US20090252560A1 - Segmental retaining wall blocks designed for curved or straight alignment - Google Patents

Segmental retaining wall blocks designed for curved or straight alignment Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US20090252560A1
US20090252560A1 US12/383,969 US38396909A US2009252560A1 US 20090252560 A1 US20090252560 A1 US 20090252560A1 US 38396909 A US38396909 A US 38396909A US 2009252560 A1 US2009252560 A1 US 2009252560A1
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
block
wing
bay
blocks
wall
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
Application number
US12/383,969
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Tyler Matys
Angelo Risi
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of US20090252560A1 publication Critical patent/US20090252560A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E04—BUILDING
    • E04C—STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS; BUILDING MATERIALS
    • E04C1/00—Building elements of block or other shape for the construction of parts of buildings
    • E04C1/39—Building elements of block or other shape for the construction of parts of buildings characterised by special adaptations, e.g. serving for locating conduits, for forming soffits, cornices, or shelves, for fixing wall-plates or door-frames, for claustra
    • E04C1/395—Building elements of block or other shape for the construction of parts of buildings characterised by special adaptations, e.g. serving for locating conduits, for forming soffits, cornices, or shelves, for fixing wall-plates or door-frames, for claustra for claustra, fences, planting walls, e.g. sound-absorbing
    • 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
    • E02D29/025—Retaining or protecting walls made up of similar modular elements stacked without mortar
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E04—BUILDING
    • E04B—GENERAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS; WALLS, e.g. PARTITIONS; ROOFS; FLOORS; CEILINGS; INSULATION OR OTHER PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS
    • E04B2/00—Walls, e.g. partitions, for buildings; Wall construction with regard to insulation; Connections specially adapted to walls
    • E04B2/02—Walls, e.g. partitions, for buildings; Wall construction with regard to insulation; Connections specially adapted to walls built-up from layers of building elements
    • E04B2002/0256—Special features of building elements
    • E04B2002/0265—Building elements for making arcuate walls

