Abstract: Embodiments of a mold for making a retaining wall blocks are disclosed. The mold enables blocks to be made more quickly by enabling separation of each block from the mold housing when the block is cured sufficiently to enable separation. Once separated, the block can be permitted to fully cure away from the mold housing, while the mold housing is re-used to produce one or more other blocks. In one embodiment, among others, the mold has a movable bottom tray and a mold housing with at least one door. The mold housing has an opening designed to receive and introduce a fabrication material, such as concrete, into the cavity. Once a block is sufficiently cured, it is separated from the mold housing on the tray through the at least one door, and a new tray is inserted in the mold housing to make another block.

Abstract: Disclosed are embodiments of a new modular retaining wall block and method for manufacturing the block using a commercial masonry unit (CMU) block machine. The block includes a lever extension, preferably extending outwardly from a rear side of the block that anchors and inhibits forward tipping of the block when placed in a wall with backfill soil and that enables the block to be made substantially lighter than conventional blocks. Although not optimal for anchoring, the top surface angle of the lever extension is set at approximately 45 degrees to enable the concrete to sufficiently enter a part of the interior cavity of the mold used in the CMU block machine that forms the lever extension and to enable the lever extension to remain sufficiently intact in the partially cured condition during and after placement on a pallet.

Abstract: Embodiments of a mold for making a retaining wall blocks are disclosed. The mold enables blocks to be made more quickly by enabling separation of each block from the mold housing when the block is cured sufficiently to enable separation. Once separated, the block can be permitted to fully cure away from the mold housing, while the mold housing is re-used to produce one or more other blocks. In one embodiment, among others, the mold has a movable bottom tray and a mold housing with at least one door. The mold housing has an opening designed to receive and introduce a fabrication material, such as concrete, into the cavity. Once a block is sufficiently cured, it is separated from the mold housing on the tray through the at least one door, and a new tray is inserted in the mold housing to make another block.

Abstract: A roadside barrier to sit on top of a retaining wall to provide impact resistance to vehicular traffic. The precast concrete traffic barrier unit is designed to have a counterweight from soil backfill on the horizontal stem portion of the precast unit that acts to resist overturning pressures from vehicle impact on the precast traffic barrier portion which extends above the roadway surface. The horizontal stem is an exemplary designed triangular in shape to capture more of the backfill soil than typically what soil backfill rest directly above the horizontal stem or counterweight portion. Therefore, the triangular horizontal stem with its arching effect between adjacent units will allow more of the soil backfill to resist impact loading and reduce the amount of concrete needed to provide adequate vehicle restraint protection. An alignment seat locks the traffic barrier unit to the retaining wall below.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an embodiment of a roadside barrier to sit on top of a retaining wall to provide impact resistance to vehicular traffic. The precast concrete traffic barrier unit is designed to have a counterweight from soil backfill on the horizontal stem portion of the precast unit that acts to resist overturning pressures from vehicle impact on the precast traffic barrier portion which extends above the roadway surface. The horizontal stem is an exemplary designed triangular in shape to capture more of the backfill soil than typically what soil backfill rest directly above the horizontal stem or counterweight portion. Therefore, the triangular horizontal stem with its arching effect between adjacent units will allow more of the soil backfill to resist impact loading and reduce the amount of concrete needed to provide adequate vehicle restraint protection. An alignment seat locks the traffic barrier unit to the retaining wall below.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of a roadside barrier segment to sit on top of a retaining wall to provide impact resistance to vehicular traffic. Concrete traffic barriers are pre-cast in a controlled manufacturing environment then transported as a modular precast concrete segment to the jobsite and installed interlocking directly on top of an earth retaining wall. The precast concrete segment is designed to have a counterweight from soil backfill on a stem of the precast segment that resists overturning pressures from vehicle impact on the traffic barrier segment that extends above the roadway surface. The stem may be triangular in shape to capture more of the backfill soil. A vertical node may be placed on one side of the segment and a receiving channel on the opposite side of the segment to allow the interaction of adjacent segments to share impact loads from motor vehicles.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of a roadside barrier segment to sit on top of a retaining wall to provide impact resistance to vehicular traffic. Concrete traffic barriers are pre-cast in a controlled manufacturing environment then transported as a modular precast concrete segment to the jobsite and installed interlocking directly on top of an earth retaining wall. The precast concrete segment is designed to have a counterweight from soil backfill on a stem of the precast segment that resists overturning pressures from vehicle impact on the traffic barrier segment that extends above the roadway surface. The stem may be triangular in shape to capture more of the backfill soil. A vertical node may be placed on one side of the segment and a receiving channel on the opposite side of the segment to allow the interaction of adjacent segments to share impact loads from motor vehicles.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are various embodiments of systems related to modular earth retaining wall systems. In one embodiment, among others, a precast retaining wall block configured for assembly into a retaining wall includes a front face portion, a web portion extending outwardly from a rear surface of the front face portion, a rear panel portion, and a geogrid material wrapped around at least a portion of the rear panel portion and extending outwardly from the rear panel portion.

