Retaining wall system

Abstract

A retaining wall system, retaining wall panel, and method of constructing a retaining wall, wherein panels of the retaining wall may define an arched or curved profile in plan view, for example following a catenary curvature, with the wall panel curvature being concave in a direction extending into the backfill area behind the retaining wall. The curvature resists backfill loading on the panel and evenly distributes the load across the panel without significant stress concentrations and transfers the load to posts or columns to which the panels are mounted. A wall panel having a post attachment flange on one side for attachment to one post, and a post surround channel on the other side for at least partially surrounding another post. The system may optionally include one or more composite polymeric posts for supporting the panels.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A wall panel comprising:
 a central body portion;   a first side comprising a post attachment flange extending at an angle relative to a main directional plane of the wall panel, and configured to align with and attach to a first support post; and   a second side comprising a post surround channel having a proximal portion, a medial portion and a distal portion, and configured to at least partially surround and engage with a second support post spaced a distance from the first support post.   
     
     
         2 . The wall panel of  claim 1 , wherein the central body portion comprises a curved profile. 
     
     
         3 . The wall panel of  claim 2 , wherein the curved profile comprises a catenary curve. 
     
     
         4 . The wall panel of  claim 2 , wherein the curved profile defines a curvature corresponding to the formula 
       
         
           
             
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         5 . The retaining wall system of  claim 4 , wherein the constants C 1 , C 2 , and C 3  are all the same. 
     
     
         6 . The retaining wall system of  claim 4 , wherein the constants C 1 , C 2 , and C 3  are all different. 
     
     
         7 . The retaining wall system of  claim 4 , wherein two of the constants C 1 , C 2 , and C 3  are the same. 
     
     
         8 . The wall panel of  claim 1 , comprising a material of construction selected from the group comprising plastic, thermoset composite, fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP), vinyl, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), steel, aluminum, other metals, composites, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The wall panel of  claim 1 , wherein the post attachment flange extends at an oblique or right angle relative to the main directional plane of the wall panel. 
     
     
         10 . The wall panel of  claim 1 , wherein the post surround channel defines a generally square or rectangular cross-sectional channel profile configured to at least partially surround and engage with a square or rectangular-sectioned second support post. 
     
     
         11 . The wall panel of  claim 10 , wherein a spacing of about 3.75″ is provided between the proximal portion and the distal portion of the post-surround channel. 
     
     
         12 . The wall panel of  claim 10 , wherein a spacing of about 6″ is provided between the proximal portion and the distal portion of the post-surround channel. 
     
     
         13 . The wall panel of  claim 1 , wherein the central body portion, the post attachment flange, and the post surround channel comprise a unitary body. 
     
     
         14 . The wall panel of  claim 1 , in combination with first and second support posts to comprise a wall system. 
     
     
         15 . A retaining wall system comprising:
 a plurality of support posts arranged in a spaced array; and   at least one wall panel configured for engagement between a first support post of the plurality of support posts and an adjacent second support post of the plurality of support posts, a first side of the at least one wall panel comprising a post attachment flange configured for attachment to the first support post, and the second side of the at least one wall panel comprising a post surround channel configured for attachment to the second support post.   
     
     
         16 . The retaining wall system of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one wall panel further comprises a central body portion having a curved profile. 
     
     
         17 . The retaining wall system of  claim 16 , wherein the curved profile comprises a catenary curve. 
     
     
         18 . The retaining wall system of  claim 16 , wherein the curved profile defines a curvature corresponding to the formula 
       
         
           
             
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         19 . The retaining wall system of  claim 15 , wherein the post attachment flange extends at an oblique or right angle relative to a main directional plane of the wall panel. 
     
     
         20 . The retaining wall system of  claim 15 , wherein the post surround channel defines a generally square or rectangular cross-sectional channel profile. 
     
     
         21 . The retaining wall system of  claim 15 , wherein the post surround channel comprises a proximal portion, a medial portion and a distal portion, and is configured to at least partially surround and engage with the second support post. 
     
     
         22 . The retaining wall system of  claim 21 , wherein a spacing of about 3.75″ is provided between the proximal portion and the distal portion of the post-surround channel. 
     
     
         23 . The retaining wall system of  claim 21 , wherein a spacing of about 6″ is provided between the proximal portion and the distal portion of the post-surround channel. 
     
     
         24 . The retaining wall system of  claim 15 , comprising a terraced retaining wall system comprising a lower elevational level retaining wall portion and an upper elevational level retaining wall portion. 
     
     
         25 . A retaining wall system comprising:
 a plurality of support posts arranged in a spaced array and comprising at least a first support post and a second support post; and   at least one wall panel configured for engagement between the first support post and the second support post, and wherein the at least one wall panel comprises:   a central body portion having a catenary curved profile;   a first side comprising a post attachment flange extending at an angle from the central body portion and configured for attachment to the first support post;   a second side comprising a post surround channel configured to at least partially surround and engage with the second support post.   
     
     
         26 . A composite polymeric post for a retaining wall system, the post comprising a polymeric external portion and an internal portion comprising one or more of a wood-based core, a mineral-filled core, a hollow core, a solid core, and/or one or more stiffening rods extending through at least a portion of a length of the post.