Monolithic retaining wall

An apparatus, comprising:

• a monolithic retaining wall being formed by combinable modular retaining wall blocks;
• and
• each of the combinable modular retaining wall blocks defining vertical grooves extending along a vertical direction, and horizontal grooves extending along a horizontal direction, and this is done in such a way that the monolithic retaining wall, which is formed by the combinable modular retaining wall blocks, defines spaced-apart instances of vertical channels extending vertically through the monolithic retaining wall, and spaced-apart instances of horizontal channels extending horizontally through the monolithic retaining wall, in which at least some of the spaced-apart instances of the horizontal channels intersect at least some of the spaced-apart instances of the vertical channels;
• and
• a rebar cage structure being installed in the spaced-apart instances of the vertical channels defined by the monolithic retaining wall, and the spaced-apart instances of horizontal channels defined by the monolithic retaining wall, and this is done in such a way that the rebar cage structure extends, at least in part, along at least some of the spaced-apart instances of the vertical channels defined by the monolithic retaining wall, and the spaced-apart instances of the horizontal channels defined by the monolithic retaining wall;
• and
• hardened concrete being bonded with at least some of the rebar cage structure that is positioned in (i) the spaced-apart instances of the vertical channels defined by the monolithic retaining wall, and (ii) the spaced-apart instances of the horizontal channels defined by the monolithic retaining wall;
• and
• the hardened concrete being bonded with at least some of the combinable modular retaining wall blocks forming the monolithic retaining wall, in which the hardened concrete was formed by:
• pouring a concrete slurry into the spaced-apart instances of the vertical channels defined by the monolithic retaining wall and also into the spaced-apart instances of the horizontal channels defined by the monolithic retaining wall in which the rebar cage structure is installed therein, and allowing the concrete slurry to harden in (i) the spaced-apart instances of the vertical channels defined by the monolithic retaining wall, and (ii) the spaced-apart instances of the horizontal channels defined by the monolithic retaining wall in which the rebar cage structure is installed therein;
• and
• wherein the hardened concrete, which is bonded with the combinable modular retaining wall blocks forming the monolithic retaining wall, and the rebar cage structure that is positioned in the spaced-apart instances of the vertical channels of the monolithic retaining wall, in combination with the rebar cage structure are configured to bear, in use, application of a combination of (a) a compressive force to the hardened concrete as a result of the weight of the combinable modular retaining wall blocks installed in the monolithic retaining wall, and (b) a vertical tension force to the hardened concrete, in which the vertical tension force is a result of the weight of soil bearing against the monolithic retaining wall, in which the vertical tension force is applicable along the vertical direction extending vertically through the combinable modular retaining wall blocks that form the monolithic retaining wall;
• and
• wherein the hardened concrete, which is bonded with the combinable modular retaining wall blocks forming the monolithic retaining wall, and the rebar cage structure that is positioned in the spaced-apart instances of the horizontal channels of the monolithic retaining wall, in combination with the rebar cage structure are configured to bear, in use, a horizontal tension force as a result of the weight of soil bearing against the monolithic retaining wall along the horizontal direction extending horizontally through the combinable modular retaining wall blocks that form the monolithic retaining wall;
• and
• wherein the at least one of the combinable modular retaining wall blocks defines a central vertical passageway without being combined with another instance of the at least one of the combinable modular retaining wall blocks, and
• the central vertical passageway extends, at least in part, through a body of the at least one of the combinable modular retaining wall blocks;
• and
• the central vertical passageway extends entirely through the material of the at least one of the combinable modular retaining wall blocks;
• the central vertical passageway is entirely formed of, and surrounded by, the material of the at least one of the combinable modular retaining wall blocks;
• and
• the rebar cage structure includes a vertically-extending rebar that extends through, and remains aligned along, a central axis extending centrally through the central vertical passageway;
• and
• wherein the at least one of the combinable modular retaining wall blocks includes a rock anchor block having a metal reinforcing cage formed therein, and
• the metal reinforcing cage has at least one anchor tube with endplates cast into the at least one of the combinable modular retaining wall blocks to allow rock anchors to be passed through, and secured to, an outer face;
• and
• wherein the at least one of the combinable modular retaining wall blocks includes:
• opposite ends that each define vertical grooves extending along a vertical direction along each of the opposite ends thereof;
• and
• a top side and a bottom side that each define horizontal grooves extending along a horizontal direction between the opposite ends.