Abstract: One embodiment of a system of the present disclosure can be implemented as follows. A plurality of wall blocks are stacked to form at least a portion of a retaining wall, each wall block having an interior face, an exterior face; a top surface, and a bottom surface. The system further includes retaining means for securing at least one reinforcement member between stacked wall blocks, the retaining means including a pair of reinforcement member retaining bars that are positioned within a slot crossing the transverse length of the top surface of at least one wall block. A first of the retaining means secures the at least one reinforcement member against the bottom of the slot and a second of the retaining means secures the first retaining members against the side of the slot, such that the at least one reinforcement member is additionally secured between the pair of retaining means. Other systems and methods are also provided.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are various embodiments of systems related to modular earth retaining wall systems. In one embodiment, among others, a precast retaining wall block configured for assembly into a retaining wall includes a front face portion, a web portion extending outwardly from a rear surface of the front face portion, a rear panel portion, and a geogrid material wrapped around the rear panel portion and extending outwardly from the rear panel portion. The web portion includes a vertical center portion and protrusions extending outwardly from the lower sides of the vertical center portion. The protrusions may be triangular.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are various embodiments of systems related to modular earth retaining wall systems. In one embodiment, among others, a precast retaining wall block configured for assembly into a retaining wall includes a front face portion, a web portion extending outwardly from a rear surface of the front face portion, and aligning elements. The web portion includes a vertical center portion and left and right protrusions extending outwardly from the lower sides of the vertical center portion. The left and right protrusions may be substantially triangular. The aligning elements extend downwardly from a bottom surface of the left and right protrusions for locking the precast retaining wall block to the vertical center portion associated with an underlying precast retaining wall block associated with an underlying row.

Abstract: A modular block wall system is provided. In one embodiment, among others, the system comprises a modular block wall adjacent to earth material, the wall exhibiting an elevational angle; a first elongated member passing through the wall along the angle, the first elongated member secured at a bottom end and secured at a top end to the wall; and a second elongated member coupled, directly or indirectly, to the top end of the first elongated member and passing generally vertically downwardly into and secured in the earth material.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are various embodiments of systems related to modular earth retaining wall systems. In one embodiment, among others, a precast retaining wall block configured for assembly into a retaining wall includes a front face portion, a web portion extending outwardly from a rear surface of the front face portion, and aligning elements. The web portion includes a vertical center portion and left and right protrusions extending outwardly from the lower sides of the vertical center portion. The left and right protrusions may be substantially triangular. The aligning elements extend downwardly from a bottom surface of the left and right protrusions for locking the precast retaining wall block to the vertical center portion associated with an underlying precast retaining wall block associated with an underlying row.

Abstract: A modular block wall system is provided. In one embodiment, among others, the system comprises a modular block wall adjacent to earth material, the wall exhibiting an elevational angle; a first elongated member passing through the wall along the angle, the first elongated member secured at a bottom end and secured at a top end to the wall; and a second elongated member coupled, directly or indirectly, to the top end of the first elongated member and passing generally vertically downwardly into and secured in the earth material.

Abstract: One embodiment of modular wall blocks of the present disclosure can be implemented as follows. An interlocking retaining wall block, adapted for assembly into a retaining wall including a plurality of stacked rows of at least a plurality of said blocks. The block includes left, right, front and rear body portions, and left and right protruding body portions extending outwardly in left and right directions from said left and right body portions, respectively. The block further includes left and right aligning elements extending upwardly from an upper surface of said left and right protruding body portions, respectively, each of said aligning elements having an upper surface that is angled downwardly from rear to front, each of said aligning elements being operable to be received by a void of another one of said blocks.