Abstract: A retaining wall block and method of forming a retaining wall block are provided. The block includes front, back, top, bottom and side surfaces. The top surface of the retaining wall block includes a set of protrusions and the bottom surface includes a channel for engaging with the protrusions of adjacent blocks. Side surfaces of the block are tapered from the front surface to the back surface. A block form and a method of securing a stabilizing sheet to a block are also provided.

Abstract: A construction element, mold assemblies and a method of casting the construction element are described. The construction element, comprises a wall panel having a base, front and rear walls, two side walls, a top wall, and an integral footing member extending rearwardly from the rear wall of the wall panel to increase the effective width of the retaining wall construction element and wherein, the footing member is of a width such that the front wall of the wall panel is prevented from sliding or tipping forward.

Abstract: A connection securing a geogrid fabric to between two tiers of stacked concrete blocks which form an earth retaining wall. A groove is formed in the top of each block in the lower tier to extend across the width of the block with grooves in adjacent blocks aligned. The groove is slightly wider that the rod and fabric wrapped around the rod and is deeper than its width. The fabric extends from backfill behind the wall over the groove. A rod is positioned over the fabric above the groove and pushed into the groove. A free end of the fabric wraps around the rod and extends from the groove towards the rear of the block. A wedge is positioned in the groove above the fabric and rod. When an upper tier of blocks is stacked on the lower tier, the rod and fabric are locked into the groove.

Abstract: A concrete block structure useful in forming a retaining wall having upwardly open openings to facilitate planting plants therein. The block has an upright front wall, laterally spaced side walls joined to the front wall, and an upwardly open interior, the side walls having upwardly open and laterally aligned grooves formed in them, and a rod received within the grooves and protruding laterally beyond each side wall. A flexible anchor sheet having a forward edge portion may extend along and above at least two adjacent blocks of the course, the anchor sheet being attached to the rod and extending rearwardly over an upper surface of the rear wall for anchoring reception in an embankment against which the blocks are placed.

Abstract: A masonry block (10) has a rearwardly extending portion (18) which includes a vertical channel (24). In use, soil stabilizing members (46) are passed through channels of aligned masonry blocks (10) and extended rearwardly behind a retaining wall (40).

Abstract: A modular block wall system is comprised of a plurality of differently sized blocks. Each block comprises a front surface and opposing rear surface, a top surface and opposing bottom surface, and first and second opposing tapered side surfaces. Blocks further includes a recess extending inwardly from top surface and a protrusion extending outwardly from bottom surface. Blocks may also include a plurality of cores through the block from top surface to bottom surface. Blocks may further include a removable portion that can be cleaved off to create a decorative face on rear surface. The projection on each block is configured to fit within the recess of a block in the next lower course of blocks, regardless of the sizes of the respective blocks. Preferably, the varying lengths and heights of the blocks are evenly divisible by a uniform dimension. This allows modular blocks to be easily put together in any configuration to create a finished looking, yet non-uniform wall.

Abstract: The present disclosure concerns methods for constructing a dry-stacked retaining wall that is reinforced to increase the sliding resistance of the wall. In particular embodiments, a concrete footing or base is formed in trench below the lowermost course of retaining wall blocks and extends upwardly into voids in the lowermost course of the wall. The voids can be, for example, chambers or openings defined between adjacent blocks or vertically extending cores formed in the blocks.

Abstract: The facing element for a stabilized soil structure comprises a body of cast material inside which a path is formed for a reinforcement strip between two points of emergence situated on a rear face of the element. This path includes two rectilinear portions which are respectively adjacent to the two points of emergence and are each arranged so as to position the strip in the same plane of emergence perpendicular to the rear face, two curved portions which respectively continue the two rectilinear portions and are arranged so as to deviate the strip from the plane of emergence, and a connection portion which joins the two curved portions to one another and has at least one loop situated outside the plane of emergence.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a retaining wall block that is resistant to damage and wear caused by the environment it is placed into. The deterioration resistant block is generally a hollowed frame or shell of a deterioration resistant material that is lightweight and is configured to accept and retain any type of filling material. The filling material provides weight and stability to the retaining wall block and also provides weight, stability and security to a retaining wall constructed of such blocks.

