Another case study from RetainingWallExpert.com, this one for the failure of a 38-ft high geogrid-reinforced modular block MSE retaining wall. They note that the failure of the retaining wall follows their typical recipe, ‘Just Add Water’. The wall was reconstructed with most of the same blocks, but with better backfill and better attention to drainage and geogrid configuration. [Source: RetainingWallExpert.com. Image: RetainingWallExpert.com]
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MSEW and ReSSA Updates
ADAMA Software has released update 10.1 for their Mechanically Stabilized Earth retaining wall design software, MSEW 3.0 as of September 29, 2009. Click through for the download link and a few of the changes.
I expect that when the new FHWA MSE Wall Manual hits the street in a few months time that we will see some significant updates with the MSEW software package.
ASTM Updates April 2010
Standards governing the testing of tensile strength of geogrid and geotextile tensile strength are among the standards updated over the past month by the ASTM. This includes a new standard for "Determining Small-Strain Tensile Properties of Geogrids and Geotextiles by In-Air Cyclic Tension Tests". A number of standards relating to concrete including capping of concrete cyllinders for testing have also been updated. Click through for the list.