Cemetery expansion with CRB retaining walls in Spain

Contributed by Terraforce

In the reclamation of a plot previously filled with waste, retaining walls were necessary to create new horizontal platforms and garden areas for the La Almudena Cemetery in Madrid, Spain.

*In total, 10,500 Terraforce L12 blocks were installed with geogrids for every second row of blocks at the cemetery, resulting in visually striking rock face finish walls.*

*The supporting soil was very soft to great depths, as confirmed by penetration tests.*

Initially, the plan involved the construction of poured concrete walls. However, the presence of extremely soft soils led the project team to seek alternatives, as the foundations required for the concrete walls would have been prohibitively expensive.

*Setting out the corners and placement of geogrids for every second row of Terraforce blocks.*

*Due to soft soil, ORBE proposed reinforcing the foundation beneath the segmented wall with geogrids and improved soil.*

“Following the initial engineering study conducted by ORBE, Terraforce recommended the installation of green reinforced soil walls (green walls) in certain areas of the plot to be reclaimed, and segmental walls in other sections of the project,” said Miguel Seller, civil engineer, ORBE Técnicas y Medioambiente. “The segmental walls, designed by ORBE, feature Terraforce L12 rock face blocks, which are manufactured by Prensagra Prefabricados near Madrid as prefabricated elements for the visible surface.”

*Compaction of backfill in process behind the wall and a precise ninety-degree corner.*

*The Terraforce walls also accommodate gently sloping access ramps.*

Miguel explains how in-depth geotechnical testing helped formulate the best design for the site: “The project is not particularly notable in terms of wall height, with the walls being only 3m maximum height, whereas ORBE has previously constructed walls up to 10m with Terraforce blocks. However, it is especially significant that the supporting soil was very soft to great depths, as confirmed by our penetration tests.”

*Steps, corners and garden features with Terraforce blocks.*

*To finish of the overall linear look, straight-lined steel rails were set into blocks filled with concrete for that purpose.*

“Internal stability was analyzed as usual using Terraforce’s Maxiwall Pro software. This analysis was subsequently compared with other software owned by ORBE, along with a global stability assessment. Based on these studies, we proposed reinforcing the foundation beneath the segmented wall with geogrids and improved soil.”

*Sharp-edged concrete caps set along the top rows of blocks finish off the walls.*

*Three very neat corners installed by ORBE.*

In total 10,500 Terraforce L12 blocks were installed at the cemetery, resulting in visually striking rock face finish walls. Reinforced with geogrids every second row and stepped outwards at intervals with precise ninety-degree corners, the walls also accommodate gently sloping access ramps and rectangular garden features. To finish of the overall linear look, straight-lined steel rails were set into blocks – filled with concrete for that purpose – and sharp-edged concrete caps set along the top rows of blocks.

*Cemetery expansion with Terraforce retaining walls and green walls in Spain.*

Learn more about Terraforce here.

This page was printed from https://geosyntheticsmagazine.com

Cemetery expansion with CRB retaining walls in Spain

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