EP1262603B1

EP1262603B1 - Retaining wall construction

Info

Publication number: EP1262603B1
Application number: EP02253503A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Rodney Joh Hamer c/o Futura Geosystems Ltd Smith; Paul Kimberley c/o Futura Geosystems Ltd. Worrall
Original assignee: FUTURA GEOSYSTEMS Ltd
Current assignee: FUTURA GEOSYSTEMS Ltd
Priority date: 2001-05-24
Filing date: 2002-05-17
Publication date: 2010-07-14
Anticipated expiration: 2022-05-17
Also published as: ES2349191T3; IES20010507A2; GB2375788A; GB0210878D0; ATE474093T1; GB2375788B; EP1262603A1; DE60236982D1

Abstract

FIGURES 7 and 8 show a retaining wall structure 1 having a stabilising element 3' with exposed rod ends 3d' bent back inwardly of upper facing panel 2b' to form a seat S for lower transverse rod 2f of the upper facing panel 2b'. Stabilising element 3' has a transverse rod 3b' located on the outside of the lower facing panel 2b retaining the upper and lower facing panels 2b', 2b to each other and to the stabilising element. <IMAGE> <IMAGE>

Description

This invention relates to improvements in or relating to construction, particularly retaining wall structures and more particularly, but not exclusively, to an earthen works assembly including a retaining wall structure.
Earthen works assemblies are well known. Often it is necessary during building to create, for example, an earth or soil embankment or slope and some internal reinforcement of the earth or soil is needed during the creation of the embankment or slope for the stabilisation thereof both when completed and during the methodical building up of the earthen works assembly. Traditionally, such earthen works assemblies include a plurality of outwardly facing panels that may be in the form of grids or meshes which are connected to internally directed stabilising elements (which elements may also be in the form of grids or mesh panels). The stabilising elements extend through layers of earth or soil used in the earthen works assembly. Usually, the stabilising elements will be arranged to extend generally horizontally through the earthen works assembly generally defining the buildup of the layers of earth therein. Such earthen works assemblies including said stabilising elements allow an earth retaining structure to be formed having an outer face arrangeable at a steeper angle than otherwise might be possible without the use of such stabilising elements. Furthermore, such earthen works assemblies may have outer faces arranged at a very steep angle to the horizontal which, in some cases, may be vertical. Such assemblies may be required for embankments, earth retaining walls and bridge abutments.
The outer faces of the earthen work assemblies will usually be made up of a plurality of generally aligned facing panels that may be rigid and solid (for example they may be of concrete) or which may be flexible for example in the form of a grid such as a metal grid. The stabilising elements themselves may be in the form of strips, grids, meshes, bars or sheets that are usually attached to the facing panels. The length of the earth stabilising elements will usually be the same as the width of the mass of the reinforced earthen works. It is possible that retaining wall structures may be employed to retain a medium other than soil or earth, for example, sand or any stone or granular or aggregate mixture. It is believed that there tend to be problems or disadvantages associated with current designs of retaining wall structures or at least it is believed that such designs have not been optimised. For example, current retaining wall structures employ grid facing panels that are connected to the earth stabilizing elements by the use of separate, purpose-made fastenings that tend to be rather expensive in relation to the overall cost of the retaining wall structure and which may also require a level of dexterity or complexity in forming the finished earthen works assembly that need not be necessary and which may be unnecessarily time consuming. Further, other retaining wall structures employ complex face panels that are also rather expensive. It is believed that it should be possible to provide a retaining wall structure which is less expensive and/or in which the ease of assembly is increased.
US6086288 (see Figures 18 and 19) shows an arrangement in which wall panels 222 are connected to an anchor mesh 224 to form a retaining wall system 220.