Abstract: A retaining wall block (1) has parallel top and bottom faces (2, 3), a front face (4), a rear face (5), first and second side wall faces (6, 7) and a vertical plane of symmetry (S) extending between the front and rear faces (4, 5). The block (1) is formed as a body portion (8) including the front face (4), a head portion (9) including the rear face (5) and a neck portion (10) connecting the body portion (8) and the head portion (9). The body, head and neck portions (8, 9, 10) each extend between the top and bottom faces (2, 3) and between the first and second side wall faces (6, 7). An opening (13)? extends through the neck portion (10) from the top face (2) to the bottom face (3), dividing the neck portion (10) into first and second neck wall members (14, 15) extending rearwardly from the body portion (8) to the head portion (9).

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: The invention relates to a molded block (20) of concrete. The molded block (20) is suitable for building a supporting wall (21) which is inclined to the vertical against an earth backfill (22) and in which the individual molded blocks (20) are arranged one above the other in layers. The molded block (20) is formed as a cavity block in such a way that, with the molded blocks (20) arranged offset in relation to one another in layers in a supporting wall (21), the load-transferring regions of the molded blocks (20) arranged above or below one another are arranged essentially in line in the load-transferring direction. This makes it possible for supporting walls to be built from molded blocks with considerably larger apertures than in the prior art, with the same or greater load-bearing capacity.

Abstract: A retainer tie system 10 and method including a wall tie 120 having on the lower side 126 of the wall tie 120 triangular-shaped grooves 140, and a lip 150; a block tie 220 including a first and a second ridge 240, 242 on the upper side 224 of the block tie 220 such that the block tie 220 may fit across a deadman tie 320; and the deadman tie 320 including triangular-shaped tongues 340 on the upper side 120 of the deadman tie 320 for assembling a straight, concave, or convex interlocking retainer wall; and a forward and an aft ridge 350, 352 disposed on the upper side 324 of the deadman tie 320 for interlocking the deadman tie 320 with the block tie 220.

Abstract: A dry-cast concrete block system for use in a structure. The dry-cast concrete block system comprises a support block comprising a first coupling part and a face block comprising a second coupling part. The first coupling part and the second coupling part enable the face block to be coupled to the support block. The face block comprises a surface adapted to be exposed when the face block is coupled to the support block and the dry-cast concrete block system is positioned in the structure. In one embodiment, at least a portion of the surface has a cast texture with a natural stone appearance. In one embodiment, the structure is a wall and the concrete block system is a wall block system. For example, the wall may be a retaining wall and the wall block system may be a retaining wall block system. In another embodiment, the structure is a column and the concrete block system is a column block system. In yet another embodiment, the structure is steps and the concrete block system is a steps block system.

Abstract: A system consists of blocks (1) provided with grooves (19, 21) as well as joining elements (23) which are situated in the grooves for positioning the blocks with respect to each other. The block (1) has two joining sides (3, 5) for joining the blocks situated above and/or below it. Starting with a rough, undressed block, a layer of the rough block is removed from both joining sides over the whole surface, so that the joining sides (3, 5) become bearing surfaces (15, 17), which form the contact surfaces with the blocks above and below them. When dressing the rough block one makes sure that the distance (18) between the bearing surfaces (15, 17) lies within narrow tolerances of a desired value. Because of this, the blocks in a course lie precisely in a horizontal plane. The grooves (19, 21) and joining elements (23) make sure that the blocks lie precisely in a vertical plane.

Abstract: A retaining wall block having a front surface, a rear surface, side surfaces, a top surface, and a bottom surface. Each side surface comprises a first section, a second section, a third section, and a fourth section, with the sections configured and arranged to allow a plurality of blocks to be arranged in a convex wall structure. The retaining wall block includes a projection that is configured to abuttingly engage a portion of a vertically adjacent block in a wall structure. Preferably, the block has a width/depth ratio in the range of about 1.87 to 2.67. The retaining wall block may be combined with an earth anchor for use in multi-course walls.

