Segmental block connection system

Abstract

A block pad for being disposed between courses of blocks in a segmental retaining wall, the block pad having frictional properties for transferring tensile load from a soil reinforcing geosynthetic to the wall. The block pad further providing cushioning between block courses to minimize block cracking from bearing loads and wall settlement.

1 . A geosyntheticly reinforced segmental retaining wall system, comprising: 
 a plurality of stacked blocks;    a geosynthetic soil reinforcing material disposed between adjoining stacked blocks; and    a pad comprising a resilient material for being disposed between the stacked blocks, the pad for increasing the transfer of a tensile load from the geosynthetic soil reinforcing material to the segmental retaining wall by at least fourteen percent.    
   
   
       2 . The wall system of  claim 1 , wherein the resilient material is shaped to substantially match the shape of a horizontal surface of the blocks.  
   
   
       3 . The wall system of  claim 1 , wherein the resilient material consists of one or more of the following: 
 polyvinyl chloride (PVC);    a needlepunched nonwoven geotextile; or    a polymeric foam applied to a scrim.    
   
   
       4 . The wall system of  claim 1 , wherein the pad comprises: 
 a resilient material that has a thickness sufficient to substantially fill voids and uneven surfaces between adjacent horizontal surfaces of retaining blocks.    
   
   
       5 . The wall system of  claim 1  wherein the pad is made of a material consisting of: 
 a polymeric geomembrane, or a nonwoven needlepunched product, or a scrim with foam covering.    
   
   
       6 . The wall system of  claim 1 , wherein the pad for insertion between the stacked blocks is shaped to fit the block shape and provides a frictional connection between a soil reinforcing geosynthetic and the wall.  
   
   
       7 . The wall system of  claim 1 , wherein the pad provides an interlayer of dissimilar material to the concrete block that reduces cracking of the blocks once installed because of its thickness and compressibility.  
   
   
       8 . A method for constructing a segmental block retaining wall comprising the steps of: 
 stacking a plurality of blocks;    disposing a geosynthetic soil reinforcing material between a pair of vertically stacked blocks; and    disposing a pad of resilient material between the pair of vertically adjoining stacked blocks and adjacent to the geosynthetic soil reinforcing material, wherein the pad increases the transfer of a tensile load from the geosynthetic soil reinforcing material to the segmental block retaining wall by at least fourteen percent as compared to a tensile load that would be transferred without the pad.    
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the steps of: 
 disposing the pad between the vertically stacked blocks results from the pad being formed integrally with one of the blocks.    
   
   
       10 . The geosyntheticly reinforced segmental retaining wall system of  claim 1 , wherein the pad is formed integrally with a block.