Figure 19 of US6086288 shows the relationship of the panels 222a and 222b and anchor mesh 224 before earth is backfilled against the retaining wall system 220 and Figure 18 shows the relationship between the panels 222a, 222b and mesh 224 after backfilling.
The retaining wall system 220 in Figure 18 of US6086288 is slack to allow movement during backfilling, as described at column 11 line 44 to column 12 line 24, from the configuration shown in Figure 19 to that shown in Figure 18.
US 5,622,455 shows an earthenwork bulk form construction 10 having panels 26,28 connected to stabilizing members 22. The stabilizing member 22 has looped ends 64,66 co-operable with handle bar connector 72 (see Figure 12).
It is an object of the present invention to provide a retaining wall structure and/or an earthen works assembly in which one or more of the aforementioned, or other, disadvantages associated with same is/are alleviated and/or to provide a retaining wall structure and/or earthen works assembly which is improved in at least some respect.
According to the present invention there is provided a retaining wall structure for an earthen works assembly or the like comprising at least two facing panels connected together, in use, by at least one separately-formed stabilising element that extends, in use, internally of the earthen works assembly or the like to help define a build up of layers of earth fill or other fill medium contained by said earthen works assembly or the like, the stabilising element engaging, or passing through, or being arranged to exert a holding force on, an outer face of at least one of said facing panels, said outer face, in use, being remote from, or facing away from, the earth fill or other fill medium contained by said earthen works assembly or the like, and characterized in that pivoting of one of said two facing panels is prevented or restrained relative to said other one of the facing panels and the stabilising element by said connection and in which said one facing panel is prevented/restrained from pivoting inwardly and outwardly of the earthen works assembly or the like by said connection, so that the structure is self-supporting with said one facing panel being connected tightly to the other facing panel and stabilising element prior to backfilling of the earthen works assembly and in which the stabilising element has hooked ends, the arrangement being such that, in use, the stabilising element passes through the panels and back inside the panels with a transverse member or part of the stabilising element being arranged to act on the outer face of the panels and the hooked ends of the stabilising element acting to provide a seat, to restrain or lock said one panel against inward pivoting relative to the stabilising element and the other panel prior to the wall structure being introduced into the earthen works assembly.
Further according to the present invention there is provided an earthen works assembly or the like including a plurality of retaining wall structures as defined in the immediately preceding paragraph.
Further according to the present invention there is provided a method of building a retaining wall structure for an earthen works assembly or the like, said method comprising connecting at least two facing panels together by at least one separately formed stabilising element extending internally of the earthen works assembly or the like to help define a build up layers of earth fill or other fill medium contained by said earthen works assembly or the like, the stabilising element engaging or passing through or exerting a holding force on an outer face of at least one of said facing panels, said outer face being remote from , or facing away from, the earth fill or other fill medium contained by said earthen works assembly or the like, and characterised by pivoting of one of said two panels being prevented or restrained relative to said other one of the facing panels and the stabilising element by said connection and preventing/restraining said one facing panel from pivoting inwardly and outwardly of the earthen works assembly or the like by said connection, so that the structure is self-supporting with said one facing panel being connected tightly to the other facing panel and the stabilising element prior to back filling of the earthen works assembly and in which the stabilising element has hooked ends and comprising arranging each stabilising element to pass through the panels and back inside the panels with a transverse member or part of the stabilising element being arranged to act on the outer face of the panels and the hooked ends of the stabilising element acting to provide a seat restraining or locking said one panel against inward pivoting relative to the stabilising element and the other panel prior to the wall structure being introduced into the earthen works assembly.
