CA2518571A1 - Sandbag retaining walls adapted for plant growth - Google Patents
Sandbag retaining walls adapted for plant growth Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2518571A1 CA2518571A1 CA002518571A CA2518571A CA2518571A1 CA 2518571 A1 CA2518571 A1 CA 2518571A1 CA 002518571 A CA002518571 A CA 002518571A CA 2518571 A CA2518571 A CA 2518571A CA 2518571 A1 CA2518571 A1 CA 2518571A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- sandbag
- wall
- fill material
- sandbags
- bag
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Classifications
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
- E02B—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING
- E02B3/00—Engineering works in connection with control or use of streams, rivers, coasts, or other marine sites; Sealings or joints for engineering works in general
- E02B3/04—Structures or apparatus for, or methods of, protecting banks, coasts, or harbours
- E02B3/12—Revetment of banks, dams, watercourses, or the like, e.g. the sea-floor
- E02B3/122—Flexible prefabricated covering elements, e.g. mats, strips
- E02B3/127—Flexible prefabricated covering elements, e.g. mats, strips bags filled at the side
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
- E02B—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING
- E02B3/00—Engineering works in connection with control or use of streams, rivers, coasts, or other marine sites; Sealings or joints for engineering works in general
- E02B3/04—Structures or apparatus for, or methods of, protecting banks, coasts, or harbours
- E02B3/12—Revetment of banks, dams, watercourses, or the like, e.g. the sea-floor
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
- E02D—FOUNDATIONS; EXCAVATIONS; EMBANKMENTS; UNDERGROUND OR UNDERWATER STRUCTURES
- E02D29/00—Independent underground or underwater structures; Retaining walls
- E02D29/02—Retaining or protecting walls
- E02D29/0258—Retaining or protecting walls characterised by constructional features
- E02D29/0291—Retaining or protecting walls characterised by constructional features made up of filled, bag-like elements
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Civil Engineering (AREA)
- Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
- Structural Engineering (AREA)
- Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
- Paleontology (AREA)
- Revetment (AREA)
- Pit Excavations, Shoring, Fill Or Stabilisation Of Slopes (AREA)
Abstract
The sandbag for use in constructing retaining walls having a vegetation-covered wall face. The sandbag contains soil mixed with seeds as a first fill material at one end of the bag, and the remainder of the bag is filled with a cheaper fill material such as sand or gravel. The sandbags are arranged in a sandbag wall such that the ends of the bags having the soil and seed mixture forms at least part of the outer face of the wall.
Description
SANDBAG RETAINING WALLS ADAPTED
FOR PLANT GROWTH
Technical Field The invention pertains to sandbag wall systems for use in erosion control, flood protection, coastal protection, slope stabilization and similar applications, and to improved bags and walls.
Background of the Invention In the art of erosion control, flood protection, coastal protection, slope stabilization and the like, it is known to build strong and effective retaining walls made with sandbags, preferably using interconnecting members to connect the bags together and stabilize the wall. See, for example, International patent publication WO 00/61880 (Kim) dated October 19, 2000. It is often desirable to grow vegetation on the face of a sandbag retaining wall, both for aesthetic reasons and to provide additional protection to the wall face. This can be done by using soil mixed with grass seed or other plant seeds as a fill material. The bags are made of geotextile or other material which permits plants to grow out through the bag walls. As the seeds in the filled bags germinate and plants grow out through the bag walls, the wall face acquires a cover of vegetation.
Soil of a quality sufficient to facilitate the growth of an adequate vegetation cover, mixed with seeds, is a relatively expensive fill material 2S for use in sandbags. It would be desirable to reduce the cost while still being able to grow a vegetation cover on sandbag walls.
Summary of the Invention The invention is based on the principle that it is possible to grow vegetation on a sandbag wall by using sandbags that are not completely filled with soil, but have soil as a fill material at one end of the bag, while the rest of the bag is filled with other, cheaper, fill materials.
FOR PLANT GROWTH
Technical Field The invention pertains to sandbag wall systems for use in erosion control, flood protection, coastal protection, slope stabilization and similar applications, and to improved bags and walls.
