20/07/2009

 

"Wall-to-Wall Blocks" as published in the New Civil Engineer (25.06.09)

New variants of reinforced ground embankments are part of the new Wicklow road project south of Dublin. They are relatively simple to construct, tolerant of poor ground and have an aesthetically pleasing finish.

Both main types used are built around a geotextile grid reinforcement from Maccaferri, which combined with a narrow outer layer of well graded fill Type 6N fill material, forms the outer facing of an embankment with a standard fill core. Outer facings used on the project vary.

There are also block walls, using interlocked facing blocks, with a patented groove system which helps position and lock them together while locking in the geogrid reinforcement behind. This enables construction of a vertical retaining wall which is just four degrees from the vertical. More conventional gabions with geogrid reinforced ground behind are also in evidence. 

There is a "green" solution which uses stamped down seeded top soil which rapidly grows a plant facing, and uses plant roots as part of its structure.

 

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