In the retaining wall structure, the stabilising element has a retaining part, preferably, in the form of a transverse member or rod, which is, in use, arranged outwardly beyond said outer face of at least one of the facing panels. The transverse member or rod may be an integrally made part of said stabilising element or may be a part fixed thereto e.g. by welding either prior to assembly with said at least one facing panel or whilst the stabilising element and facing panel are in situ with one another (i.e. during building of said earthen works assembly or the like).In this way, the transverse member or rod ( which will usually be an end member or rod) should be able to restrain or prevent outward movement of said at least one of said facing panels relative to said stabilising element due to outward pressure of the earth fill material used in the earthen works assembly or the like ( said earth fill material covering the stabilising element).
Where a seat is provided as aforesaid, the retaining part/ transverse member arranged outwardly beyond said at least one facing panel may be, advantageously, located snugly in the apex of the hooked ends of the stabilising element so that the strength of the holding force will not rely entirely on the strength of connection (for example weld strength) of the transverse member/ bar to the stabilising element. In fact, owing to the configuration of the stabilising element, for ease of assembly, it is preferred that the retaining part/transverse member is separate from the remainder of the stabilising element, since there is no longer a necessity for it to be a fixed or integrally-formed part of the stabilising element.
The facing panels and/or stabilising element may be of grid-like or matrix structure, ( e.g. made up from welded rods) and preferably, each of the at least two facing panels has a series of projections ( e.g. rod ends) which overlap one another, in use, in an earthen works assembly or the like and which preferably extend through the stabilising element ( e.g. through openings or apertures defined in the stabilising element, such as rectangular apertures defined in the stabilising element more particularly where the stabilising element is made up of rods).
It is believed that such an arrangement, with hooked ends, is advantageous from a safety aspect since the potential hazard of a stabilising element with sharp ends projecting outwardly beyond said at least two facing panels may be avoided.
Many advantageous features of the present invention will be evident from the following description and drawings.
An embodiment of a retaining wall structure (it is FIGURES 7 and 8 that show an embodiment of a retaining wall structure in accordance with the present invention), for example, for an earthen works assembly, will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying, somewhat diagrammatic drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 - Shows a much simplified isometric view of a retaining wall structure;
FIGURE 2 - shows to a larger scale an isometric view of part of the retaining wall structure shown in FIGURE 1;
FIGURE 3 - shows to an enlarged scale part of the retaining wall structure of
FIGURE 1 (and additional locking bar) looking in the direction of arrow A in
FIGURE 1 which, in use, will be from outside an earthen works assembly;
FIGURE 4 - shows a side view of a central portion of the retaining wall structure shown in FIGURE 3, looking in the direction of arrow B;
FIGURES 5 and 6 - show views similar to FIGURE 4 but with upper and lower facing panels of the retaining structure being engaged differently with one another;
FIGURE 7 - shows a view similar to FIGURE 3 of an embodiment of the retaining wall structure in accordance with the present invention;
FIGURE 8 - shows a side view of a portion of the retaining wall structure shown in FIGURE 7 looking in the direction of arrow C in FIGURE 7, and
FIGURES 9a to 9d - show diagrammatically a series of steps illustrating a sequence of construction of an earthen works assembly.

