Positive
Connection
Retaining
Walls
What are Positive
Connection Reinforced
Retaining Walls?
Positive Connection retaining walls are built to enhance long-lasting geogrid soil reinforcement through greater connection strength with advanced engineering designs. This is done by wrapping the approved, specified geogrid underneath the backfill, through the hollow core of the blocks and back over the compacted backfill again with one continuous strip of geogrid.
By maintaining a running bond pattern for this design, MagnumStone achieves 100% geogrid coverage for Positive Connection retaining walls. Attaining 100% geogrid coverage for Positive Connection retaining wall designs is a signature feature of MagnumStone’s interlocking precast big block system.
Through Positive Connection, the retaining wall’s strength is evenly distributed along each course and forms a secure resistance to eliminate pullout connection failures. This delivers the ultimate geogrid reinforced connection, soil retention and stability to withstand extreme live loads above or behind the wall.
What’s the
Difference
Between
Geogrid Walls
and Positive
Connection
Walls?
Traditional geogrid reinforced walls rely on the friction of geogrid being pinched between the mass of two concrete retaining wall blocks to keep it in place. Positive Connection walls use continuous strips of geogrid along the bottom and top of each layer of compacted backfill, while the geogrid wraps through the block’s vertical hollow core.
Positive Connection offers a frictionless geogrid connection and delivers 100% geogrid coverage thanks to MagnumStone’s large hollow core block design. These hollow cores also provide integral built-in drainage columns in the retaining wall. Positive Connection designs are often required to meet criteria and standards of Departments of Transportation and Ministries of Transportation, as well as the specifications of AASHTO LRFD.
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Advantages of Positive Connection Retaining Walls
When to Use Positive Connection Retaining Wall Designs
The purpose of Positive Connection retaining walls is to have the maximum connection capacity of the geogrid and retaining wall blocks to stabilize and reinforce soil. Departments of Transportation and Ministries of Transportation commonly specify Positive Connection for walls along roadways, railways, bridges and other high-risk areas. In certain jurisdictions, regulators have made Positive Connection designs mandatory.
The full impact and benefits of Positive Connection retaining walls are best exemplified by super tall retaining walls, as the structural performance is critical and is even the preferred design for regions with high seismic activity. The reliable design of these walls complements the durability of MagnumStone’s precast blocks for an integrated system that’s trusted by engineers, contractors and developers worldwide.
Common Applications of Positive Connection Retaining Walls
Positive Connection Retaining Wall Design Considerations
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Positive Connection Solution
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DOCUMENTS & DOWNLOADS FOR GRAVITY RETAINING WALLS
All related documents for this design option are listed here, or to view our entire downloads catalog click here
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Positive Connection Wall Documents
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Related Design Details
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Case Studies
Every MagnumStone project has a story behind it, not just backfill and drainage channels. Our extensively library of detailed MagnumStone case studies feature impressive versatility and retaining wall successes.