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to segmental retaining wall blocks of tapered shape that are configured in such a manner as to prevent infiltration of backfill materials such as soil into voids that exist between the backs of the blocks when installed.
  • segmental retaining wall blocks used to achieve curved alignments have one or both of their sides that are tapered when the blocks are viewed in top plan view (i.e., the width of the rear of each block is less than the width of the face of the block).
  • FIGS. 1 a and 1 b identified as “prior art”. They also offer tapered blocks for used to give curved sections to the walls (see FIGS. 2 a and 2 b also identified as “prior art”).
  • FIGS. 3 a and 3 b identified as prior art.
  • the constructor may then create a tapered version of the block and used such blocks for curved walls (see FIGS. 4 a and 4 b identified as “prior art”).
  • the taper or angle set into the sidewall(s) of the blocks dictate the minimum allowable convex radius the wall will be able to achieve.
  • the same equation applies to resolve the minimum allowable radius the blocks can achieve when abutted immediately against one another in a curve or a circle. The equation is as follows (see FIG. 5 ).
  • ⁇ t Total Angle from vertical axis of block sidewalls
  • the taper is permanently set to the “minimum” or smallest possible radius. This allows the user to create curves that have radii ranging from almost straight to the tightest possible radius. Although this does give the user flexibility in creating both large and small radius curves, it also creates a problem.
  • no gap exists at the rear of the wall see FIG. 5 a identified as “prior art”. In other words, the rear wall formed at the back of the wall is solid, just like the face.
  • a radius is constructed that is larger than the minimum, which occurs most often, the total rotation or taper of the block is not fully utilized.
  • settlement in the area results in the following potential problems.
  • settlement of backfill behind the wall may cause the grade behind the wall to move downward, perhaps to an unacceptable level. Elements such as swales or asphalt paving constructed immediately behind the top of the wall may deform differentially, or totally, beyond what is allowable if settlement is excessive.
  • settlement by nature produces additional lateral earth pressures as the backfill materials are compressed both vertically and displace laterally.
  • settlement immediately behind the blocks may result in a failure. of the connection of the geogrid reinforcement to the block.
  • the geogrid reinforcement which is installed horizontally, is subjected to a downward dragging force as it extends out from between the blocks and into the backfill zone.
  • This downward force created by the settling backfill materials acts to drag the geogrid down, over the back edge of the block.
  • the square edge at the back of the block combined with the presence of small concrete burs created at this seam during the manufacturing of the block, are enough to damage or completely sever the geogrid, when it is being pulled down against it by the settling backfill materials immediately behind the block. This results in a lower or non-existent connection to the block, at which point the structural integrity of the wall has been compromised.
  • Natural forces of gravity and water flow acting on the backfill materials may carry soil fines into these voids created by the gaps at the back face of the wall. If these forces are sufficient, the soil fines may be carried through the voids and out to the face of the wall. The staining caused by the soil fines being deposited on the face of the wall is often unacceptable to the consumer from an aesthetic point of view.
  • the present invention relates to a segmental retaining wall (SRW) block that is unique in that it allows the user to construct inside and outside (concave and convex) radii with the blocks, while maintaining a full barrier at the rear of the block to the infiltration of backfill soils into the facing or through the facing.
  • SRW segmental retaining wall
  • the SRW block according to the invention allows straight or curved alignments while directly addressing the issue of the creation of large voids in the back of the wall that occurs with existing tapered SRW blocks that exist when the blocks are not placed in the minimum convex alignment.
  • the plan configuration of the SRW block according to the invention can be applied to any size of block, face shape or orientation. It provides lateral shear between the units such as an integral tongue and groove, mechanical connectors or pins, adhesive, etc. Despite the method of vertically interlocking the units (lateral shear between units), these elements would have to take into account the ability of the block to curve within certain limits.
  • the SRW block according to the invention solves the above mentioned problems encountered with prior art in that, thanks to its configuration, it blocks the migration of backfill materials at the rear of the wall, regardless of the size of the radius or curvature being constructed.
  • This SRW block is tapered to allow the block to turn a radius. It comprises a protruding wing or tab on one side, and the congruent receiving “bay” area on the other.
  • the wing protrudes or overlaps into the bay area a certain distance required to create a barrier against the migration of fines when the block is placed in a concave alignment.
  • the front edge of the wing and the front edge of the receptacle bay are designed as congruent arcs, the front edge of the wing being set to a radius just slightly larger than the radius of the front edge of the bay area to allow for construction and manufacturing tolerance.
  • the wing moves further into the bay area, thereby creating an even greater overlap and barrier to the migration of fines.
  • the wing fills the bay area.
  • SRW segmented retaining wall
  • FIG. 1 a is a top plan view of a standard SRW block
  • FIG. 1 b is a top plan view of a wall made of several SRW blocks as shown in FIG. 1 a;
  • FIG. 2 a is a top plan view of existing tapered SRW block
  • FIG. 2 b is a top plan view of a wall made of several tapered SRW blocks as shown in FIG. 1 b;
  • FIG. 3 a is a top plan view of an existing SRW block with rear wings that can be knocked off;
  • FIG. 3 b is a top plan view of a wall made of SRW blocks as shown in FIG. 3 a, with their rear wings still present;
  • FIG. 4 b is a top plan view of a wall made of SRW blocks as shown in FIG. 3 b, with their rear wings knocked off;
  • FIG. 5 a is a top plan view similar to FIG. 2 b, with no gaps between the rear sides of the blocks where the backfill material may migrate;
  • FIG. 5 b is a top plan view similar to FIG. 5 a but with the blocks placed in radius larger than the minimum and backfill material in between;
