MSE New Concepts and Innovations

Sherif Aziz, P.E. & James R. Sullivan P.E.

Name: APC/PennDOT Fall Seminar

Date : November 2016
 Presentation Layout

• Reinforced Earth, A brief History & Basic Design Principles

• MSE Gantry Crane Loading

• Case Study : Bayonne Bridge, NY-NJ

• MSE Settlement
• Several Case Studies

• Questions and Answers

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 Reinforced Earth, a brief History
• Invented by Henri Vidal, Engineer and Architect (1924-2007)
• On a beach in Ibiza 1957 while building castles of sand
• Filed for a patent on March 27, 1963
• RECo USA first project 1971, HWY 39 CA
• MSE is recognized as a major civil engineering innovation

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 Reinforced Earth Basic Principal

• Granular backfill

• Internal friction allowing to space

the reinforcement layers
 arch effect

• A facing linked to the

reinforcement is required
 Local stability of backfill between
2 layers
 Protection against erosion

• Reinforced Earth : A composite material with artificial cohesion

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 Another Composite Material: Reinforced Concrete
Reinforced Concrete Development

• Invented and patented by Joseph Monier, a French gardener 1867

(making concrete pots with embedded iron mesh)
Joseph Monier

• Tested and made into design theory, formulas, and methods of design by a
German engineer Gustav Adolph Wayss 1879

• Used by Francois Hennebique, a French engineer in building construction 1892

(Columns, beams, floors, arches..etc)

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 Reinforced Earth Development
1958

• Scale Models
• Full Scale Tests
• Measurements on Actual
Projects
• Experimental Walls
• Finite Element Studies
• Behavior of Walls Research
• Development of current
Design Methods

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 MSE WALL DESIGN

B / H ≥ 0.7

External Stability Internal Stability

Sliding & Overturning Tension & Pullout
Internal and External Stability design is the responsibility of the MSE supplier

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MSE Foundation Analysis and Responsibility

MSE Foundation Analysis to include:

• Bearing Resistance

• Global Stability

• Settlement Analysis (amount, range, time, & location)

• Foundation analysis and evaluation is the responsibility of the

agency or geotechnical engineer of record

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Gantry Crane on MSE

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 Bayonne Bridge Project

Bayonne Bridge Navigational Clearance Project

Raising Bridge Roadway
Location: Bayonne, NJ & Staten Island, NY

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 Bayonne Bridge Project

Project Location
The Bayonne Bridge spans the Kill Van Kull and connects Bayonne, New Jersey with Staten
Island, New York. The Kill Van Kull is a major shipping channel for cargo ships accessing the
ports of Newark and Elizabeth, NJ. The Bayonne Bridge carries NY State Route 440 and New
Jersey State Route 440. Connecting Perth Amboy to Jersey City.

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 Bayonne Bridge Project

Bridge History

• Construction started in 1928 and was completed in 1931.

• At the time the Bayonne Bridge was the longest steel truss arch in the world.
• Part of a Regional Highway transportation network serving the greater New York Metropolitan area.
• Replaced ferry service between Port Richmond, NY and Bayonne, NJ.

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 Bayonne Bridge Project

New Construction
When complete, the bridge roadway will be raised by 64 ft
Allowing larger container ships to access the ports

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 Bayonne Bridge Project

Project Information

Owner: Port Authority of New York and New Jersey

Awarded to:

General Contractor: Skanska Koch / Kiewit Joint Venture

Sub-Contractor: Ferreira Construction Company

RECo’s Contract: (with Ferreira Const. Co.)

Design and Supply:

• 28,000 SF of Reinforced Earth wall - Large Rectangular Precast Panels with Galvanized Steel Strip Soil
Reinforcements.
• 13,000 SF of Terratrel MSE wall Temporary Wire Walls for Phasing of Construction.

Design Only:
• 1,075 LF of Precast Coping
• 168 LF of Precast Half Connector
• 1,772 LF of Precast Traffic Barrier for TL-5 Loading

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 Bayonne Bridge Project

Reinforced Earth MSE wall with large rectangular panels

5 ½” thick precast facing panels with galvanized steel soil reinforcing strips

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 Bayonne Bridge Project

Reinforced Earth Terratrel temporary wire wall for phasing

Welded wire facings with steel soil reinforcing strips

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 Bayonne Bridge Project

Additional Loading from Gantry Crane

• Design the permanent and temporary Reinforced Earth Walls to support a large gantry crane to be used for
placing precast box beams for the new viaduct.

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 Bayonne Bridge Project

Gantry Crane Configuration

INITIAL GANTRY SET UP & LAUNCH POSITION

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Bayonne Bridge Project

Gantry Crane Configuration

PARKED GANTRY POSITION

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 Bayonne Bridge Project

Wall 3 (New York Side) with gantry crane.

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 Bayonne Bridge Project

Temporary Wire Wall at Wall 3 (New York Side) with gantry crane.

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Bayonne Bridge Project

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Bayonne Bridge Project

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Bayonne Bridge Project

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 Bayonne Bridge Project

Accommodating Settlement
On the New York side, anticipated wall settlements were a concern. RECo provided slip joint panels at regular intervals to
increase the ability of the wall to withstand differential settlements.

Precast Slip Joint Panels

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 Bayonne Bridge Project

Reinforced Earth

Permanent Walls Temporary Walls for Phasing

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 Bayonne Bridge Project

Reinforced Earth

Design for Settlement

Design for Special Loading

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MSE Settlement

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 What is Settlement outcome for different
structures?
• Skeletal or Continuum Structures:
• Changes in structural elements locations
• Additional stresses to all structural elements and joints.

• MSE Walls:
• Changes in backfill and reinforcement location
• Possible additional stresses to connection
• Possible damage to panels

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MSE Differential Settlement

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Different MSE Options for Settlement

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 Settlement Basic Choice of System Criteria

• Decide Type of wall:

• Single Stage MSE wall ≤ 6”

• Single Stage MSE wall built in phases 6”-18” (w/ Surcharge if necessary)

• Two Stage MSE wall ˃ 18”

• Single Stage MSE wall with Ground improvements

• Final choice is based on project specific requirements.

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 Single Stage MSE Wall

• Wall is built in it’s final shape with

facing panels.

• Dimensions for top panels are not

yet defined.

• Wall is surcharged if necessary.

• Settlement is monitored until it

stops.

• Design for top panels is adjusted

to account for actual and
additional settlement, then are
cast and placed.

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Phased Construction Notes on RECo Plans
S.R. 6015 Section 22 E Tioga County PA 2006

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S.R. 6015 Section 22 E Tioga County PA 2006

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Single Stage MSE Wall with Preload Surcharge
Atlantic City Brigantine Connector 2000

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 Single Stage MSE wall
Branch Ave, WMATA DC 2002

Slip
Joint

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 WMATA Branch Ave, Max Settlement 15”

WMATA - BRANCH AVENUE STORAGE YARD - MSE WALL

SETTLEMNT PLATES ON MSE WALL FACE

10/14/2001

10/24/2001

11/13/2001

11/23/2001

12/13/2001

12/23/2001
8/15/2001

8/25/2001

9/14/2001

9/24/2001

10/4/2001

11/3/2001

12/3/2001

1/12/2002

1/22/2002
8/5/2001

9/4/2001

1/2/2002
3.00

1.00
SETTLEMENT, INCHES

-1.00

-3.00

-5.00

-7.00

-9.00
DATE
COL. 116 COL. 149

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 Belt Parkway over Mill Basin, Brooklyn NY 2016

• Specified Two-Stage construction

• RECo proposed single stage construction and received approval

• Walls constructed on wick drains with preloading using Geotrel Wire Wall

• Settlement in excess of 18” anticipated

• Top panels determined and installed after settlement

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 Belt Parkway over Mill Basin, Brooklyn NY 2016
Wall 2 Data - 2.5 ft Settlement (Center of Embankment)

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Belt Parkway over Mill Basin, Brooklyn NY 2016
Wall 2 Data – 20” Settlement at Wall Facing

0.6

0.5

0.4

0.3
Series1

0.2

0.1

0
10
13
16
19
22
25
28
31
34
37
40
43
46
49
52
55
58
61
64
67
70
73
76
79
82
85
88
91
94
97
1
4
7

100
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Belt Parkway over Mill Basin, Brooklyn NY 2016
Wall 2 with Wire Wall Surcharge

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Drainage inlets and pipes In Single Stage MSE Walls

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 Single Stage Phased Construction

• Wall is built up to 60% or 90% to

design height

• Dimensions for top panels are not yet

defined

• Wall is surcharged if necessary

• Settlement is monitored until it stops

• Design for top panels is adjusted to

account for actual and additional
settlement, then are cast and placed.

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Richmond airport, 12”± foundation settlement,
wall built in two phases 2009

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Richmond airport, 12”± foundation settlement,
wall built in two phases

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Richmond Airport, near completion 2010

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Two Stage MSE Wall System

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Two Stage Walls installation Procedures

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Two Stage Wall (Under Surcharge)
Atlantic City New Jersey 2001

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 Driscoll Bridge Two Stage 2005

Two Stage Abutment, Driscoll Bridge, NJ

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Driscoll Bridge Two Stage 2005

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Two Stage RT 52, Ocean City NJ 2012

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Two Stage RT 52, Ocean City NJ 2012

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MSE Wall with Ground Improvement

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MSE Walls on Improved Foundation (CMC)

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RECo Walls on Controlled Modulus Columns (CMC)

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CMC : Rigid Inclusion with no spoils

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 Mullica River Bridge, Atlantic County
New Jersey 2010

• Owner : NJTNPK Authority

• Contractor : Agate Const.

• Project Area: 4,831 sm

• Max Height : 9.14 m

• MSE designed as Two Stage and

Single Stage systems with
surcharge walls to expedite
settlement

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 Mullica River Bridge, Atlantic County
New Jersey 2010

RECo & Menard proposed an

Alternate Design for:

(Two Stage- Stone Column-

Surcharge) system

with

(Single Stage – CMC) system.

Alternate Design approved

and installation completed in
2010

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Mullica River Bridge , GSP NJ RECo Walls on CMCs 2010

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Mullica River Bridge , GSP NJ 2010

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LTP Location and effect on lower levels of reinforcements
Bass River Bridge NJ MSE Wall on CMC 2012

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Bass River Bridge, NJ MSE Wall Instrumentation

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 Insert a picture here

INTERNATIONAL BRIDGE CONFERENCE

Pittsburgh, 2013

IBC 13-83
FULL SCALE LOAD TEST PROGRAM FOR SUPPORT OF MSE WALL USING
RIGID INCLUSIONS / CMC IN NEW JERSEY
Frederic MASSE – Alex POTTER-WEIGHT MENARD USA
Sherif AZIZ – John SANKEY – Susan RAFALKO REINFORED EARTH
Mike WALKER – Mary NODINE GEI CONSULTANTS
Loads and Stresses

• Stresses are concentrated directly above the CMCs as they attract

most of the wall load.

PAPER IBC 13-83 – International Bridge Conference – Pittsburgh 2013

Strains and Deformations

• Ground directly above CMCs showed smaller deformations and in

between CMCs the deformations were larger

• Strains in bottom strips are tolerable and additional reinforcement is

not required
• LTP performed as expected
• Deformations are close to uniform at the top of the LTP

PAPER IBC 13-83 – International Bridge Conference – Pittsburgh 2013

 Conclusions

• MSE walls are flexible

• Several options are available for MSE walls depending on the

amount of settlements

• Settlement considerations have to be tailored to every project

specific requirements and needs

• Ground improvement methods should be considered for MSE

walls with large settlements

• Design of MSE walls supported by ground improvements like

CMCs have to be coordinated between MSE and CMC designers

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 Thank you

Questions and Answers

THANK YOU, QUESTION??

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