Background of the Invention In the art of erosion control, flood protection, coastal protection, slope stabilization and the like, it is known to build strong and effective retaining walls made with sandbags, preferably using interconnecting members to connect the bags together and stabilize the wall. See, for example, International patent publication WO 00/61880 (Kim) dated October 19, 2000. It is often desirable to grow vegetation on the face of a sandbag retaining wall, both for aesthetic reasons and to provide additional protection to the wall face. This can be done by using soil mixed with grass seed or other plant seeds as a fill material. The bags are made of geotextile or other material which permits plants to grow out through the bag walls. As the seeds in the filled bags germinate and plants grow out through the bag walls, the wall face acquires a cover of vegetation.
Soil of a quality sufficient to facilitate the growth of an adequate vegetation cover, mixed with seeds, is a relatively expensive fill material 2S for use in sandbags. It would be desirable to reduce the cost while still being able to grow a vegetation cover on sandbag walls.
Summary of the Invention The invention is based on the principle that it is possible to grow vegetation on a sandbag wall by using sandbags that are not completely filled with soil, but have soil as a fill material at one end of the bag, while the rest of the bag is filled with other, cheaper, fill materials.
The invention provides a sandbag for use in the construction of sandbag walls. The bag has a bag wall, a first end and a second end and the sandbag is filled with two or more types of fill material, a first type of fill material, preferably soil mixed with plant seeds, being at the first end of the bag and a second type of fill material being spaced from the first end.
The invention also provides sandbag walls comprising multiple courses of such sandbags. The sandbags are arranged such that the ends that contain the soil form at least part of the outer face of the wall.
In this specification "fill material" means any material that is suitable for use in bags in the construction of walls, including sand, soil, gravel, dry mix concrete (which hardens after wetting and curing) and mixtures thereof, including fill material with seeds for vegetation. The term "sandbag" as used herein means a bag containing any "fill material".
For further clarity, the term is not limited to a bag in which the fill material is sand. The term "soil" includes any solid materials that are suitable for use in sandbags to support the growth of plants from seeds mixed therewith. The term "wall" as used herein in relation to structures made of sandbags includes any array of sandbags that is suitable for the purpose of erosion control (for example along shorelines, riverbanks, etc.), flood control, retaining or stabilizing slopes or embankments, noise barriers, landscaping, and for similar applications.
Brief Description of Drawing-s Figure 1 is a perspective view of a sandbag according to an embodiment of the invention.
Figure 2 is a perspective view of one course of sandbags of a sandbag wall.
The invention also provides sandbag walls comprising multiple courses of such sandbags. The sandbags are arranged such that the ends that contain the soil form at least part of the outer face of the wall.
In this specification "fill material" means any material that is suitable for use in bags in the construction of walls, including sand, soil, gravel, dry mix concrete (which hardens after wetting and curing) and mixtures thereof, including fill material with seeds for vegetation. The term "sandbag" as used herein means a bag containing any "fill material".
For further clarity, the term is not limited to a bag in which the fill material is sand. The term "soil" includes any solid materials that are suitable for use in sandbags to support the growth of plants from seeds mixed therewith. The term "wall" as used herein in relation to structures made of sandbags includes any array of sandbags that is suitable for the purpose of erosion control (for example along shorelines, riverbanks, etc.), flood control, retaining or stabilizing slopes or embankments, noise barriers, landscaping, and for similar applications.
Brief Description of Drawing-s Figure 1 is a perspective view of a sandbag according to an embodiment of the invention.
Figure 2 is a perspective view of one course of sandbags of a sandbag wall.
Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of a sandbag wall.
Figure 4 is a top plan view of a course of sandbags of a sandbag wall according to another embodiment of the invention.
Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments In the following description and drawings, corresponding and like parts are referred to by the same reference characters.
l0 With reference to Figure 1 of the drawings, sandbag 10 comprises a bag 12 filled with fill material 24. The bag has a wall 14, a closed bottom end 16 and a top end 18, which has opening 20 that is closed by means of a tie 22. The sandbag is accordingly sealed to retain the fill material within its interior. The bag 12 is preferably made of geotextile and is formed of a single piece thereof by sewing along the bottom and a longitudinal side of the bag.
Sandbag 10 has a length L between its opposed ends 16, 18, and a width W, and a depth, the length being greater than the width.
