ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the areas of earth reinforcement are examined, including: Mechanically stabilized earth walls and embankments over stiff ground often involve the use of geosynthetics although metal reinforcement is also used. MSE walls are quick to construct, use a wider variety of backfill soils, are inexpensive, and can be easily formed into shapes attractive to architects and clients. MSE walls depend on the internal strength of the soil and geosynthetic mass for stability. MSE walls require good soil compaction of the retained soil and especially to the facing. Metal reinforcement serves the same purpose as geosynthetic reinforcement providing internal tensile strength to the soil. The all-important internal and external drainage considerations for geosynthetic MSE walls must be applied to metal-reinforced MSE walls. The difference is that MSE walls are constructed from the bottom-up and the reinforced soil is fill, whereas soil nail walls are constructed from the top-down and the reinforced soil is in situ soil.