  • FIG. 6 is a top plan view of a SRW block according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG. 7 is a top plan view of two SRW blocks as shown in FIG. 5 adjacent to each other, in a straight alignment;
  • FIG. 8 is a top plan view of two SRW blocks as shown in FIG. 5 in a convex alignment
  • FIG. 9 is a top plan view of two SRW blocks as shown in FIG. 5 in a concave alignment.
  • FIG. 10 is a view similar to the one of FIG. 7 , but showing an enlarged view of the manufacturing and constructions tolerated.
  • Arc A Arc length of protruding wing on Side A
  • Arc B Arc length at bottom of bay area on Side B
  • Xconvex Overlap length of arc A over arc B when blocks set in minimum convex curve (maximum overlap possible)
  • Xconcave Overlap length of arc A over arc B when blocks set in minimum concave curve (minimum overlap possible)
  • Omin Minimum overlap of wing into bay area in minimum concave alignment (worst case) to prevent infiltration of fines.
  • Side A is tapered and Side B is straight.
  • Side A and Side B could also split, provided that the total taper angle ( ⁇ ) remains between them.
  • the Side B has a straight sidewall for greater ease of explanation. From a manufacturing point of view, it is also desirable to have a flat or straight sidewall on at least one side of the block to move and package the material.
  • the tapered Side A allows the block to turn a convex radius in the traditional way previously described.
  • a wing protrudes out from the side of the block at the rear.
  • the depth of the wing (Wd) is set to ensure that the wing piece be adequately strong to prevent breaking off during construction and shipping.
  • the lower edge of the wing identified as arc A in FIG. 5 is formed as an arc.
  • the wing extends out past the imaginary vertical edge of Side A (viz. the side which is not tapered) at a distance noted as Xs.
  • This distance Xs is a function of the required minimum overlap in the worst case scenario, which is, when the blocks are rotated outwards to form a concave curve and the overlap is the minimum. This will be described in more details hereinafter.
  • the straight sidewall (Side B) is designed on a congruent bay area in the top right corner of the block that accepts the wing of side A.
  • the depth of the bay area (Bd) is slightly larger than the depth of the wing (Wd) to allow construction and manufacturing tolerances.
  • the value Bd ⁇ Wd is illustrative of the construction and manufacturing tolerances.
  • the lower edge of the bay area on Side B (arc B) is designed as a congruent arc with arc A.
  • the radius of the arc B is just slightly less than of arc A to allow movement of the wing into the bay area, given to manufacturing and construction tolerances. Therefore, the radius of arc B, hereinafter called bay radius Rb, is equal to the wing radius (Rw) less the Manufacturing and Construction Tolerances (t).
  • the left sidewall of the bay area is designed to align ( ⁇ ) with the left side wall of the wing when the blocks are placed at the minimum convex rotation and the wing completely fills the bay area.
  • the left sidewall of the wing is vertical when the block is placed in a straight alignment, so as it rotates into a convex curve, the vertical sidewall rotates about point A and is now angled.
  • the left sidewall of the bay area therefore must be set to the maximum angle the block is able to rotate, which is ⁇ .
  • the invention is designed to ensure that when the blocks are placed in a straight alignment, convex curve, or concave curve, an overlap of the wing and the bay area exists that is sufficient to prevent the migration of backfill materials into the back of the blocks.
  • FIG. 7 shows two blocks placed adjacent to each other in a straight alignment. As can be seen, overlap is Xs.
  • FIG. 8 shows two blocks placed adjacent to each other in a convex alignment. This minimum convex radius is the best case scenario for providing a barrier to the infiltration of backfill materials.
  • FIG. 9 shows two blocks placed adjacent to each other in a concave alignment. This minimum concave radius is the worst case scenario for providing a barrier to the infiltration of the backfill materials.
  • the distance Xs which is the one of overlap in a straight alignment is determined by what the minimum offset can be in the worst case scenario which is the distance Xconcave shown in FIG. 9 .
  • the protrusion of the wing beyond the imaginary vertical sidewall for Side A is determined as a function of the minimum radius that is required to be achieved by the block and the minimum overlap in the concave alignment.
  • the total arc length of the arc A is therefore a function of the overlap in a minimum convex position plus the overlap in the minimum concave position plus the minimum overlap in the concave position.
  • the equation for the length of an arc is as follows (all angles being expressed in degrees):
  • Arc length (arc A ) ( ⁇ ( PI ) Rw )/90+ O min. (Equation 6) and
  • Arc length (arc B ) arc A+t (Equation 7)
  • the arcs A and B formed at the bottom of the wing and bay area serve two purposes. First, they allow these elements to rotate about point A while maintaining an exact distance apart (depending on the manufacturing and construction tolerance) as they follow an arc of consistent radius Rw (see FIG. 10 ). Secondly, the nature of the arc shape automatically creates an “uphill” configuration between the wing and the bay. In other words, if soil materials are being conveyed, either through gravity, water or compaction forces into the bay area, they will encounter the bottom of the bay area and will not be able to continue through the small space between the wing and the bay (left for construction and manufacturing tolerances) due to the fact that the direction of soil materials would have to be forced upward, against the direction of the applied conveyor forces. This “S” shape creates a natural dam to the movement of material by its geometric configuration.
  • segmental retaining wall blocks allows them to be set in a straight, concave, or convex alignment, while maintaining a mechanical barrier at the rear to the infiltration of backfill soils.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Architecture (AREA)
  • Civil Engineering (AREA)
  • Structural Engineering (AREA)
  • Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
  • Paleontology (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Revetment (AREA)
US12/383,969 2008-04-04 2009-03-31 Segmental retaining wall blocks designed for curved or straight alignment Abandoned US20090252560A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA2,628,359 2008-04-04
CA002628359A CA2628359A1 (fr) 2008-04-04 2008-04-04 Blocs segmentes de mur de soutenement concus pour obtenir un alignement incurve ou rectiligne