Referring to FIGURES 1 and 2 of the drawings, a retaining wall structure 1 for an earthen works assembly (see FIGURES 9a to 9d) includes a plurality of grid-like facing panels 2 arranged in generally the same plane and substantially at right angles to a plurality of horizontally and vertically spaced stabilising elements 3 which extend in the direction inwardly of an earth filt of an earthen works assembly or the like. FIGURE 1 shows four facing panels 2 in vertical alignment whereas FIGURE 2 only shows parts of two adjoining facing panels 2b,2b'.
Although the facing panels 2 are shown extending at right angles to the stabilising elements in FIGURES 1 and 2, this angle may be chosen to suit; usually the stabilising elements 3 will be arranged horizontally and the facing panels 2 at a relatively steep angle (for example 60 or 70 degrees to the horizontal).The grid format of the panels 2 and stabilising elements may be chosen to suit.
As shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 , each stabilising element 3 comprises a grid defining rectangular apertures 3a which are of somewhat larger dimensions than the rectangular apertures 2a of the facing panels 2 (the facing panels 2 and stabilising elements 3 may be of any convenient format and/or construction and may for, example, be of a metal or polymer material ). The facing panels 2 are made up of a first set of parallel, metal rods equidistantly spaced from one another which are welded to a second set of rods arranged at right angles to the first and in parallel equidistant relationship. The stabilising elements 3 are made up in a similar manner.
The manner in which the stabilising elements 3 are connected to the facing panels 2 should be generally evident from FIGURES 1 and 2 of the drawings. Initially, as shown in FIGURE 2, a lower facing panel 2b of specified length is arranged to extend generally upwardly (vertically or otherwise) from a floor or floor level stabilising element (not shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 ). A stabilising element 3 (see FIGURE 2) is introduced towards the lower upright facing panel 2b in a generally horizontal position and is lowered onto said lower facing panel with a series of projections in the form of the exposed, upright rod ends 2c of panel 2b extending through the respective apertures 3a defined at the end of the stabilising element 3 adjacent the facing panel 2b. The stabilising element 3 rests with the end transverse rod 3b supported by and adjacent to the upper, parallel transverse rod of the lower facing panel 2b. Thus, the stabilising element 3 is generally free to swing about an axis X-X shown in FIGURE 2. Thus, it should be clear from FIGURE 2 that the end transverse rod 3b extends outwardly beyond the lower facing panel 2b and the horizontal internally directed parallel rods 3c have exposed rod ends 3d extending beyond rod 3b and beyond the lower facing panel 2b. Subsequently, a series of projections in the form of the lower, exposed rod ends 2e of the upper facing panel 2b' can be introduced in a downward direction in between the rod 3b of stabilising element 3 and the upper transverse rod 2d of the lower facing panel, generally as shown in FIGURE 2.
Thus, the upper and lower facing panels 2b', 2b are connected together by the stabilising element 3 which engages the exposed rod ends 2e and 2c of the upper and lower stabilising elements to exert a generally inward holding force on said facing panels from the exterior of the facing panels remote from , or facing away from, earth or the like, in use, retained by the retaining wall structure 1.. The stabilising elements 3 pass beyond the exterior of the facing panels 2 unlike in prior art arrangements which rely on the stabilising elements being fastened to a separate, purpose-made connector means which is in turn connected to the facing panels.
It is believed that the simple interfitting arrangement of stabilising elements 3 with facing panels 2 is a much more convenient and inexpensive way of connecting the stabilising elements to the facing panels.
FIGURES 3 and 4 help to more clearly illustrate the connection of lower and upper facing panels 2b,2b' with a stabilising element 3.
Additionally, FIGURES 3 and 4 show the use of a locking rod or bar 4 (not shown in FIGURES 1 and 2). FIGURE 4 illustrates a side view of an upper rod end 2c passing upwardly (at an angle to the vertical) in between transverse rod 3b of a stabilising element 3 and upwardly spaced lower transverse rod 2f of the upper facing panel 2b'.
The stabilising element 3 is engaged over the lower facing element 2b prior to downward insertion of the lower end of the upper facing panel 2b' in between rod 3b of stabilising element 3 and rod 2d of the lower facing panel 2.
In order to prevent the upper facing panel from swinging or pivoting inwardly of the structure about axis X-X in the direction of arrow D, the locking member or bar 4 (not shown in FIGURE 4) may be threaded in between some of the upper exposed rod ends 2c of the lower facing panel 2b and adjacent downwardly depending rods 2g of upper facing panel 2b' in the manner which is shown in FIGURE 3 of the drawings.
If desired, the upper facing panel 2b' may be retained to the lower facing panel 2b by means of the stabilising element 3 in a slightly different manner. FIGURES 5 and 6 illustrate two possible different variations on the manner in which the upper facing panel 2b' can be positioned differently to the lower facing panel 2b and still be retained by stabilising element 3. However, these would not be the normally adopted retaining configuration for upper and lower facing panels 2b',2b and, therefore, will not be further described.
