Sponsoring Agency: Alabama Department of Transportation
Contributing Partners: The Reinforced Earth Company and Vulcan Materials Company
Investigators: J. Brian Anderson
Grade separation, often required in highway infrastructure, is usually provided by retaining walls. Mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) wall technology is a combination of soil and reinforcement to efficiently achieve grade separation requirements. This composite offers a host of advantages over conventional reinforced concrete and gravity walls including up to 50% lower cost, reduced construction time, and up to 76% less CO2 emissions. The Geotechnical Chamber at the Advanced Structural Engineering Laboratory (ASEL) offers a unique opportunity to test a full scale MSE retaining structure in response to induced settlement and extreme loading. The observations have shown promising results. It is indeed exciting and informative to be able to work at full scale.