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20090252560A1 true US20090252560A1 (en) 2009-10-08

Family

ID=41133427

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US12/383,969 Abandoned US20090252560A1 (en) 2008-04-04 2009-03-31 Segmental retaining wall blocks designed for curved or straight alignment

Country Status (2)

Country Link
US (1) US20090252560A1 (fr)
CA (1) CA2628359A1 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US11693355B2 (en) 2014-11-28 2023-07-04 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Cartridge, member constituting cartridge, and image forming apparatus

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CA2782659C (fr) 2012-06-26 2019-01-08 Brampton Brick Limited Systeme et bloc de mur de soutenement

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4190998A (en) * 1978-05-12 1980-03-04 Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company Pivotably interlocking rigid heat-resistant tiles
US20030079418A1 (en) * 1999-02-12 2003-05-01 Michael Schmitz Stockade

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4190998A (en) * 1978-05-12 1980-03-04 Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company Pivotably interlocking rigid heat-resistant tiles
US20030079418A1 (en) * 1999-02-12 2003-05-01 Michael Schmitz Stockade

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US11693355B2 (en) 2014-11-28 2023-07-04 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Cartridge, member constituting cartridge, and image forming apparatus

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CA2628359A1 (fr) 2009-10-04

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
Nilsen Cases of instability caused by weakness zones in Norwegian tunnels
CN108277814A (zh) 桩顶扶壁式挡墙支护结构及施工方法
CN104533426B (zh) 超浅埋下穿高速公路大跨度盖挖法的隧道施工方法
US20090252560A1 (en) Segmental retaining wall blocks designed for curved or straight alignment
JP5529087B2 (ja) オープンシールド機のプレスバー
CN112282763B (zh) 一种全风化竖井倒挂混凝土支护施工方法
KR100505127B1 (ko) 보강토 옹벽용 조립체
JP5051752B2 (ja) 地中構造物近傍の地盤改良方法
JP2005023570A (ja) アンダーパス側壁用杭及びアンダーパス側壁の止水方法
KR100870682B1 (ko) 연결식 산마루측구용 블록
KR200403156Y1 (ko) 연결식 산마루측구용 블록
CN208701714U (zh) 一种高边坡抗滑桩和挡土墙联合支护结构
CN207032256U (zh) 深厚风化岩层基坑止水结构
US20060010725A1 (en) Excavating tooth and adapter
JPH0978569A (ja) 鋼管矢板
US20130048763A1 (en) Precast concrete mitered end section for drainage systems
CN113569317B (zh) 一种土质地层深埋不等跨隧道围岩压力确定方法
JP6438711B2 (ja) 斜面安定化構造
JP2002302939A (ja) 連続地中壁の打ち継ぎ部用スペーサ
JP3766423B2 (ja) 擁壁の構築方法
CN113553653B (zh) 一种岩质地层深埋不等跨隧道围岩压力确定方法
CN218102524U (zh) 一种电力工程施工用的预制电缆沟
CN108004913A (zh) 陡峻峭壁位置桥隧相连整体结构
CN116084950A (zh) 露天矿充填开采方法
KR100671027B1 (ko) 보강토 옹벽구축용 블럭

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
STCB Information on status: application discontinuation

Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION