Geosynthetic reinforced wall panels comprising soil reinforcing members

A retaining wall system comprising:

• (a) a retaining wall facing element, the retaining wall facing element comprising an embedded retaining wall connector comprising a first continuous geogrid section;
• (b) a plurality of tension connectors in communication with the embedded connector first continuous geogrid section;
• (c) a plurality of soil reinforcing members comprising discrete second geogrid sections in communication with the tension connectors;
• (d) a tensioning device for tensioning the embedded retaining wall connector and the soil reinforcing second geogrid sections during backfill material placement, the tensioning device comprising a main bar, a handle bar disposed on an upper end of the main bar, and a tensioning bar disposed on the main bar;
• and
• (e) a facing element stabilizing device comprising an angled corrugated section connected to the facing element to provide resistance to facing element rotation during backfill material placement, and
• wherein the upper end of the main bar is spaced apart from the retaining wall to enable use of the main bar as a lever for applying tensioning force to the embedded retaining wall connectors and the soil reinforcing second geogrid sections.

A method for reinforcing a retaining wall component comprising:

• (a) positioning a retaining wall facing element in a predetermined location, the retaining wall facing element comprising a plurality of embedded retaining wall connectors comprising discrete first geogrid sections;
• (b) connecting the embedded connector first geogrid sections to a plurality of tension connectors;
• (c) providing a plurality of soil reinforcing members comprising discrete second geogrid sections;
• (d) connecting the embedded connector first geogrid sections to the soil reinforcing second geogrid sections via the tension connectors;
• (e) placing an amount of backfill material onto the embedded connector first geogrid sections and the soil reinforcing second geogrid sections;
• (f) compacting the backfill material onto the embedded connector first geogrid sections and the soil reinforcing second geogrid sections;
• (g) providing a predetermined tensioning force to the soil reinforcing second geogrid sections;
• (h) tensioning the embedded connector first geogrid sections and the soil reinforcing second geogrid sections using a tensioning device as a lever by moving an upper end of the tensioning device away from the retaining wall;
• (i) providing resistance to rotation of the retaining wall facing element during backfill material placement using a facing element stabilizing device comprising an angled corrugated section connected to the facing element, and
• wherein the tensioning device comprises a main bar, a handle bar disposed on the upper end of the main bar, and a tensioning bar disposed on the main bar, and
• wherein the upper end of the main bar is spaced apart from the retaining wall to enable use of the main bar as a lever for applying tensioning force to the embedded retaining wall connectors and the soil reinforcing second geogrid sections.

A method for reinforcing a retaining wall component comprising:

• (a) positioning a retaining wall facing element in a predetermined location, the retaining wall facing element comprising an embedded retaining wall connector comprising a first continuous geogrid section;
• (b) connecting the embedded connector first continuous geogrid section to a plurality of tension connectors;
• (c) providing a plurality of soil reinforcing members comprising discrete second geogrid sections;
• (d) connecting the embedded connector first continuous geogrid section to the soil reinforcing second geogrid sections via the tension connectors;
• (e) placing an amount of backfill material onto the embedded connector first continuous geogrid section and the soil reinforcing second geogrid sections;
• (f) compacting the backfill material onto the embedded connector first continuous geogrid section and the soil reinforcing second geogrid sections;
• (g) providing a predetermined tensioning force to the soil reinforcing second geogrid sections;
• and
• (h) tensioning the embedded connector first geogrid sections and the soil reinforcing second geogrid sections using a tensioning device as a lever by moving an upper end of the tensioning device away from the retaining wall;
• (i) providing resistance to rotation of the retaining wall facing element during backfill material placement using a facing element stabilizing device comprising an angled corrugated section connected to the facing element, and,
• wherein the tensioning device comprises a main bar, a handle bar disposed on the upper end of the main bar, and a tensioning bar disposed on the main bar, and
• wherein the upper end of the main bar is spaced apart from the retaining wall to enable use of the main bar as a lever for applying tensioning force to the embedded retaining wall connectors and the soil reinforcing second geogrid sections.