Technical

SRW Construction – Historical Evolution The following excerpt is a continuation in our SRW Market History Article series. For the full article, click here. Segmental Retaining Walls (SRWs) have progressed from simple landscaping wall solutions in the 1980s to one of the major types of mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) walls …

The following excerpt is a continuation in our series looking at the history of Segmental Retaining Walls (SRWs). For the full article, click here. Segmental retaining walls (SRWs) are used in both private and public development projects. SRWs utilized in the private market are generally designed in accordance with the …

For more than 30 years, segmental retaining walls (SRWs) have been a first-rate choice for a variety of  projects because they are aesthetically pleasing, durable, flexible and structurally sound. Since their introduction in the early 1980s, the specifications, design, construction and inspection of SRW systems has evolved, creating new and …

The NCMA Design Manual for Segmental Retaining Walls, 3rd Edition, has been instrumental in the growth of geosynthetic–reinforced soil walls in commercial markets by providing a fundamental geotechnical–based method for structural stability analysis.  The manual contains documents providing specification and material testing requirements which are important to the long-term performance …

A guide for residential segmental retaining wall systems Segmental retaining walls (SRWs) can be used in any number of applications. Residential projects can range from a structural application, which may include extending a patio, or creating space for a pool, to a non-structural application, such as planters, fire pits, or …

Segmental Retaining Wall Research While the concept behind Segmental Retaining Walls (SRWs) is nothing new, in fact, gravity walls have been in existence for over 4,000 years, SRWs reflect decades of advancement with the use of manufactured concrete units and geosynthetic soil reinforcement. The National Concrete Masonry Association (NCMA) and …

  Segmental Retaining Wall Systems  – What SRW specifications cover Specifications are legal contract documents forming an agreement between the owner and the contractor regarding labor, material, costs, installation, equipment costs, inspections, and management.  It is a document defining the scope of work for the contractor.  The specification defines what …

Success and growth in the landscape, commercial and transportation markets brought big production demands to the industry but also introduced a relatively new consideration for SRWs, freeze-thaw durability, to an otherwise proven product. The aggressive actions of expanding water during freeze-cycles and chemical attack has provided a challenge to all …

The use of Segmental Retaining Walls (SRWs) is a modern technique but concrete as a building material goes back to the Egyptians. Dry-cast or zero-slump concrete block products began in the United States in 1876, making one block unit at a time. A hundred years later, zero-slump concrete SRW units …

Despite many new bridges and replacement projects, American bridge infrastructure is aging and seriously deficient. Virtually every state in the nation is faced with the task of replacing unsafe bridges that have outlived their design life. According to the American Road and Transportation Builders Association, there are nearly 204 million …