Reinforced Soil Walls and Slope Reinforcement

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Reinforced Soil Walls and Slope Reinforcement

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Challenges faced when modifying soil slopes. Modifying soil slope angles beyond their natural angle of friction can lead to slope instability. This situation can arise when cutting back slopes to install a new highway, or to gain development area on a sloping site.

Improving soil performance with geogrid reinforcement. Our geogrid reinforcement used in conjunction with the soil enables it to perform better than it would in its unreinforced state. Moreover, they enable soil to accommodate greater loads and stand at steeper angles. The geogrids are laid horizontally within the compacted soil mass during construction, reinforcing it due to their high tensile strength, low strain and good interaction with the soil. 

Soil slopes with poor bearing capacity or those in seismic areas. Our reinforced soil slopes and structures are ideal when constructed on soils which have poor bearing capacity because they can accommodate differential settlement far better than more rigid solutions. This is also a great benefit in seismic zones, where our solutions have been exposed to significant seismic events. 

Maccaferri solutions embrace sustainability. Our unsurpassed range of geogrid reinforcements maximizes the opportunity to reuse site-won materials as backfill to a reinforced slope. This saves on the export and import of materials from site, embracing sustainability and reducing polluting truck movements. 

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Potential cost savings. Cost savings through the reuse of site-won material with geogrids can be substantial on a project. This is a prime consideration of our engineers when they begin working with clients on slope reinforcement solutions.


Hybrid structures bring cost-effectiveness and functionality


With our skill and experience in this solution area and using our design software MacSTARs, we can combine geogrids with other systems such as our Terramesh®, Green and Mineral Terramesh® to form hybrid structures offering additional benefits of cost-effectiveness and improved buildability. This expertise has enabled us to successfully construct many ‘mega-structures’; our reinforced soil slopes and structures are regularly over 30m tall. In fact, we have successfully designed and implemented structures over 70m high; probably the tallest such structures in the world by any supplier.


Bringing vegetation to reinforced slopes


Where clients require a ‘green’ slope, vegetation of the finished reinforced slope is important. We can also assist in the selection of appropriate seed mixes, topsoil and erosion protection products. A more formal and urban architectural aesthetic is offered with our MacWall® segmental blockwork faced reinforced soil wall. The concrete block fascia provides the aesthetics of a masonry wall, yet with the reassurance of geogrid reinforced soil as the backfill. This brings performance, cost and construction efficiency benefits to our clients. 

Soil nailing as an alternative to slope reinforcement. Where there is not enough space on a project to construct a reinforced soil slope, it may be possible to use Soil Nailing. With soil nailing providing the overall slope stability, MacMat offers flexible surface reinforcement and protection options for use between soil nails. Our reinforced soil slopes and structures are trusted to support motorways, railway embankments and property around the globe.