It is to be noted in the retaining wall structures already described that the rod 3b is fixed relative to the stabilising element 3 but the present invention is not limited to the retaining part (rod 3b) or the retaining means of the stablising element which extends beyond the facing panels being fixed to the remainder of the stabilising element, at least prior to assembly of the stabilising element with the facing panels.
FIGURES 7 and 8 illustrate an embodiment of the present invention.
FIGURE 7 is a view similar to FIGURE 3 which shows a modified form of stabilising element 3' and in which a separate locking bar 4 is not required. In this arrangement, the stabilising element 3' has exposed rod ends 3d' that are bent backwardly at less than 90 degrees ( preferably at about 45 to less than 90 degrees, depending on the angle of the slope of the associated face of the earthen works assembly) to the main plane of the stabilising element to extend inwardly of the retaining wall structure and inwardly of the facing panels 2. The rod ends 3d' may be bent to extend at any convenient angle to the main plane of the stabilising element 3. The stabilising element 3' may be introduced over the lower facing panel 2b in a manner as previously described and the upper facing panel 2b' introduced therebetween in a similar manner as previously described except that now the exposed rod ends 3d' extend inwardly beyond the upper facing panel 2b' to provide a V-shaped seat S for the lower transverse rod 2f of the upper facing panel 2b' (thereby obviating the need for a separate locking bar 4 to prevent or limit inward swing of the upper facing panel 2b' in the direction of arrow D). Additionally, it is believed that this form of stabilising element 3 is advantageous over the form of previous stabilising elements already discussed since the rod ends 3d' are bent back into the earthen works structure in use and during construction rather than leaving any potentially sharp exposed rod ends 3d, therefore improving the safety aspects of the retaining wall structure.
Additionally, as aforementioned, the bent-back rod ends 3d' provide a seat S for the upper facing panels and avoid the need for any separate locking bars 4.
It is to be noted that the strength of the stabilising element 3 as shown in FIGURES 2 to 6 of the accompanying drawings relies on the strength of attachment of the end rod 3b to the remainder of the stabilising element 3 which, as shown, relies on the strength of the weld of the rod 3b to the remainder of the stabilising element 3. However, in the arrangement shown in FIGURES 7 and 8, the strength of the stabilising element 3 does not rely upon the strength of a weld because the transverse rod 3b' is in fact an element formed separately from the main body of the stabilising element 3. Thus, the stabilising rod 3b' could be inserted into the remainder of the retaining wall structure in the position as shown after the stabilising element 3' has been positioned over the lower facing panel 2b. Thus, advantageously, it is believed the embodiment shown in FIGURE 7 or 8 offers a stronger arrangement. Of course, the rod 3b' could be a fixed element welded to the remainder of the stabilising element 3 but once the rod end 3d' is bent back around the rod 3b', the apex of the bend would necessarily have to be displaced outwardly some distance from the rod in order to achieve the bending and thus the strength of the connection would then rely once again entirely on the weld of the rod 3b to the stabilising element 3. Whilst the rod ends 3d' could be bent relative to the main plane of the stabilizing element 3 prior to welding of the rod neatly and snugly into the apex of the bend as shown in FIGURE 8, such a method of construction may prove to be expensive. Therefore, overall, it is preferred that the rod 3b' is a separate member.
FIGURES 9a to 9d illustrate sequentially how an earthen works assembly E (shown part completed in FIGURES 9a to 9d) can be constructed using a retaining wall structure 1 generally in accordance with any one of FIGURES 1 to 8. First of all, in FIGURE 9a, a lower facing panel 2b is arranged generally upwardly relative to a floor or floor level stabilising element 3. Soil or earth G or granular or aggregate material may be introduced into the structure, in FIGURE 9b, up to a certain first level L1; next, in FIGURE 9c, a second stabilising element 3 may be introduced over the lower facing panel 2b in a manner as previously described and an upper facing panel 2b' engaged with the lower element 2 and second stabilizing element 3 as shown. It is to be noted in FIGURES 9b and 9c that the earth fill material G extends at an angle to the lower facing panel 2 and the gap P is back filled at F once the first level L1 stabilising element 3 and upper facing panel 2b have been engaged as shown ( and a limited amount of earth fill material G has been introduced onto a rear portion of the stablising element 3 to help locate same) and this sequence is repeated in order to create the earthen works assembly E. Once the earthen works assembly is finished (not shown), the facing panels 2 may be surface-finished with vegetation or any convenient cladding, or left uncovered.

