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 earthretention system. Conventional reinforced segmental retaining walls use concrete blocks as their facialsystem, to which the earth reinforcing geogrids are attached. This binds the blocks and soil into onecomposite system. The use of FRP facial panels are proposed to increase the utility of reinforced SRWsby eliminating numerous structural problems faced by the conventional system. Reinforced SRWs posecomplex structural questions due to the discrete nature of the blocks and the possibility of localizedstress concentrations within the system. Moreover, computational analysis techniques are not easilyapplicable to reinforced SRWs due to the complex nature of the constituent elements. FRP panels couldserve as a viable substitute for concrete blocks, and properties of FRP panel walls would be morepredictable than concrete block walls, thereby, allowing a less conservative design. Furthermore, the useof the proposed FRP panels would allow significant cost savings and reduce construction time. Theblocks that are used are rectangular in dimension and have a surface area of 1--2 ft~2; an increase in blocksize would mean a reduction in construction time. The weight of the concrete blocks lends constraints tothe 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 theaforementioned justifications, an FRP panel wall is proposed and its benefits are discussed. The articlealso compares the proposed FRP facial system to a concrete block facial system from structural andeconomical perspectives.