Reinforced Soil Structures

Soil is good in compression but has low tensile strength. Tensile strength can be added to soil by placing layers of polymer or steel reinforcement between compacted soil. The reinforcement restricts the soils ability to spread out forcing it to stand at steeper angles than it would achieve in its un-reinforced state. The composite mass of soil and reinforcement acts as a homogeneous block, this block forms the retaining wall.

Reinforced soil can be faced with a variety of materials forming either slopes (face angle up to 70˚) or walls (face angle >70˚) with a wide range of aesthetic finishes.

Reinforced soil is most cost-effective for walls built in areas of fill. If a project requires fill to be placed to increase the ground level as part of the main site works then the incorporation of reinforcement can be included within the existing works package providing a cost saving. Reinforced soil systems also become cost effective when compared to mass gravity walls for structures with a retained height greater than 4m.

E-Slope ®

E-Slope is a proprietary facing system used with geogrids or woven geotextile reinforcement to create steep slopes and embankments of up to 70°. E-Slope is made from polymer coated, Galfan® galvanized steel wire mesh achieving a 120-year design life^*.

Unlike other steel facia panels, E-Slope arrives on site fully assembled including topsoil retention matting and brackets which fix the face angle of each unit. Topsoil is placed directly to the rear of the E-Slope face to support the growth of vegetation. E-Slope structures can be seeded by hand during construction or hydroseeded upon completion.

E-SLOPE units are constructed from 75 x 75mm square welded mesh with a grey polymeric coating.
All units are factory assembled and supplied as a flat pack for rapid deployment.
E-Slope is compatible with any form of geogrid and can utilise a range of connection methods such as frictional overlap or bodkins.
Lengths of integral steel mesh base is 1.350m as standard and can be increased to meet the requirements of the design.
No specialist pneumatic tools are required to install E-Slope, each unit arrives with factory fitted spirals at either end. Adjacent units are positioned with overlapping spirals which are locked together with a pin.
E-Slope units can be plug planted.
E-Slope units can be adapted for a rubble style stone facing for areas of low light or where the face will be in contact with water.

E-Wall ®

E-Wall uses our BBA Certified gabions as a fascia to a reinforced soil mass. Compacted fill is reinforced with high tensile strength polymer geogrids allowing for quick and simple construction of large retaining structures. A physical connection between the gabions and the geogrid reinforcement ensures minimal distortion when constructing vertical walls.

E-WALL provides a method of forming large gabion faced reinforced soil walls and can be used as an alternative or in conjunction with traditional mass gravity gabions.
Stone can be hand-placed and dressed to the front to provide a pleasing aesthetic or for areas where aesthetics do not take priority a tighter mesh and smaller stone fill can be placed rapidly for construction of temporary walls.
E-Wall is compatible with any form of geogrid and can utilise a range of connection methods.
E-Wall reduces the amount of gabion stone required compared to similar height mass gravity walls reducing aggregate costs and installation time.