Claims

1. A retaining wall structure (1) for an earthen works assembly (E) or the like comprising at least two facing panels (2b,2b') connected together, in use, by at least one separately-formed stabilising element (3') that extends, in use, internally of the earthen works assembly (E) or the like to help define a build up of layers of earth fill (G) or other fill medium contained by said earthen works assembly (E) or the like, the stabilising element (3') engaging, or passing through, or being arranged to exert a holding force on, an outer face of at least one of said facing panels (2b,2b'), said outer face, in use, being remote from, or facing away from, the earth fill (G) or other fill medium contained by said earthen works assembly (E) or the like, and characterized in that pivoting of one of said two facing panels (2b') is prevented or restrained elative to said other one of the facing panels (2b) and the stabilising element (3') by said connection and in which said one facing panel (2b') is prevented/restrained from pivoting inwardly and outwardly of the earthen works assembly (E) or the like by said connection, so that the structure (1) is self-supporting with said one facing panel (2b') being connected tightly to the other facing panel (2b) and stabilising element (3) prior to backfilling of the earthen works assembly (E) and in which the stabilising element (3') has hooked ends (3d'), the arrangement being such that, in use, the stabilising element (3') passes through the panels (2b,2b') and back inside the panels (2b,2b') with a transverse member or part (3b') of the stabilising element (3') being arranged to act on the outer face of the panels (2b,2b') and the hooked ends (3d') of the stabilising element (3') acting to provide a seat (S), to restrain or lock said one panel (2b') against inward pivoting relative to the stabilising element (3') and the other panel (2b) prior to the wall structure (1) being introduced into the earthen works assembly (E).

2. A structure (1) as claimed in claim 1 in which the seat (S) is V-shaped.

3. A structure (1) as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 in which the transverse member or part (3b') is located or locatable snugly in the apex of the hooked ends (3d') of the stabilising element (3')

4. A structure (1) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the transverse member or part (3b') is separate from the remainder of the stabilising element (3').

5. A reinforced earthen works assembly (E) or the like including a plurality of retaining wall structures (1) as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. A method of building a retaining wall structure (1) for an earthen works assembly (E) or the like, said method comprising connecting at least two facing panels (2b,2b') together by at least one separately formed stabilising element (3') extending internally of the earthen works assembly (E) or the like to help define a build up of layers of earth fill (G) or other fill medium contained by said earthen works assembly (E) or the like, the stabilising element (3') engaging or passing through or exerting a holding force on an outer face of at least one of said facing panels (2b,2b'), said outer face being remote from or facing away from, the earth fill (G) or other fill medium contained by said earthen works assembly (E) or the like, and characterised by pivoting of one of said two panels (2b') being prevented or restrained relative to said other one of the facing panels (2b) and the stabilising element (3') by said connection and preventing/restraining said one facing panel (2b') from pivoting inwardly and outwardly of the earthen works assembly (E) or the like by said connection, so that the structure (1) is self-supporting with said one facing panel (2b') being connected tightly to the other facing panel (2b) and the stabilising element (3') prior to back filling of the earthen works assembly (E) and in which the stabilising element (3') has hooked ends (3d') and comprising arranging the stabilising element (3') to pass through the panels (2b, 2b') and back inside the panels (2b, 2b') with a transverse member or part (3b') of the stabilising element (3') being arranged to act on the outer face of the panels (2b, 2b') and the hooked ends (3d') of the stabilising element (3') acting to provide a seat (S) restraining or locking said one panel (2b') against inward pivoting relative to the stabilising element (3') and the other panel (2b) prior to the wall structure (1) being introduced into the earthen works assembly (E).

7. A method as claimed in claim 6 in which the seat (S) is V-shaped.

9. A method as claimed in claim 6 or claim 7 comprising locating the transverse member or part (3b') of the stabilising element (3') snugly in the apex of the hooked ends (3d') of the stabilising element (3').