Abstract: A retaining wall block which simulates natural stone blocks and which can be dry stacked to form a landscape retaining wall. The block has a generally flat back and substantially parallel top and bottom surfaces which extend substantially perpendicular to the back. The front of the block and sides of the block are preferably textured with an irregular pattern which simulates natural stone. The front of the block is sufficiently irregular as to not be perpendicular to the top and bottom or parallel to the back of the block. Sides of the block are not parallel to each other and may be textured to have an appearance consistent with the front of the block.

Abstract: The invention is a composite masonry block having a front surface and a back surface which are adjoined by first and second side surfaces, as well as a top surface and a bottom surface. Each of the side surfaces has an inset extending from the block top surface to the block bottom surface. The block top surface has one or more protrusions positioned adjacent the first and second insets on the block top surface. The block also has a protrusion which has an angled side wall, the angle being at least about 20° from vertical. The protrusion is positioned on the block so that it will mate with any opening of an adjacently positioned course. In use, the blocks may be stacked to provide an interlocking structure wherein the protrusions of one block interfit or mate within the insets of another block.

Abstract: A block according to the present invention is a block comprising a base body part, a first protruding part, and a second protruding part, which are integrally formed with each other. The base body part has a left lower side face, a right lower side face, a left upper side face, and a right upper side face formed as respective sloping faces. The first protruding part has a lower surface thereof formed by first to third left-hand sloping faces, an upper surface thereof formed by fourth to sixth left-hand sloping faces, and a left side surface thereof formed by seventh and eighth left-hand sloping faces. The second protruding part has a lower surface thereof formed by first to third right-hand sloping faces, an upper surface thereof formed by fourth to sixth right-hand sloping faces, and a right side surface thereof formed by seventh and eighth right-hand sloping faces.

Abstract: The present invention includes block molds and manufacturing processes as well as a composite masonry block comprising a block body having an irregular trapezoidal shape and comprising a front surface and a back surface, an upper surface and a lower surface, and first and second sidewalls. Both the first and second sidewalls have a first and second part, the sidewall first part extends from the block front surface towards the block back surface at an angle of no greater than ninety degrees in relationship to the block front surface, the sidewall second part surfaces adjoins and lies between the sidewall first parts and the block back surface. The block also has a flange extending from the block back surface past the height of the block. Also disclosed are landscaping structures such as a retaining wall comprising a plurality of the composite masonry blocks of the present invention.

Abstract: An invertible retaining wall block comprises a front portion, a rear portion and a neck portion connecting the front portion and rear portion. A projection extends outwardly from the block to interlock with similar blocks in adjacent courses of blocks. One or more notches are provided to the front portion in order to allow the base course of blocks to be placed in an inverted orientation with respect to subsequent courses because the notch provides clearance for the protrusion.

Abstract: An interlock connector (10) for interlocking stackable building blocks (26). The blocks are provided with apertures (32), such as grooves, on their top and bottom surfaces. The connector comprises a main body which includes two separate and vertically superimposed body portions and is interposed between two stacked blocks with each body portion disposed in a respective groove (32). One body portion is pivotable with respect to another, with a vertical pivot axis that is offset from the central vertical axis of the main body, so as to be pivotable to positions where the stacked blocks are offset. In another embodiment, the interlock connector comprises a single piece main body having an aperture to receive a projection protruding from the surface of one of the stacked blocks while being disposed in the groove of the other block, with the connector being pivotable about the projection to positions where the stacked blocks are offset.

Abstract: A dry-cast concrete block system for use in a structure. The dry-cast concrete block system comprises a support block comprising a first coupling part and a face block comprising a second coupling part. The first coupling part and the second coupling part enable the face block to be coupled to the support block. The face block comprises a surface adapted to be exposed when the face block is coupled to the support block and the dry-cast concrete block system is positioned in the structure. In one embodiment, at least a portion of the surface has a cast texture with a natural stone appearance. In one embodiment, the structure is a wall and the concrete block system is a wall block system. For example, the wall may be a retaining wall and the wall block system may be a retaining wall block system. In another embodiment, the structure is a column and the concrete block system is a column block system. In yet another embodiment, the structure is steps and the concrete block system is a steps block system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a retaining wall block that is resistant to damage and wear caused by the environment and includes a chamber, which allows the flow of fill material to adjacent blocks below and above. The deterioration resistant block is generally a hollowed frame or shell of a deterioration resistant material that is light-weight and is configured to interlock with adjacent blocks, thereby forming a continuous chamber capable of accepting and retaining any type of filling material. The filling material provides weight, stability and security to a retaining wall constructed of such blocks.

Abstract: A block for use in constructing a retaining wall and comprising a body having a central cavity extending vertically there through and defining front, rear, and side walls. The side walls diverge rearwardly from the front of the block to the rear. Stabilizing wings extending outwardly at the rear of the side walls. Positioning wedges extend from the bottom surface and include flat forward surfaces for positioning the block with respect to the blocks in a lower tier of blocks. The flat forward surfaces of the positioning wedges are located nearer the front surface of the block than is the inner surface of the front wall, thereby enabling a retaining wall created from the blocks to have each successive higher tier offset from the adjacent lower tier by a set distance. The block of the present invention provides a stable block having a large coverage area at a low weight.

Abstract: A retaining wall block (1) has parallel top and bottom faces (2, 3), a front face (4), a rear face (5), first and second side wall faces (6, 7) and a vertical plane of symmetry (S) extending between the front and rear faces (4, 5). The block (1) is formed as a body portion (8) including the front face (4), a head portion (9) including the rear face (5) and a neck portion (10) connecting the body portion (8) and the head portion (9). The body, head and neck portions (8, 9, 10) each extend between the top and bottom faces (2, 3) and between the first and second side wall faces (6, 7). An opening (13)? extends through the neck portion (10) from the top face (2) to the bottom face (3), dividing the neck portion (10) into first and second neck wall members (14, 15) extending rearwardly from the body portion (8) to the head portion (9).

Abstract: The instant invention constitutes a method of forming a concrete column and panel wall system, comprising the steps of: auguring a vertical pile hole; excavating about the pile hole a ground level recess for a pile cap; placing vertical rebars into the auger hole and cap recess; pouring concrete in situ into the pile hole and pile cap recess; positioning a pile cap plate on the poured concrete prior to the curing thereof; positioning opposing vertical ends of pre-cast concrete panels upon opposite ends of the pile cap plate and using forms to substantially define an H-shaped above-ground geometry each having vertical rebars therein, the panel ends also having horizontal re-bars extending into the geometry, thus horizontally and vertically positioning re-bars characterize substantially an entirely above-ground length of each column resultant of the H-shaped geometry; and casting in situ within volumes defined by the forms defining the above-ground geometry.

Abstract: A structure and method for supporting stonelike objects on soil. The structure comprises a base, at least two sets of a plurality of tabs disposed on the base at respective opposing edges thereof and oriented substantially perpendicular thereto, and a plurality of struts disposed on the base between and attached to respective tabs of the two sets of a plurality of tabs so as to brace the tabs and receive stonelike objects for support thereof. The base has a substantially planar frame and intersecting crossmembers connecting the edges of the frame, is substantially rectangular, and has openings for water drainage. The tabs are separated by substantially V-shaped spaces. The struts are disposed substantially parallel to one another, are relatively tall in comparison with their width, and at least one of the struts spans the space between the two sets of a plurality of tabs.

Abstract: A concrete block system for retaining walls. Generally L-shaped concrete blocks are laid side by side and are laid in courses, each of which is positioned slightly inward from the course immediately below it to form a retaining wall. The retaining wall, the concrete blocks used to construct the retaining wall, and a method of constructing a retaining wall using these blocks comprise the system disclosed herein.

