The ARES wall system is a geosynthetic reinforced MSE wall with a concrete panel facing. Most concrete panel systems use metallic reinforcement. On this project, the on-site backfill soil did not meet electrochemical requirements for the use of metallic reinforcement, so this system became an attractive option. [Source: Tensar. Image: Tensar]
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Sea-Tac Runway Nearing Completion
[Correction] Whoops, I think it’s North America’s tallest MSE Wall, not the world’s. Anyone know what the World’s tallest MSE wall is? [/Correction]
TheNewsTribune.com has an interesting article on the Sea-Tac third runway project and how it is nearing completion and an overview of the hurdles faced. This was a unique project from a geotechnical perspective because in order to construct the runway, North America’s tallest MSE retaining wall at 130-ft high was built. One thing I didn’t know is that the 13 million cu-yd of fill needed to construct the runway needed to pass careful inspection to make sure it was free of contaminants and similar in mineralogical composition to the on-site materials. The implications and reasoning are explained in this quote from the article:
“We had to find gravel that originated in the same place in Canada and that was transported here by the glaciers as the gravel that was here on the site,†said King.
The reasoning behind such a requirement is that water that leached through the fill would pick up minute traces of the minerals in the fill, drain into the creeks and confuse or damage native salmon returning to those creeks.
By way of ASCE SmartBrief.
Case Study: MSE Crusher Wall using Redi-Rock Blocks
New FHWA Document: Geosynthetic Reinforced Soil Integrated Bridge System Interim Implementation Guide
The FHWA Turner-Fairbanks Highway Research Center has issued a document to provide interim guidance on the implementation of Geosynthetic Reinforced Soil or GRS Bridge Systems. From the foreward: Geosynthetic Reinforced Soil (GRS) technology consists of […]