Mechanically stabilized earth system and method

Abstract

Example may provide a system for constructing a mechanically stabilized earth structure. The system may include a soil reinforcing element having a plurality of transverse wires coupled with a pair of longitudinal wires and a wire facing having a bend formed therein to form a horizontal element and a vertical facing. The pair of longitudinal wires may have lead ends that may converge and may be coupled with a connection stud having a first end and a second end. The first end is coupled with the lead ends and the second end comprises a connector bent with respect to the first end. At least the connection stud and the pair of longitudinal wires may be coplanar. The connector is coupled with at least one vertical wire of the vertical facing such that the soil reinforcing element swivels in a horizontal plane about the at least one vertical wire.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A system for constructing a mechanically stabilized earth structure, comprising:
 a soil reinforcing element having a plurality of transverse wires coupled with a pair of longitudinal wires, wherein
 the pair of longitudinal wires have lead ends that converge and are coupled with a connection stud having a first end and a second end, 
 the first end is coupled with the lead ends and the second end comprises a connector bent with respect to the first end, and 
 at least the connection stud and the pair of longitudinal wires of the soil reinforcing element are coplanar; and 
   a wire facing having a bend formed therein to form a horizontal element and a vertical facing, the vertical facing having a plurality of vertical wires coupled with a plurality of facing cross wires, wherein the connector is coupled with at least one vertical wire of the plurality of vertical wires such that the soil reinforcing element is configured to swivel in a horizontal plane about the at least one vertical wire.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the connector is a hook bent about 180° with respect to the first end of the connection stud and configured to be hooked onto the at least one vertical wire. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the vertical facing further comprises a plurality of connector leads, each connector lead of the plurality of connector leads comprising a pair of vertical wires of the plurality of vertical wires laterally offset from each other by a short distance. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the pair of vertical wires includes the at least one vertical wire and the connector is coupled with a connector lead of the plurality of connector leads such that the soil reinforcing element is configured to pivot in a horizontal plane about the connector lead. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the pair of vertical wires includes the at least one vertical wire and the connector is hooked onto the at least one vertical wire adjacent an intersection of the at least one vertical wire and a first facing cross wire of the plurality of facing cross wires. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein a portion of a connection device is disposed in an opening defined by the first facing cross wire and the connector, the connection device having a first end coupled with a second facing cross wire above the first facing cross wire and a second end disposed at or adjacent a third facing cross wire below the first facing cross wire. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a strut having a first end coupled with the vertical facing and a second end coupled with the horizontal element, the strut being configured to maintain the vertical facing at a predetermined angle with respect to the horizontal element. 
     
     
         8 . A method of constructing a mechanically stabilized earth structure, comprising:
 providing a first lift comprising a first wire facing being bent to form a first horizontal element and a first vertical facing, the first vertical facing having a plurality of vertical wires coupled with a plurality of facing cross wires;   coupling a soil reinforcing element to at least one vertical wire of the first vertical facing using a connection stud such that the soil reinforcing element swivels in a horizontal plane about the at least one vertical wire, wherein
 the soil reinforcing element comprises a plurality of transverse wires coupled with a pair of longitudinal wires, 
 the pair of longitudinal wires have lead ends coupled with the connection stud having a first end and a second end, 
 the first end is coupled with the lead ends and the second end comprises a connector bent with respect to the first end, and 
 at least the connection stud and the pair of longitudinal wires of the soil reinforcing element are coplanar; 
   placing a screen on the first wire facing whereby the screen covers at least a portion of the first vertical facing and the first horizontal element; and   placing backfill on the first lift to a height of the first vertical facing.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 coupling a first end of a strut to the first vertical facing and a second end of the strut to the first horizontal element, the strut being configured to maintain the first vertical facing at a predetermined angle with respect to the first horizontal element.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 placing a second lift on the backfill of the first lift, the second lift comprising a second wire facing being bent to form a second horizontal element and a second vertical facing.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the second lift is at least partially supported by the backfill of the first lift and the first vertical facing and the second vertical facing are laterally offset from each other. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the soil reinforcing element is coupled with the at least one vertical wire using the connector, the connector being a hook bent about  180 ° with respect to the first end of the connection stud and configured to be hooked onto the at least one vertical wire. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the first vertical facing further comprises a plurality of connector leads, each connector lead of the plurality of connector leads comprising a pair of vertical wires of the plurality of vertical wires laterally offset from each other by a short distance. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the pair of vertical wires includes the at least one vertical wire and the soil reinforcing element is coupled with the connector lead such that the soil reinforcing element is configured to pivot in the horizontal plane about the connector lead. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the pair of vertical wires includes the at least one vertical wire and the soil reinforcing element is coupled with the connector lead via the connector, the connector being hooked onto the at least one vertical wire adjacent an intersection of the at least one vertical wire and a first facing cross wire of the plurality of facing cross wires. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein a portion of a connection device is disposed in an opening defined by the first facing cross wire and the connector, the connection device having a first end coupled with a second facing cross wire above the first facing cross wire and a second end disposed at or adjacent a third facing cross wire below the first facing cross wire. 
     
     
         17 . A system for constructing a mechanically stabilized earth structure, comprising:
 a wire facing bent to form a horizontal element and a vertical facing, the vertical facing having a plurality of vertical wires coupled with a plurality of facing cross wires, the plurality of vertical wires including a plurality of connector leads, each connector lead comprising a pair of vertical wires laterally offset from each other by a short distance;   a soil reinforcing element having a pair of longitudinal wires and a plurality of transverse wires coupled together, wherein
 the pair of longitudinal wires have lead ends coupled with a connection stud having a first end and a second end, 
 the first end is coupled with the lead ends and the second end comprises a connector bent with respect to the first end, 
 at least the connection stud and the pair of longitudinal wires of the soil reinforcing element are coplanar, and 
 the soil reinforcing element is coupled with a connector lead of the plurality of connector leads such that the soil reinforcing element swivels in a horizontal plane about the connector lead; and 
   a screen disposed on the wire facing.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , further comprising a strut having a first end coupled with the vertical facing and a second end coupled with the horizontal element, the strut being configured to maintain the vertical facing at a predetermined angle with respect to the horizontal element. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the soil reinforcing element is coupled with only one vertical wire of the pair of vertical wires of the connector lead via the connector, the connector being hooked onto the vertical wire adjacent an intersection of the vertical wire and a first facing cross wire of the plurality of facing cross wires. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein a portion of a connection device is disposed in an opening defined by the first facing cross wire and the connector, the connection device having a first end coupled with a second facing cross wire above the first facing cross wire and a second end disposed at or adjacent a third facing cross wire below the first facing cross wire.