MECHANICALLY STABILIZED EARTH (MSE) RETAINING WALL EMPLOYING REINFORCEMENT RODS

Abstract

Disclosed are embodiments of a mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) retaining wall that employs one or more reinforcement rods and that can be produced with inexpensive, widely available parts. A concrete panel is provided. A steel embed is provided with a loop and with first and second outwardly extending stems. The loop is secured within the concrete panel. A steel reinforcement rod is provided within backfill soil. A connector plate is welded at one end to the rod and is secured at another end to the stems via a fastener, such as a bolt and nut.

Claims

1. A mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) retaining wall, the wall comprising: a concrete panel, the panel having a generally planar body with a frontside, a backside, and a surrounding peripheral edge; a steel embed having first and second parts, the first part residing and secured within the concrete panel, the second part extending outwardly from the backside, the second part having an aperture; a steel reinforcement rod, the rod having a generally cylindrical elongated body with first and second ends, the first end residing within backfill soil; a steel connector plate having a generally flat elongated body with first and second opposing surfaces extending between first and second ends, the plate having an aperture in the first end, the plate aperture being aligned with the connector aperture, the second end being secured to the second end of the reinforcement rod; and a steel fastener extending through the apertures to thereby secure together the connector plate and the embed.

2. The wall of claim 1, wherein the fastener is a steel threaded bolt having a generally cylindrical elongated body with first and second ends, the first end having a bolt head, the second end having a steel bolt nut that is threaded thereon.

3. The wall of claim 1, wherein the steel reinforcement rod comprises a plurality of raised ribs along its elongated body.

4. The wall of claim 3, wherein the steel reinforcement rod is rebar.

5. The wall of claim 1, wherein the connector plate is welded to the reinforcement rod.

6. The wall of claim 1, wherein the embed aperture has a central axis that extends generally parallel to the backside of the panel.

7. The wall of claim 1, wherein the first part of the embed is a steel loop and the second part comprises first and second stems secured to and extending in a linear manner outwardly from the steel loop, each of the stems having opposing first and second generally flat sides extending between first and second edges and having first and second apertures, the first side of the first stem being contiguous with the second side of the second stem, the apertures being substantially aligned to create the aperture.

8. The wall of claim 1, wherein the flat elongated body of the connector plate has three regions, a first region having a first width, a second region having a second width that is greater than the first width of the first region, and a third region having a third width that is greater than the second width of the second region, and wherein the connector plate aperture resides within the third region.

9. A system for connecting a concrete panel associated with a mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) retaining wall with a steel reinforcement rod that extends into backfill soil, the system comprising: a steel embed having first and second parts, the first part residing and secured within the concrete panel, the second part extending outwardly from the backside, the second part having an aperture; a steel connector plate having a generally flat elongated body with first and second opposing surfaces extending between first and second ends, the plate having an aperture in the first end, the plate aperture being aligned with the embed aperture, the second end being secured to the reinforcement rod; and a steel fastener extending through the apertures to thereby secure together the connector plate and the embed.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the fastener is a steel threaded bolt having a generally cylindrical elongated body with first and second ends, the first end having a bolt head, the second end having a steel bolt nut that is threaded thereon.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the steel reinforcement rod comprises a plurality of raised ribs along its elongated body.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the steel reinforcement rod is rebar.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the connector plate is welded to the reinforcement rod.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the embed aperture has a central axis that extends generally parallel to the backside of the panel.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein the first part of the embed is a steel loop and the second part comprises first and second stems secured to and extending in a linear manner outwardly from the steel loop, each of the stems having opposing first and second generally flat sides extending between first and second edges and having first and second apertures, the first side of the first stem being contiguous with the second side of the second stem, the apertures being substantially aligned to create the aperture.

16. The system of claim 9, wherein the flat elongated body of the connector plate has three regions, a first region having a first width, a second region having a second width that is greater than the first width of the first region, and a third region having a third width that is greater than the second width of the second region, and wherein the connector plate aperture resides within the third region.

17. A mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) retaining wall comprising the system of claim 9.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] Many aspects of the disclosure can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The dimensions indicated in some of the figures are associated with a nonlimiting examples of an embodiment.

[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) retaining wall employing one or more wall panels and one or more reinforcement rods in accordance with the present invention.

[0012] FIG. 2 is a side cross sectional view of the wall of FIG. 1.

[0013] FIG. 3A is a side view of a widely available embed of FIG. 1 designed to attach a wall panel of the wall to a reinforcement rod.

[0014] FIG. 3B is a top view of the embed of FIG. 3A.

[0015] FIG. 4 is s side view of the connection system of the present disclosure.

[0016] FIG. 5 is a view of the connector plate of FIG. 4.

