wall as in  claim 1 , wherein abutting surfaces of each of the foundation, wall and cap modules have mating connectors configured to mechanically connect adjacent modules. 
     
     
         10 . A precast concrete wall as in  claim 1  wherein the width of the foundation modules is substantially twice the width of the wall modules, and the length of the wall modules is substantially twice the length of the foundation modules. 
     
     
         11 . A precast concrete wall as in  claim 1  wherein the width of the cap modules is substantially twice the width of the wall modules, and the length of the wall modules is substantially twice the length of the cap modules. 
     
     
         12 . A method of constructing a precast concrete wall, comprising the steps of
 specifying precast, reinforced concrete foundation, wall and cap modules,   contracting with a plurality of suppliers to supply foundation, wall and cap modules in accordance with the specifications,   providing a logistical model to matching each point of supply fabrication with an appropriate point of delivery,   preparing a subgrade for the wall and an access roadway on at least one side of the wall,   placing foundation modules end to end on the prepared subgrade,   placing wall units in courses, a first course being placed on the foundation modules,   placing cap units on an upper course of wall units, and   securing the cap, wall and foundation modules with a plurality of tie rods.   
     
     
         13 . A method as in  claim 12 , wherein the cap modules include parapets on opposed sides of the cap modules and a roadway for motorized vehicles between the parapets on the top of the wall. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12  wherein a mobile gantry crane is used to place wall and cap modules. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising the step of constructing an anti-tunneling barrier in the subgrade prior to placing the foundation modules. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the wall modules have one or more cavities and further comprising the step of filling the cavity of at least the first course with sand. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising installing a plurality of soil or rock anchors through the foundation modules into the subgrade.