Soil reinforcing systems for use with mechanically stabilized earth structures

Abstract

An improved soil reinforcing system for use with mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) structures includes a crimped reinforcement element fabricated with a series of crimps and linear portions that may be regularly or irregularly spaced. An anchor connector is positioned at the end thereof and contains anchor contact zones for resistance welding fixing the anchor connector to the end of the crimped reinforcement element. The anchor connectors are formed of bent wire materials with continuous or a series of contact zones or adaptively a shortened plate form with a series of contact zones. The anchor connectors are resistance welded to the end of the reinforcement element and form a unitary soil reinforcing system thereby.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An improved soil reinforcing system for a mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) structure, comprising:
 a first crimped metal reinforcement element having an element end, further comprising:
 a substantially circular cross-section that is selected from the group of round and oval; 
 a plurality of first plane crimps oriented along a common first plane; 
 a plurality of linear portions spacing respective first plane crimps with respective crimp spacings; and 
 said respective crimp spacings are regular or irregular crimp spaces; 
   a metal connecting anchor of unitary construction forming a unitary member having spaced apart anchor ends defining an anchor opening shaped to receive said element end along one of a continuous contact zone or a plurality of regular contact zones; and   a resistance weld connection at each respective contact zone whereby said connecting anchor and said reinforcement element form a unitary continuous metal improved soil reinforcing system.   
     
     
         2 . The improved soil reinforcing system, according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 said metal connecting anchor is selected from the group of a bent wire form and a plate form; and   said metal connecting anchor spaced apart anchor ends are dimensioned at respective said anchor opening to be in physical contact with an outer surface of said element end of said first crimped metal reinforcement element.   
     
     
         3 . The improved soil reinforcing system, according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 said first crimped metal reinforcement element further comprises:
 a plurality of second plane crimps orientated along a common second plane; 
 said common second plane is oriented orthogonally to said common first plane; and 
 said plurality of linear portions space respective second plane crimps from respective first plane crimps by said crimp spacings, whereby said first plane crimps and said second plane crimps are spaced from each other by said regular or irregular crimp spacings. 
   
     
     
         4 . The improved soil reinforcing system, according to  claim 3 , wherein:
 said metal connecting anchor is a plate form with said paced apart anchor ends; and   a plurality of spaced apart anchor ends having a plurality of contact teeth members contacting said element end whereby said resistance well connection in said respective contact zone is improved.