Use of FRP Panels as Reinforced Segmental Retaining Walls Units

摘要

Reinforced segmental retaining walls (SRW) have been shown to be a very effective earth retention system. Conventional reinforced segmental retaining walls use concrete blocks as their facial system, to which the earth reinforcing geogrids are attached. This binds the blocks and soil into one composite system. The use of FRP facial panels are proposed to increase the utility of reinforced SRWs by eliminating numerous structural problems faced by the conventional system. Reinforced SRWs pose complex structural questions due to the discrete nature of the blocks and the possibility of localized stress concentrations within the system. Moreover, computational analysis techniques are not easily applicable to reinforced SRWs due to the complex nature of the constituent elements. FRP panels could serve as a viable substitute for concrete blocks, and properties of FRP panel walls would be more predictable than concrete block walls, thereby, allowing a less conservative design. Furthermore, the use of the proposed FRP panels would allow significant cost savings and reduce construction time. The blocks that are used are rectangular in dimension and have a surface area of 1--2 ft~2; an increase in block size would mean a reduction in construction time. The weight of the concrete blocks lends constraints to the block dimensions. However, using a different and lighter material for the units (i.e., FR polymers) would allow a larger size and would thereby reduce the construction time. To encompass all the aforementioned justifications, an FRP panel wall is proposed and its benefits are discussed. The article also compares the proposed FRP facial system to a concrete block facial system from structural and economical perspectives.