Foam retaining wall systems

Abstract

Disclosed are light weight foam retaining wall systems configured to mitigate or eliminate material creep by reducing strain exhibited in vertical elements of the system to no more than about 1.5%, or no more than about 1.0%. The retaining wall system may comprise a vertical element, a buttress element arranged at a lower end of the vertical element, and a tieback element arranged at a lower end of the buttress element. The buttress element may include an interior angled face configured to reduce the strain exhibited at the vertical element. The tieback element may extend inwardly relative to a retaining wall face of the vertical element and may be configured to support a load from fill material to counteract a lateral force from the fill material acting on the vertical elements. Also disclosed are methods of installing such a retaining wall system.

1 . A retaining wall system comprising:
 a vertical element having a thickness;   a buttress element arranged at a lower end of the vertical element, the buttress element including an interior curved or angled face; and   a tieback element arranged at a lower end of the buttress element, the tieback element extending inwardly relative to a retaining wall face associated with a front face of the vertical element and the buttress element.   
     
     
         2 . The retaining wall system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein an upper surface of the tieback element comprises or is shaped to receive a drainpipe. 
     
     
         3 . The retaining wall system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the vertical element, the buttress element, or the tieback element further include one or more furring strip slots formed therein, adjacent the front face of the retaining wall system, for receipt of a furring strip to facilitate attachment of a decorative veneer over the front face. 
     
     
         4 . The retaining wall system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the retaining wall system provides a strain that does not exceed about 1.5%, or about 1.0%. 
     
     
         5 . The retaining wall system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the interior curved or angled face of the buttress element:
 includes a concavely curved interior face defining an angle between an interior face of the vertical element and a upper surface of the tieback element that is from about 30 degrees to about 60 degrees; or   includes an angled face defining an angle from about 30 degrees to about 60 degrees.   
     
     
         6 . The retaining wall system as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a wedge element positioned above the vertical element, the wedge element including a wedge shaped structure with an angled face that is angled opposite that of the interior curved or angled face of the buttress, the angled face of the wedge element being configured to put soil backfilling the retaining wall system at an angle of friction for such soil. 
     
     
         7 . The retaining wall system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the interior curved or angled face of the buttress element and/or a length of the tieback element is configured to ensure that a strain associated with the retaining wall system does not exceed about 1.5%. 
     
     
         8 . The retaining wall system as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising an additional foam block positioned under the buttress element and/or the tieback element, with a front face that is aligned with the front face of the vertical element and the buttress element, so as to extend a height of the retaining wall system. 
     
     
         9 . The retaining wall system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the retaining wall system comprises a first set of vertical elements, buttress elements and tieback elements, and a second set of vertical elements, buttress elements, and tieback elements, the first and second sets being arranged in a stepped or terraced configuration to increase an overall height of the retaining wall system. 
     
     
         10 . The retaining wall system as recited in  claim 9 , where at least one of the first or second sets further comprises an additional foam block positioned under the buttress element and/or the tieback element of the first and/or second set, with a front face of such additional foam block being is aligned with the front face of the vertical element and the buttress element under which it is positioned, so as to extend a height of the first or second set under which it is positioned. 
     
     
         11 . A round retaining wall system comprising:
 a plurality of vertical elements each having a thickness;   wherein the round retaining wall system forms a curved closed interior space, such that all vertical elements of the round retaining wall system are in compression when soil is loaded around an exterior of the round retaining wall system, such that no buttress or tieback element is required.   
     
     
         12 . The retaining wall system as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the round retaining wall system is circular. 
     
     
         13 . The round retaining wall system of  claim 11 , wherein the vertical elements are connected by dovetailed joints. 
     
     
         14 . A method for installing a retaining wall system, the method comprising:
 providing a gravel base;   positioning a first base block on the gravel base, the first base block including at least a tieback element, a buttress element, and a vertical element, wherein the buttress element is arranged at a lower end of the vertical element, the buttress element including an interior curved or angled face, and wherein the tieback element is arranged at a lower end of the buttress element, the tieback element extending inwardly relative to a retaining wall face associated with a front face of the vertical element, and the buttress element;   positioning one or more additional base blocks adjacent to the first base block on the gravel base; and   backfilling fill material over the tieback element and over the interior curved or angled face of the buttress element.   
     
     
         15 . The method as recited in  claim 14 , wherein one or more of such base blocks are corner base blocks. 
     
     
         16 . The method as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the base block includes a channel formed therein to accommodate placement of a drainpipe, the method further comprising positioning a drainpipe within the channel. 
     
     
         17 . The method as recited in  claim 16 , wherein backfilling comprises backfilling an interior portion with gravel to form a gravel layer over the drainpipe. 
     
     
         18 . The method as recited in  claim 17 , further comprising positioning a filter fabric over the gravel to protect the gravel layer from soil infiltration. 
     
     
         19 . The method as recited in  claim 14 , wherein backfilling further comprises filling a remainder of an interior portion relative to the retaining wall system with soil. 
     
     
         20 . The method as recited in  claim 14 , further comprising attaching a decorative cap over an upper surface of the vertical element. 
     
     
         21 . The method as recited in  claim 14 , further comprising attaching a decorative veneer to a front face defined by the base block. 
     
     
         22 . The method as recited in  claim 21 , the method further comprising nailing or screwing the decorative veneer to the front face using an internal wood or other furring strip inserted previously into the base blocks. 
     
     
         23 . A method for installing a retaining wall system, the method comprising:
 providing a gravel base;   positioning a first base block on the gravel base, the first base block including a tieback element and a buttress element;   positioning one or more additional base blocks adjacent to the first base block on the gravel base;   optionally applying an adhesive over an upper surface of the positioned base blocks; and   positioning one or more sidewall block elements over base blocks, where such sidewall blocks form a vertical element of the retaining wall system.