Improved strip soil reinforcing and method of manufacturing

Abstract

A soil reinforcing element and method of manufacturing for use in a mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) structure. A smooth metal strip is fabricated into a soil reinforcing element that is manufactured from stock pulled from a coil, the surface of the strip surface is manipulated using the technique of cold forming. Where the manipulated surface is optimized to consist of a peak and a valley to increase the pullout resistance when embedded in an earthen formation involving a mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) structure.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A strip soil reinforcing element, for use in a mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) structure, comprising:
 a stock member consisting of a strip wherein all surfaces on said strip are smooth, where the surface of the strip is manipulated using a cold forming process by passing said strip through opposing surfaces of two profile dies imparting a resistance profile on said strip;   said resistance profile includes at least one first peak member on a first side of said strip having said first side and an opposite second side, and extending between respective at least a first flat section and a second flat section of said strip;   each of said first and said second flat sections extending along a common plane;   a first flat side and a second flat side on opposing sides of said at least one peak member having equal lengths and defining an obtuse medial angle therebetween;   a first obtuse angle defined from said first flat side of said at least one first peak relative to said first flat section and a second obtuse angle defined from said second flat side of said at least one first peak relative to said second flat section; and   said first obtuse angle and said second obtuse angle being between 160-140 degrees and said obtuse medial angle between said first and said second flat sides is between 120-100 degrees; whereby said resistance profile optimizes a pullout resistance of said strip soil reinforcing member from said mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) structure during a use thereof.   
     
     
         2 . The strip soil reinforcing element, according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least a second peak member on said strip; and   said first peak member and said second peak member spaced on said strip by at least one of said first and said second flat sections therebetween.   
     
     
         3 . The strip soil reinforcing element, according to  claim 2 , wherein:
 said at least first and second peak members being either both on said first side of said strip or on opposite sides of said strip relative to said common plane.   
     
     
         4 . The strip soil reinforcing element, according to  claim 3 , wherein:
 a length of said first and said second flat sections is one of uniform and nonuniform between respective said first and said second peak members.   
     
     
         5 . The strip soil reinforcing element, according to  claim 4 , wherein:
 said stock member being manipulated using said cold forming process is at least one of carbon steel, stainless steel, an iron alloy, an aluminum alloy, a copper alloy, and a bronze alloy.   
     
     
         6 . The strip soil reinforcing element, according to  claim 5 , wherein:
 a proximal end of the strip has a through bore.   
     
     
         7 . A system, for constructing a mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) structure, comprising:
 a strip soil reinforcing element consisting of a metal strip fabricated with cold formed profiled resistance profile having at least a plurality of peaks along a flat surface and a through bore at a proximal end;   a facing panel element having a facing panel anker with a coupling device extending from a back face of a facing panel element and adjustably accepting said proximal end of said strip soil reinforcing element and said strip soil reinforcing element;   a coupling device extending through said proximal end and said facing panel anker to secure said strip soil reinforcing member to said facing panel anker wherein the combined coupling device and said strip soil reinforcing element capable of swiveling along a common plane.   
     
     
         8 . The system, according to  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a plurality of said strip soil reinforcing elements each containing a plurality of said cold formed profiles along respective flat surfaces;   each of said strip soil reinforcing elements consisting of a strip wherein all surfaces on said strip are smooth, where the surface of the strip is manipulated forming said cold formed profile using a cold forming process by passing said strip through opposing surfaces of two profile dies imparting said resistance profile on said strip;   said resistance profile includes said plurality of peaks on a first side of said strip and each said peak having said first flat side and an opposite second flat side, and extending between respective at least a first flat section and a second flat section of said strip;   each of said first and said second flat sections extending along said common plane;   a first flat side and a second flat side on opposing sides of said at least one peak member having equal lengths and defining an obtuse medial angle therebetween;   a first obtuse angle defined from said first flat side of each said peak relative to said first flat section and a second obtuse angle defined from said corresponding second flat side of each said peak relative to said second flat section; and   said first obtuse angle and said second obtuse angle being between 160-140 degrees and said obtuse medial angle between said first and said second flat sides is between 120-100 degrees; whereby said resistance profile optimizes a pullout resistance of said strip soil reinforcing member from said mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) structure during a use thereof.   
     
     
         9 . The system, according to  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a plurality of facing panel elements each having a plurality of facing panel ankers each with a corresponding coupling device extending from a respective back face of each said facing panel element and adjustably accepting respective said proximal ends of said plurality of strip soil reinforcing elements and securing respective said strip soil reinforcing element; and   a plurality of soil lifts along said plurality of facing panel elements relative to a base level and a finished grade; and   each said plurality of soil lifts is secured in said mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) structure with a corresponding series of said strip soil reinforcing elements.   
     
     
         10 . The system, according to  claim 9 , wherein:
 each said strip soil reinforcing elements includes, in said plurality of peaks at least a first peak ember and a second peak member; and   said at least first and said second peak members being either both on said first side of said strip or on opposed sides of said strip relative to said common plane.   
     
     
         11 . The system, according to  claim 10 , wherein:
 a length of said first and said second flat sections of each said strip of said plurality of strips is one of uniform and nonuniform between respective said first and said second peak members.   
     
     
         12 . The system, according to  claim 11 , wherein:
 said strip soil reinforcing elements are each selected from one of a carbon steel, stainless steel, an iron alloy, an aluminum alloy, a copper alloy, and a bronze alloy.   
     
     
         13 . A method manufacturing a strip soil reinforcing element using coiled metal comprising the steps of:
 a. placing the coiled metal on an unwinding pedestal and unwinding the coiled metal as a strip;   b. passing the strip through a first straightening station forming an initially straightened strip;   c. passing the initially straightened strip through a cold pressing profiling station and imparting a resistance profile consisting of at least a plurality of cold formed peaks along a surface of said strip;
 wherein said cold pressing profiling station contains a fixed dye and a movable dye each having complementary profiles so that during said step of imparting said resistance profile a final straightened portion is formed between respective said peaks and valleys along said surface of said strip; 
   d. passing the strip through a punch station;   e. passing the strip through a guillotine and cutting said strip to a predetermined length;   f. placing the finished strip in a stack; and   g. banding the finished stack of strips.   
     
     
         14 . The method, according to  claim 13 , wherein:
 said resistance profile includes said plurality of said cold formed peaks on said strip and each said peak having said first flat side and an opposite second flat side, and extending between respective at least a first flat section and a second flat section of said strip;   each of said first and said second flat sections extending along a common plane on said final straightened portions;   a first flat side and a second flat side on opposing sides of said peak members having equal lengths and defining an obtuse medial angle therebetween;   a first obtuse angle defined from said first flat side of each said peak relative to said first flat section and a second obtuse angle defined from said corresponding second flat side of each said peak relative to said second flat section; and   said first obtuse angle and said second obtuse angle being between 160-140 degrees and said obtuse medial angle between said first and said second flat sides is between 120-100 degrees; whereby said resistance profile optimizes a pullout resistance of said strip soil reinforcing member from said mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) structure during a use thereof.