Fundamentals
Engineers have known for years that they can eliminate the soil load acting on a retaining wall by reinforcing the backfill with a geogrid or geotextile system. But until now, there has never been a way to attach geogrid or geotextile to sheet piling. Introducing AquaTerra – another industry first!
For years, engineers have known that if they had a method to connect geogrid or geotextile to a sheet pile, the same benefits would apply and they could use a shorter, lighter gauge sheet pile in their application. But until now, there has not been a connection for a “sheet pile-to-grid” system. Gulf Synthetics is proud to offer AquaTerra, the first sheet pile-to-grid connection system ever!
AquaTerra is already having a dramatic effect how retaining walls are designed and installed. Retaining walls that were once reserved for steel sheet piling are now being designed with light gauge vinyl or composite sheet piling supplied by Gulf. This system is marketed and sold jointly under an exclusive agreement with Tensar International Corporation, a World Leader in Grade-Separation Solutions.
This 400 meter AquaTerra Wall System replaces a design that was once reserved for steel sheet piling.
Compared to traditional sheet pile design methods, the sheet piling used in an AquaTerra system is reduced by almost half! In applications where AquaTerra is appropriate, given material, freight, and installation savings, there is no better or cost-effective way to build.
Unlike block and concrete panel systems, sheet piling can be driven and embedded to predefined depths to eliminate piping, stabilize weak soils, or to address global stability issues.
Once the sheet piles are installed, an AquaTerra Wall System is easily backfilled. Geogrid length is typically 70% of the total wall height.
The 100% synthetic design of the AquaTerra system meets any service life test.
There are no outer wales or face piles on an AquaTerra System – a huge benefit over other synthetic sheet pile systems!
