Abstract: A holding clamp for use in a testing apparatus for determining tensile and sheer strength characteristics of a reinforcement sheet. The holding clamp defines a channel having at least two adjacent bearing surfaces and an opening to an exterior surface. An elongate clamping bar conforming in cross-sectional shape at least relative to the pair of adjacent bearing surfaces is received within the channel with an end portion of the reinforcement sheet overwrapping the clamping bar and a portion of the reinforcement sheet extends outwardly through the opening for securing in the testing apparatus. A loading mechanism moves the clamp to load the reinforcement sheet, whereby the tensile or sheer strength characteristics can be determined. A method of clamping an end of a reinforcement sheet to be tested for tensile or sheer strength characteristics is disclosed for a testing apparatus.

Abstract: An earth retaining wall made of stacked tiers of blocks placed side by side to form a wall with a channel extending at least partially along a longitudinal axis of the wall in which the channel is defined at least two adjacent bearing surfaces of vertically adjacent blocks and a pathway extending from the channel to an exterior side of the wall. The channel receives an elongate clamping bar that conforms in cross-sectional shape at least relative to the bearing surfaces. A reinforcement sheet wrapped around the elongate connector bar extends through the pathway laterally of the wall. The clamping bar communicates tensile loading of backfill on the reinforcement sheet to the wall. The wall is mechanically stabilized by normal loading from the blocks in the wall above a reinforcement sheet and the tensile loading of the backfill communicated by the clamping bar to the wall. A method of constructing an earth retaining wall and blocks useful in such wall are disclosed.

Abstract: A mechanically stabilized earth retaining wall, made of at least two stacked tiers of blocks placed side-by-side. Each block defines a channel extending between opposing sides with at least two adjacent bearing surfaces and an opening between the bearing surfaces to a slot extending laterally from the channel to a back side of the block. An elongate clamping bar conforming in cross-sectional shape at least relative to the pair of adjacent bearing surfaces defined in the channel, is received within the channel. A reinforcement sheet wrapped around the elongate clamping bar extends through the slot laterally of the tiers of blocks. The clamping bar mechanically engages the bearing surfaces of the channel such that the tensile loading by backfill covering the reinforcement sheet is distributed across the block. A method of constructing a mechanically stabilized earth retaining wall is disclosed as well as a clamping bar and blocks useful with such methods and walls.