THE PROBLEM
Complicated technology, construction cost and time constraints for the original wall design, which was a monolithic wall with an angular gabion face anchored to bedrock, and this led investors to seek alternative solutions. Any proposed alternative needed to account for the problematic soil foundation, high ground water level and the close proximity to an open stream.
THE SOLUTION
The alternative earth retaining wall that was proposed uses simple Tensar Technology, which has the added benefit of allowing for construction even during poor weather conditions. The modular block facing enabled the directional and vertical alignment to remain consistent with the original proposal.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The retaining wall serves as an access service road for supplying goods to the shopping centre. The wall overcomes the height difference between the level of the Koželužský watercourse and the warehouse building. The total length of the face wall is 98m, divided into two straight sections (80m + 18m) meeting at a right angle. The height varies from 7.6m in the lowest part of the wall, to 12.1m in the highest part, making it the tallest earth retaining structure to be constructed in the Czech Republic
The wall was constructed using the TensarTech wall system comprising a reinforced soil structure incorporating Tensar geogrid reinforcement with a modular block facing. The wall foundations consisted of a shallow foundation strip of reinforced concrete. The face of the wall is vertical. To divert any ground water from the backfill, a drainage layer was incorporated behind the modular concrete blocks facing. For the reinforced backfill, a locally available material of gravel mixed with fine-grained soil was used. Finally, the wall was topped using a precast concrete paraphet, railings and sound protection barrier.
