Reinforced Earth & Terratrel Wall
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(Design, General)
Reinforced Earth is a composite material formed by cohesion less soil and flexible metal reinforcing strips. The earth and the reinforcement are combined through friction. The result is a monolithic mass that acts cohesively, supporting its own weight and applied loads.
The visible part of the structure is structurally the least significant. The facing skin can be in precast concrete (with anyone of a num¬ber of architectural finishes), semi-elliptical steel sections, treated timber or even wire mesh.
Construction of a Reinforced Earth wall is straightforward and simple. Merely place a layer of facing panels, bolt on the reinforcing strips then backfill and compact. Repeat this cycle until the appropriate wall height has been reached. Properly compacted to a uniformly high density, the earth combines with the reinforcement to produce a strong, durable structure with predictable performance characteristics.