Fill material 24 comprises soil 24A mixed with plant seeds, which is put at the bottom end of the bag, and a second fill material 24B, which may be sand, gravel, etc., depending on the particular application and the availability of such fill materials. If desired, mixtures of relatively inexpensive fill materials may be used for fill 24B.
The soil 24A may fill any selected proportion of the bag volume.
For example, the soil may fill one-quarter, one-third, one-half, etc. of the bag volume. Generally, it is desirable that the amount of soil be sufficient to support the proper growth of vegetation, but for reasons of economy not more than that. In some cases, the selection will depend on the particular application and the fill materials used. For example, a sandbag with about one-third of the bag volume filled with soil and about two-thirds with dry mix concrete would be suitable for an erosion control application where land and water meet, as along a shoreline or the embankment of a river or stream.
Referring Figs. 2 and 3, sandbags 10 are assembled into a wall 50 comprising a plurality of generally horizontal courses. Configurations of sandbags forming retaining walls and other erosion control structures are well known in the prior art, for example WO 00/61880, and bags 10 can be employed in such configurations. Retaining wall 50 comprises multiple generally horizontal courses 30 of sandbags, the courses being arranged in a generally vertical or sloping configuration. In the present invention, the bags in each course 30 are laid so that the bottom end 16 of the bags, containing the soil/seed mix, is adjacent to the outer (i.e. exposed) face 32 of the wall and the opposite end 18 of the bags is adjacent the inner side 34 of the wall, i.e. adjacent to the backfill or slope 36 that is in back of the wall. The sandbags 10 are accordingly positioned such that the soil/seed fill material is at the outer face of the wall, to facilitate the growth of vegetation on the wall face. This both enhances the appearance of the wall and protects the bags from exposure to sunlight and weather.
Optionally, and preferably, interconnecting members 25 are used to attach adjacent sandbags together, to strengthen the retaining wall. The interconnecting members comprise a plate 27 having projections 29 on both sides thereof which project into sandbags of vertically-adjacent courses and into horizontally-adjacent sandbags. They may be of the types described in WO 00/61880 (Kim).
The sandbags 10 of the invention may be used in wall structures in conjunction with other sandbags which have only a single fill material.
Figure 4 is a top plan view of a course of sandbags of a sandbag wall according to another embodiment of the invention.
Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments In the following description and drawings, corresponding and like parts are referred to by the same reference characters.
l0 With reference to Figure 1 of the drawings, sandbag 10 comprises a bag 12 filled with fill material 24. The bag has a wall 14, a closed bottom end 16 and a top end 18, which has opening 20 that is closed by means of a tie 22. The sandbag is accordingly sealed to retain the fill material within its interior. The bag 12 is preferably made of geotextile and is formed of a single piece thereof by sewing along the bottom and a longitudinal side of the bag.
Sandbag 10 has a length L between its opposed ends 16, 18, and a width W, and a depth, the length being greater than the width.
Fill material 24 comprises soil 24A mixed with plant seeds, which is put at the bottom end of the bag, and a second fill material 24B, which may be sand, gravel, etc., depending on the particular application and the availability of such fill materials. If desired, mixtures of relatively inexpensive fill materials may be used for fill 24B.
The soil 24A may fill any selected proportion of the bag volume.
For example, the soil may fill one-quarter, one-third, one-half, etc. of the bag volume. Generally, it is desirable that the amount of soil be sufficient to support the proper growth of vegetation, but for reasons of economy not more than that. In some cases, the selection will depend on the particular application and the fill materials used. For example, a sandbag with about one-third of the bag volume filled with soil and about two-thirds with dry mix concrete would be suitable for an erosion control application where land and water meet, as along a shoreline or the embankment of a river or stream.
