Mechanically stabilized earth (mse) retaining wall employing geosynthetic strip with plastic pipe(s) around steel rod

Abstract

Disclosed are various embodiments of a mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) retaining wall that employ, for reinforcement, a geosynthetic strip that attaches to the MSE retaining wall and extends into the backfill soil. In one embodiment, the MSE retaining wall has at least one concrete panel. The panel has a cavity extending from the backside into the body for receiving a flexible, generally flat, geosynthetic strip. The panel has a plastic pipe (or first cylindrical body) that is situated within the body of the panel in a position so that the plastic pipe is generally horizontal from a front elevation view vantage point of the panel and is generally parallel with the backside of the panel from a top view vantage point of the panel. The plastic pipe extends through the cavity and its ends reside within the concrete panel. The MSE retaining wall further includes a steel rod situated inside of the plastic pipe. The geosynthetic strip extends from backfill soil adjacent to the backside of the panel, into the cavity of the panel, around the elongated body of the plastic pipe, out of the cavity, and into the backfill soil. In another embodiment of the MSE retaining wall, an end of the geosynthetic strip is bound to the panel with a double compression loop arrangement that utilizes an additional solid second plastic rod (or second cylindrical body).

At least the following is claimed: 
     
         1 . A mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) retaining wall, comprising:
 at least one concrete panel, the panel having a generally planar body with a frontside, a backside, and a surrounding peripheral edge, the panel having a cavity extending from the backside into the body;   a plastic pipe having an elongated body extending between first and second ends, the plastic pipe situated within the body of the panel in a position so that the elongated body of the pipe is generally horizontal from a front elevation view vantage point of the panel and is generally parallel with the backside of the panel from a top view vantage point of the panel, the elongated body extending through the cavity, the first and second ends residing within the concrete panel;   a steel rod having an elongated body extending between first and second ends, the rod situated inside of the pipe;   a flexible, generally flat, geosynthetic strip extending from backfill soil adjacent to the backside of the panel, into the cavity of the panel, around the elongated body of the plastic pipe, out of the cavity, and into the backfill soil.   
     
     
         2 . The wall of  claim 1 , wherein the steel rod is rebar. 
     
     
         3 . The wall of  claim 1 , wherein the plastic pipe made of PVC. 
     
     
         4 . The wall of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of the concrete panels, the plurality including the at least one concrete panel. 
     
     
         5 . The wall of  claim 1 , wherein an end associated with the cavity in the panel is U-shaped from a side view vantage point of the panel, in order to permit easy passage of the geosynthetic strip around the plastic pipe during installation of the geosynthetic strip. 
     
     
         6 . The wall of  claim 1 , further comprising a cylindrical body having an elongated body extending between first and second ends, the second cylindrical body situated within the cavity of the panel in a position so that the elongated body of the cylindrical body is generally horizontal from the front elevation vantage point of the panel and is generally parallel with the backside of the panel as well as the plastic pipe from the top view vantage point of the panel, and wherein the geosynthetic strip extends past the underside of the cylindrical body prior to extending around the elongated body of the plastic pipe, and wherein the strip extends, prior to extending out of the cavity, clockwise around the cylindrical body, then counterclockwise around the plastic pipe thereby being bound under a part of the strip already around the plastic pipe, and then past the underside of the cylindrical body thereby being bound under a part of the strip already around the cylindrical body. 
     
     
         7 . A mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) retaining wall, comprising:
 at least one concrete panel, the panel having a generally planar body with a frontside, a backside, and a surrounding peripheral edge, the panel having a cavity extending from the backside into the body;   a first cylindrical body, the first cylindrical body being a first plastic pipe, the first plastic pipe having an elongated body extending between first and second ends, the pipe situated with the body of the panel in a position so that the elongated body of the pipe is generally horizontal from a front elevation vantage point of the panel and is generally parallel with the backside of the panel from a top view vantage point of the panel, the elongated body extending through the cavity, the first and second ends residing within the concrete panel;   a steel rod having an elongated body extending between first and second ends, the rod situated inside of the pipe;
 a second cylindrical body having an elongated body extending between first and second ends, the second cylindrical body situated within the cavity of the panel in a position so that the elongated body of the second cylindrical body is generally horizontal from the front elevation vantage point of the panel and is generally parallel with the backside of the panel as well as the first cylindrical body from the top view vantage point of the panel; and 
 a flexible, generally flat, geosynthetic strip extending from backfill soil adjacent to the backside of the panel, the strip extending into the cavity past the underside of second cylindrical body, then clockwise around the first cylindrical body, then clockwise around second cylindrical body, then counterclockwise around the first cylindrical body thereby being bound under a part of the strip already around the first cylindrical body, and then past the underside of second cylindrical body thereby being bound under a part of the strip already around second cylindrical body. 
   
     
     
         8 . The wall of  claim 7 , wherein the steel rod is rebar. 
     
     
         9 . The wall of  claim 7 , wherein the plastic pipe made of PVC. 
     
     
         10 . The wall of  claim 7 , further comprising a plurality of the concrete panels, the plurality including the at least one concrete panel. 
     
     
         11 . The wall of  claim 7 , wherein an end associated with the cavity in the panel is U-shaped from a side view vantage point of the panel, in order to permit easy passage of the strip around the plastic pipe during installation of the strip. 
     
     
         12 . The wall of  claim 7 , wherein the second cylindrical body is a solid plastic rod without a throughway.