Reinforced Earth®

Reinforced Earth® MSE Retaining Walls

The original Reinforced Earth®, a signature innovation

More than sixty years ago, a new construction technology was invented by Henri Vidal consisting of granular soil and reinforcement working in harmony for great stability and strength. Reinforced Earth is Geoquest’s flagship MSE retaining wall product, first introduced in the United States in 1971.

It was an invention that revolutionized the heavy civil construction industry. High internal friction, generated between granular fill and strategically embedded reinforcing strips allows the transfer of stress from the soil into the strips providing the resistance that soil alone does not otherwise possess. Reinforced Earth® MSE retaining wall structures combine select and controlled granular backfill with steel or geosynthetic tensile reinforcements and a modular facing system of precast concrete panels. This ideal combination creates a long-lasting gravity retaining structure.

First pioneered by Reinforced Earth, the concept of mechanically stabilized earth walls (MSE) / Retained soil systems (RSS) walls is used in multitude of construction applications. Our engineers work with our clients to apply this globally-recognized solution to solve many geotechnical challenges they face in building roads, bridges, embankments, industrial landscapes, and more. Together, we solve problems that arise when seeking solutions for soil and structure interaction.

Construction Materials

The system’s soil reinforcements are inextensible High-Adherence (HA) steel reinforcing strips or ladders, which are bolted to tie strips embedded in precast concrete facing panels.

The concrete facing panels generally come in three types for our MSE wall: cruciform (5’ x 5’), square (5’ x 5’), and rectangular (5’ x 10’). Each panel shape has benefits related to differential settlement and aesthetics. The panels typically have a structural thickness of 5 ½”, not including aesthetic relief to account for ground movement. Custom panel dimensions and thicknesses can be manufactured if necessary based on project needs such as geometry, extreme wall height, or for protective structures. Panel joints have a ship lap, as well as geotextile on the back face, to provide adequate drainage of the structure while preventing loss of backfill. A catalog of corner elements and slip joint covers allow for complex horizontal alignments and added capacity for differential settlement.

The reinforcing strips and ladders, as well as their connection to the panels, have been designed and tested to optimize the pull-out and tensile capacity for various backfill types, and backfill volume. The reinforcing strip is a 2-inch wide by 5/32-inch thick strip, with a pattern of ribs for superior bond with the compacted backfill. Ladders may be used for efficiency in low-height wall or lightweight backfill situations, where tension is low and extra pull-out capacity is needed. Corrosion protection in the form of galvanization is included to achieve a design life of 75 years, 100 years, or more.

Benefits of Reinforced Earth Retaining Wall System:

Inextensible soil reinforcements and bolted connections are secure, simple and quickly installed.
Durable precast facing panels allow for a wide variety of surface textures and custom artwork.
All components are lightweight and designed in accordance with the highest AASHTO and FHWA standards.
Suitable and proven performance for extreme loading conditions and complex applications requiring service a service life of over 75-years.