Referring Figs. 2 and 3, sandbags 10 are assembled into a wall 50 comprising a plurality of generally horizontal courses. Configurations of sandbags forming retaining walls and other erosion control structures are well known in the prior art, for example WO 00/61880, and bags 10 can be employed in such configurations. Retaining wall 50 comprises multiple generally horizontal courses 30 of sandbags, the courses being arranged in a generally vertical or sloping configuration. In the present invention, the bags in each course 30 are laid so that the bottom end 16 of the bags, containing the soil/seed mix, is adjacent to the outer (i.e. exposed) face 32 of the wall and the opposite end 18 of the bags is adjacent the inner side 34 of the wall, i.e. adjacent to the backfill or slope 36 that is in back of the wall. The sandbags 10 are accordingly positioned such that the soil/seed fill material is at the outer face of the wall, to facilitate the growth of vegetation on the wall face. This both enhances the appearance of the wall and protects the bags from exposure to sunlight and weather.
Optionally, and preferably, interconnecting members 25 are used to attach adjacent sandbags together, to strengthen the retaining wall. The interconnecting members comprise a plate 27 having projections 29 on both sides thereof which project into sandbags of vertically-adjacent courses and into horizontally-adjacent sandbags. They may be of the types described in WO 00/61880 (Kim).
The sandbags 10 of the invention may be used in wall structures in conjunction with other sandbags which have only a single fill material.
Fig. 4 shows one example of such an arrangement, out of the many possible arrangements that can be made. Course 40 of the wall comprises sandbags 10 alternating with sandbags 42 which have only a single fill material. If it is desired to grow vegetation on the entire wall, the fill material for sandbags 42 would preferably be soil mixed with seeds. The sandbags 10 are positioned such that end 16 of the bags is adjacent to the outer face 32 of the wall.
While exemplary embodiments have been discussed above, those of skill in the art will recognize that certain modifications thereto may be made. It is intended that the following appended claims are interpreted to include all such modifications, as are within their true scope.
While exemplary embodiments have been discussed above, those of skill in the art will recognize that certain modifications thereto may be made. It is intended that the following appended claims are interpreted to include all such modifications, as are within their true scope.
Claims (8)
1. A sandbag for use in the construction of sandbag walls, comprising a bag wall, a first end and a second end, wherein said sandbag is filled with at least two types of fill material, a first type of fill material being at said first end and a second type of fill material being spaced from said first end.
2. A sandbag according to claim 1 wherein said bag has a length and a width, said length being greater than said width, and said first and second ends are at opposed ends of a longitudinal axis of said sandbag.
3. A sandbag according to claim 1 or 2 wherein said first fill material comprises soil.
4. A sandbag according to claim 1 or 2 wherein said first fill material comprises soil and plant seeds.
5. A sandbag according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein said second fill material comprises one or more of sand, gravel and dry mix concrete, or mixtures thereof.
6. A sandbag according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein said bag comprises geotextile.
7. A sandbag wall comprising multiple courses of sandbags according to any one of claims 1 to 6.
8. A sandbag wall according to claim 7 wherein said sandbags are arranged such that said first ends of said sandbags form at least part of an outer face of said wall.
Priority Applications (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002518571A CA2518571A1 (en) | 2005-09-08 | 2005-09-08 | Sandbag retaining walls adapted for plant growth |
| US11/470,972 US20070053752A1 (en) | 2005-09-08 | 2006-09-07 | Sandbag retaining walls adapted for plant growth |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002518571A CA2518571A1 (en) | 2005-09-08 | 2005-09-08 | Sandbag retaining walls adapted for plant growth |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2518571A1 true CA2518571A1 (en) | 2007-03-08 |
Family
ID=37830187
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002518571A Abandoned CA2518571A1 (en) | 2005-09-08 | 2005-09-08 | Sandbag retaining walls adapted for plant growth |
Country Status (2)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US20070053752A1 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2518571A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (21)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KR100924933B1 (en) * | 2008-06-30 | 2009-11-05 | 김진태 | Construction method of retaining wall using soil sack block for vegetation and fixed device and Structure for installation thereof |
| US20100303548A1 (en) * | 2009-05-28 | 2010-12-02 | Daily Michael E | Erosion control Islands in high bank stream remediation |
| CA2803917C (en) | 2010-07-30 | 2018-09-04 | Kim L. Alfreds | Retaining wall systems and methods of constructing same |
| US8448279B2 (en) * | 2010-11-17 | 2013-05-28 | Terrace W. COOK | Ecologically-sound waterway culvert restoration |
| US9297133B2 (en) * | 2012-01-31 | 2016-03-29 | Layfield Group Ltd. | Fluid fillable structure |
| US8840338B2 (en) * | 2012-01-31 | 2014-09-23 | Layfield Group Ltd. | Fluid fillable structure |
| ITMI20121925A1 (en) * | 2012-11-13 | 2014-05-14 | Tenax Spa | ELEMENT OF PROTECTION, COATING OR CONSOLIDATION FOR GEOTECHNICAL APPLICATIONS, PROCEDURE FOR THE REALIZATION OF THE SAME AND USE OF A RETICULAR STRUCTURE FOR THE REALIZATION OF SUCH ITEM |
| CN103821104B (en) * | 2012-11-16 | 2016-03-02 | 北京顺天绿色边坡科技有限公司 | A kind of geotechnological sea sand mud ecology bag (pipe) reinforced retaining wall |
| KR101327171B1 (en) * | 2013-02-28 | 2013-11-06 | 시지엔지니어링(주) | Bag for keeping of form |
| KR101327166B1 (en) | 2013-02-28 | 2013-11-06 | 시지엔지니어링(주) | Bag for keeping of form |
| JP6220534B2 (en) * | 2013-03-14 | 2017-10-25 | 東洋紡株式会社 | Fabric formwork and slope protection method |
| JP6625327B2 (en) * | 2014-05-12 | 2019-12-25 | 日本植生株式会社 | Greening sandbag, method of forming greening sandbag using the same, method of retaining and greening |
| DE102014108306B3 (en) * | 2014-06-12 | 2015-08-13 | Tutech Innovation Gmbh | Geotextile sand container and method for lowering this |
| CN104963312A (en) * | 2015-07-14 | 2015-10-07 | 江苏三正华禹环境工程有限公司 | Ecological tubular bag revetment soil wall and filling method thereof |
| USD792276S1 (en) | 2016-01-12 | 2017-07-18 | Ulysses C. Burnette | Planter |
| US9828736B2 (en) * | 2016-02-18 | 2017-11-28 | David Doolaege | Water containment structure with finger ends |
| JP7038398B2 (en) * | 2017-09-13 | 2022-03-18 | 日本ワイドクロス株式会社 | Non-sewn bag sandbag and its manufacturing method |
| CN110117966B (en) * | 2019-05-16 | 2024-05-07 | 深圳市工勘岩土集团有限公司 | Retaining wall structure with geotechnical bags stacked and fixed |
| TWI700986B (en) * | 2019-06-28 | 2020-08-11 | 盟鑫工業股份有限公司 | High-strength ecological grass planting bag for engineering |
| CN110800415A (en) * | 2019-12-12 | 2020-02-18 | 陕西省土地工程建设集团有限责任公司 | Ecological treatment method in Qinba mountain land remediation engineering |
| CN113073612A (en) * | 2021-04-02 | 2021-07-06 | 安徽安能建设集团有限公司 | Special gate deicing equipment for hydraulic engineering |
Family Cites Families (6)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US6491431B2 (en) * | 1996-02-16 | 2002-12-10 | Helmut-Wolfgang Merten | Sandbag envelope |
| JP3412132B2 (en) * | 1999-08-06 | 2003-06-03 | 四戸 伸晋 | Sandbag |
| US6695544B2 (en) * | 2001-11-02 | 2004-02-24 | New Technology Resources, Inc. | Environment resistant retaining wall planter block and methods of use thereof |
| US20020125309A1 (en) * | 2002-05-08 | 2002-09-12 | Chui-Wen Chiu | Method and devices for forestation and flood prevention |
| US6553713B2 (en) * | 2002-05-08 | 2003-04-29 | Chui-Wen Chiu | Method and devices for forestation and flood prevention |
| US6905289B1 (en) * | 2003-05-27 | 2005-06-14 | Peter S. Sanguinetti | Sediment control device and system |
-
2005
- 2005-09-08 CA CA002518571A patent/CA2518571A1/en not_active Abandoned
-
2006
- 2006-09-07 US US11/470,972 patent/US20070053752A1/en not_active Abandoned
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| US20070053752A1 (en) | 2007-03-08 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| EEER | Examination request | ||
| FZDE | Discontinued |
Effective date: 20140826 |