[0017] FIG. 6 is a view of the manufacturing layout for the connector plate of FIG. 5, showing how numerous plates can be made in an inexpensive manner from a flat piece of steel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0018] FIGS. 1 and 2 show a mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) retaining wall 10 employing one or more modular concrete wall panels 12 and one or more elongated cylindrical steel reinforcement rods 14 in accordance with the present invention. The wall 10 can be produced with inexpensive, widely available parts and will have a lifespan of at least one hundred years, as is required by regulations in most governmental jurisdictions.

[0019] As illustrated, the concrete wall panel 12 has a generally planar body with a frontside, a backside, and a surrounding peripheral edge.

[0020] The reinforcement rod 14 has a longitudinal body with first and second ends with the first end residing within the backfill soil and the second end being secured within a wall panel 12. The second end is secured within the wall panel 12 when the wall panel 12 is cast, or formed. Although not required, each rod 14 preferably comprises raised ribs along its longitudinal body. In the preferred embodiment, each rod 14 is standard rebar, which is inexpensive and widely available.

[0021] As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, a steel embed 16 is used to connect the panel 12 to a reinforcement rod 14. Each embed 16 has interconnected first and second parts 16a, 16b. The first part 16a is secured to and within the concrete panel 12. The second part 16b extends outwardly from the backside of the wall panel 12. The second part 16b has an aperture 18, which is preferably although not necessarily circular. The aperture 18 has a central axis that extends generally parallel to the backside of the panel 12.

[0022] In the preferred embodiment, the first part 16a of the embed 16 is a triangular-shaped steel loop 19, and the second part 16b comprises first and second stems 21a, 21b secured to and extending in a linear manner outwardly from the steel loop 19. Each of the stems 21a, 21b has opposing first and second generally flat sides extending between first and second edges and having the circular aperture 18. The first side of the first stem 21a being contiguous with the second side of the second stem 21b. Moreover, the circular apertures 18 of the stems 21a, 21b are substantially aligned with each other. Furthermore, because the first and second stems 21a, 21b a contiguous (with no separation), no concrete gets in between them when concrete is poured to cast the panel 12.

[0023] In this preferred embodiment, the loop 19 and stems 21a, 21b are formed from a singular elongated steel plate having opposing first and second generally flat sides extending between left and right edges and first and second ends, the loop being triangular in shape, the first and second stems formed by respective longitudinal parts near the first and second ends of the steel plate. The widely available embed 16 is machine produced in mass and readily available for flat plate steel strips and/or welded wire mesh, which are commonly used with MSE wall structures. The current invention involves the unique method of attaching the common, machine produced embed to an unconventional round reinforcement rod 14.

[0024] FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate a connection system 32 of the present disclosure. The connection system 32 is designed to secure together the embed 16 and the reinforcement rod 14. The connection system 32 includes a connector plate 34 having a generally flat elongated body with first and second opposing, generally parallel, surfaces extending between first and second ends 34a, 34b. The elongated body is a suitable width for the strength requirements. The flat elongated body of the connector plate 34 has three regions: a first region 35a having a first width, a second region 35b having a second width that is greater than the first width of the first region 35a, and a third region 35c having a third width that is greater than the second width of the second regio 35bn.

[0025] The connector plate 34 has an aperture 36 in the third region 35c at or near the first end 34a. The aperture 36 is preferably although not necessarily circular. The plate aperture 36 is generally aligned with the connector aperture 18. The second end 34b of the plate 34 is secured to the end of the reinforcement rod 14, preferably although not necessarily via a weldment.

[0026] A fastener 36 extends through the apertures 18, 36 to thereby secure together the connector plate 34 and the embed 16. In the preferred embodiment, the fastener 36 is a threaded steel bolt with a threaded elongated body, a head, and a distal end that receives a threaded steel nut 38.

[0027] FIG. 6 is a view that shows how many plates 34 can be produced in an inexpensive manner from a flat sheet of steel. In the preferred embodiment, the steel sheet is inch in thickness, and the plates 34 are cut using a plasma cutter. As is clear from the layout 42 of the plates 34 in FIG. 5, use of the steel is maximized with little waste. The three different width regions 35a, 35b, 35c enables this efficient layout 42.

[0028] Finally, it should be emphasized that the above-described embodiment(s) of the present invention is merely a possible nonlimiting example of an implementation, merely set forth for a clear understanding of the principles of the invention. Many variations and modifications may be made to the above-described embodiment(s) of the invention without departing substantially from the spirit and principles of the invention. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of this disclosure and the present invention.

[0029] As an example of an alternative embodiment, the apertures 18 and 36 could be octagonal, square, etc.

[0030] As another example of an alternative embodiment, the embed 16 may have only a single stem extending from the loop 19.

[0031] As yet another example of an alternative embodiment, the loop 19 of the embed 16 could have a different shape, for example, T-shaped, circular, irregular, partial loop, linear, non-symmetrical, etc.