T-Wall®

T-Wall® is an innovative precast concrete modular gravity retaining wall solution.

The retaining wall is constructed by combining structurally reinforced concrete units with engineered backfill. Monolithic concrete units are cast with perpendicular stems attached to a generally rectangular or square facing that together forms the shape of a “T”.

Applications

With more than 850,000 m2 now installed, T-Wall® is used wherever conventional retaining walls, non-gravity cantilevered walls, anchored walls, mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) walls, and prefabricated modular walls are considered. Suited to build in areas having restrictive excavation limits, engineers specify this solution for building grade separations for roadways and railways, and for earth retention along coastlines and waterways. Urban and residential developers also appreciate T-Wall® for landscaping and commercial work sites.

Major benefits

• Excavation and backfill quantities are minimized
• Allows for a wide range of acceptable backfill including recycled materials
• Shallow or deep structural foundations are not required
• Limited requirements for bracing or external support during installation
• Little if any mechanical connections required
• Approved by most major railway and highway agencies
• Custom architectural finishes

Assembly

Installation is simple and efficient. The units are aligned on levelling pads along the base and then are repeatedly stacked and backfilled with layers of compacted granular soil or alternative fill measures. This forms a composite gravity mass capable of supporting very high static and dynamic loads.

For a conventional T-Wall® installation, as the units are stacked, the length of the stems decreases as the wall height increases, therefore reducing the amount of excavation and backfill quantities required to install as compared to other gravity wall systems.

For “inverted” T-Wall® installation, the length of the stems is shortest along the base course, and increase as the wall height increases. Similar to a conventional T-Wall®, the amount of excavation and backfill quantities required are minimized.

Design fundamentals

Reinforced Earth engineers are experts in mastering soil-structure interaction design. The fundamental design approach assures that the stem allows for pullout resistance against the lateral earth pressure exerted on the rear of the facing, therefore internally stabilizing the structure. The basic design of a T-Wall® addresses both the internal and external stability of the wall system and includes, but not limited to:

• Internal pull-out
• Internal overturning
• Internal structural design of the concrete units
• External overturning
• External sliding
• External bearing pressure

Our engineers address project-specific site conditions in each T-Wall® design. For example, seismic loading, drainage, water height, and fixtures such as traffic barriers, parapets, and noise walls that are supported by or influence the structure’s performance.