A metal fin tube foundation includes a pair of coupled metal plates, each plate being comprised of a plurality of flat panels, wherein each panel is positioned at an angle relative to an adjacent panel, and each plate including a fin on each lateral end of each plate, wherein each fin overlaps a fin of the other metal plate forming two pairs of overlapped fins, wherein the plates are coupled along each of the two pairs of overlapped fins; wherein the plurality of panels of the coupled two metal plates form a closed perimeter polygon shape having an open interior and wherein each pair of overlapped fins form a combined fin element which extends away from the perimeter of the polygon.

A sheet pile retaining wall system employing corrugated sheet piles not requiring temporary shoring to be used when widening and/or stabilization of existing highway embankment. The wall system provides a front face wall having a plurality of resistance fins perpendicularly extending therefrom via three-way connectors. The fin sheet piles first include a brace fin sheet for reducing stresses in the front face wall, then a series of additional resistance fin sheets terminating at an elevation below the face wall for accommodating a pipe drainage/utility cradle. Between the slope of the existing embankment, a temporary excavation bench, an excavation backslope, and the higher front face wall is reinforced concrete backfill for pre-stressing the wall system when fluidand, when set, optionally engaging supplementary structural features within the set concrete backfill such as dowels/tie down anchors.

A retaining wall block generally comprises a block body having a front face with a plurality of support legs extending rearward therefrom, opposed first and second side surfaces, and opposed and substantially parallel upper and lower surfaces. A preferred leg spacing of side support legs allows the side legs of each successive course of blocks to rest on the side legs of the prior-laid rows, while allowing the center legs to float freely. The free-floating center leg may allow attachment of additional stabilization means to the center leg without preventing the blocks from resting directly on the course below.

A soil retaining system combining flat sheet pile walls in an open cell configuration includes integral soil anchors providing an improved earth retaining system. Another aspect of the invention is a method of designing and installing a soil retaining system with an open sheet pile cell structure having integral soil anchors. The method includes, inter alia, calculating soil forces by taking into account material strength of sheet pile, soil friction against the sheet pile in combination with the strength of the integral soil anchor, selecting sheet pile size and length based on soil forces calculation; and installation of sheet pile to form a soil retaining system. The integral soil anchors serve to provide higher load resistance to the improved earth retaining system.

A soil retaining system combining flat sheet pile walls in an open cell configuration includes integral soil anchors providing an improved earth retaining system. Another aspect of the invention is a method of designing and installing a soil retaining system with an open sheet pile cell structure having integral soil anchors. The method includes, inter alia, calculating soil forces by taking into account material strength of sheet pile, soil friction against the sheet pile in combination with the strength of the integral soil anchor, selecting sheet pile size and length based on soil forces calculation; and installation of sheet pile to form a soil retaining system. The integral soil anchors serve to provide higher load resistance to the improved earth retaining system.

Embodiments of the disclosure are directed to cellular sheet pile retaining wall systems with unconnected tail walls, and associated methods of use and manufacture. In one embodiment, a retaining system includes a face wall having a plurality of interconnected face wall sheet piles. The individual face wall sheet piles have a first length and extend a first depth into soil, and the face wall sheet piles form an exterior surface facing an exterior environment. The system also includes a tail wall including a plurality of interconnected tail wall sheet piles extending from the face wall away from the exterior environment. The individual tail wall sheet piles have a second length greater than the first length, and the individual tail sheet wall piles extend a second depth into the soil that is greater than the first depth.

Embodiments of the disclosure are directed to cellular sheet pile retaining wall systems with unconnected tail walls, and associated methods of use and manufacture. In one embodiment, a retaining system includes a face wall having a plurality of interconnected face wall sheet piles. The individual face wall sheet piles have a first length and extend a first depth into soil, and the face wall sheet piles form an exterior surface facing an exterior environment. The system also includes a tail wall including a plurality of interconnected tail wall sheet piles extending from the face wall away from the exterior environment. The individual tail wall sheet piles have a second length greater than the first length, and the individual tail sheet wall piles extend a second depth into the soil that is greater than the first depth.

A system and method to create or elevate a berm of a liquid retention facility by placement of lightweight liquid impervious. The system and method can also be used to elevate the liquid retention height of the berm in combination with impervious liner retention material. By constructing the berm system on an existing levee, the effective height of the levee can be increased. The lightweight fill material provides the shape of the berm or levee extension. The liquid impervious liner material provides a watertight surface, the media for joining of the lightweight fill material, and the anchoring of the lightweight fill material to the existing berm or levee structure. The system may use solid wall hollow body structures to elevate the berm. The system may also use lightweight frames to support the vertical elevation of a liner above the berm.

A system that includes a plurality of front faces configured to be arranged end-to-end in a series. Adjacent front faces are connected together by a different X-shaped or X-wye connector that facilitates installation of reinforcement tail walls. At least one tail wall is connected to each connector. A redundant reinforcing tail wall may be constructed and attached to one of the connectors to provide alternative load path(s).

A system for and method of stabilizing slopes and embankments using one or more soil load transfer elements are disclosed. The present subject matter provides for an efficient method and apparatus for stabilizing shallow landslides and slope instabilities for failing and near-failing soil masses that are underlain by soil materials. The system may include a plurality of load transfer plates affixed to a pile or load transfer section in varying configurations. In one embodiment, one or more upper load transfer plates are preferably used to capture the downslope-moving soil mass and transfer the applied loads to the intermediary pile section. In another embodiment, a plurality of upper load transfer plates can be used to transfer applied loads to a lower pile section.