A method of constructing a monolithic retaining wall, comprising:

• spatially positioning combinable modular retaining wall blocks in such a way that the combinable modular retaining wall blocks form the monolithic retaining wall relative to a working surface;
• and
• each of the combinable modular retaining wall blocks defining vertical grooves extending along a vertical direction, and horizontal grooves extending along a horizontal direction in such a way that the monolithic retaining wall, which is formed by the combinable modular retaining wall blocks, defines spaced-apart instances of vertical channels extending vertically through the monolithic retaining wall, spaced-apart instances of horizontal channels extending horizontally through the monolithic retaining wall, and at least some of the spaced-apart instances of the horizontal channels intersecting at least some of the spaced-apart instances of the vertical channels extending vertically through the monolithic retaining wall;
• and
• installing a rebar cage structure in the spaced-apart instances of the vertical channels defined by the monolithic retaining wall and the spaced-apart instances of the horizontal channels defined by the monolithic retaining wall in such a way that the rebar cage structure extends, at least in part, along at least some of the spaced-apart instances of the vertical channels defined by the monolithic retaining wall, and the spaced-apart instances of the horizontal channels defined by the monolithic retaining wall;
• and
• forming the monolithic retaining wall by pouring a concrete slurry into the spaced-apart instances of the vertical channels defined by the monolithic retaining wall and also into the spaced-apart instances of the horizontal channels defined by the monolithic retaining wall in which the rebar cage structure is installed, at least in part, therein;
• waiting for the concrete slurry to harden into hardened concrete in such a way that:
• the hardened concrete becomes bonded with at least some of the combinable modular retaining wall blocks forming the monolithic retaining wall, and the rebar cage structure that is positioned in the spaced-apart instances of the vertical channels defined by the monolithic retaining wall, and the spaced-apart instances of the horizontal channels defined by the monolithic retaining wall;
• and
• the hardened concrete, which becomes bonded with at least some of the combinable modular retaining wall blocks forming the monolithic retaining wall, and the rebar cage structure that is positioned in the spaced-apart instances of the vertical channels of the monolithic retaining wall, is configured to bear, in use, application of a combination of (a) a compressive force to the hardened concrete as a result of the weight of the combinable modular retaining wall blocks installed in the monolithic retaining wall, and (b) a vertical tension force to the hardened concrete, in which the vertical tension force is a result of the weight of soil bearing against the monolithic retaining wall, in which the vertical tension force is applicable along the vertical direction extending vertically through the combinable modular retaining wall blocks that form the monolithic retaining wall;
• and
• the hardened concrete, which becomes bonded with at least some of the combinable modular retaining wall blocks forming the monolithic retaining wall, and the rebar cage structure that is positioned in the spaced-apart instances of the horizontal channels of the monolithic retaining wall, in combination with the rebar cage structure are configured to bear, in use, a horizontal tension force as a result of the weight of soil bearing against the monolithic retaining wall along the horizontal direction extending horizontally through the combinable modular retaining wall blocks that form the monolithic retaining wall;
• and
• wherein the at least one of the combinable modular retaining wall blocks defines a central vertical passageway without being combined with another instance of the at least one of the combinable modular retaining wall blocks, and
• the central vertical passageway extends, at least in part, through a body of the at least one of the combinable modular retaining wall blocks;
• and
• the central vertical passageway extends entirely through the material of the at least one of the combinable modular retaining wall blocks;
• the central vertical passageway is entirely formed of, and surrounded by, the material of the at least one of the combinable modular retaining wall blocks;
• and
• the rebar cage structure includes a vertically-extending rebar that extends through, and remains aligned along, a central axis extending centrally through the central vertical passageway;
• and
• wherein the at least one of the combinable modular retaining wall blocks includes a rock anchor block having a metal reinforcing cage formed therein, and
• the metal reinforcing cage has at least one anchor tube with endplates cast into the at least one of the combinable modular retaining wall blocks to allow rock anchors to be passed through, and secured to, an outer face;
• and
• wherein the at least one of the combinable modular retaining wall blocks includes:
• opposite ends that each define vertical grooves extending along a vertical direction along each of the opposite ends thereof;
• and
• a top side and a bottom side that each define horizontal grooves extending along a horizontal direction between the opposite ends.