Abstract: The stabilized earth or reinforced soil structure comprises a fill, a facing placed along a front face of the structure, main reinforcements disconnected from the facing and extending in a reinforced zone of the fill situated behind the front face, and secondary elements connected to the facing and extending in a zone of the fill which exhibits, with the reinforced zone, a common part where loads are transmitted between the main reinforcements and the secondary elements by the material of the fill.

Abstract: A retaining wall and block are described herein for use in landscaping, gardening and the like. The block is formed from concrete and has an uneven face to replicate layers of flat stone. An elongated groove in the top of each block provides for reception of mating studs of upper contiguous blocks. The elongated groove is sized to allow the blocks to be turned and moved depending on the type and design of the particular wall being constructed. The ends of the blocks are biased to allow easy rotation and placement when building a curved or circular wall. A filler is provided for placement within the elongated groove of the blocks in the top tier of the retaining wall to provide for a smooth, flush surface.

Abstract: One embodiment of a system of the present disclosure can be implemented as follows. A modular block wall system includes a vertical passageway formed within the wall from a top surface of the wall to a bottom surface of the wall and a plurality of tieback rods adapted to be embedded into soil or rock and each having a proximal portion extending into the passageway. The system further includes at least one elongate member positioned within the vertical passageway directly adjacent the proximal portions of the tieback rods, wherein tensile forces imposed upon the tieback rods are transmitted to the at least one elongate member so as to distribute the tensile forces throughout a portion of the retaining wall. Other systems and methods are also provided.

Abstract: A retaining wall with a series of differently sized, pre-formed blocks. Each block includes a projection and a recess, with the projection and recess arranged and configured so that each projection effectively engages a recess in an adjacent course to connect and align adjacent courses in registry. Retaining walls made of horizontal blocks may be stacked in columnar fashion or running bond fashion. The location of the indexing surface on a projection relative to the viewable surface of the block may be varied to enable adjacent courses to be coplanar or tiered in a variety of predetermined offset distances.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method for constructing a pre-stressed modular construction for supporting or retaining an applied load. In particular, the present invention relates to a system and method for pre-stressed modular retaining walls. The system comprises a plurality of header stacks constructed from a variety of header units. The header stacks are coupled by structural members. Active reinforcement elements are used to induce a pre-stressing force into the header stacks to support or retain the applied load. A method for constructing the modular construction is provided.

Abstract: A block has a finished surface that provides an attractive appearance. The block is relatively large in size, allowing the quick construction of a wall, such as a retaining wall, using the block. The block includes one or more lift and alignment devices in the block that allow the block to be lifted using a suitable lifting apparatus, such as a crane, forklift, backhoe, etc. The block includes one or more recessed portions in the bottom surface of the block positioned to receive the protruding lift and alignment device of a previously-laid block underneath, thereby helping to align the block with the previously-laid block. The block includes one or more voids that extend from the top surface to the bottom surface of the block, and that align with each other when the blocks are stacked into a wall, thereby allowing fill material to be placed in the voids to strengthen the wall. The preferred embodiments also include a wall system with various different blocks that may be used to build a wall.

Abstract: A precast concrete retaining wall construction element for retaining a soil mass in a railway installation or the like includes an upstanding solid face panel having the shape of a hexahedron where a rectangular front wall and an integral stem. The front wall defines an area of between about 18.75 and 75 square feet and wherein the ratio of the width of the face panel to its height is between about 0.75 to about 3.0. A reinforced element including an upward extension, an improved shear key and stacked arrangement are also disclosed.

Abstract: A segmental earth retaining wall block having a front side, a top side with a transversal tongue of a given width projecting from it, the tongue extending at a first distance from the front side, and a bottom side with a transversal groove made in it, the groove being sized to receive the tongue of another similar block positioned below and thus to allow stacking of the blocks. The groove extends at a second distance from the front side that is smaller than the first distance, and the first and second distances are selected so that the tongue and the groove are offset with respect to each other over a distance that is smaller than the width of the tongue.

Abstract: The present invention includes block molds and manufacturing processes as well as a composite masonry block comprising a block body having an irregular trapezoidal shape and comprising a front surface and a back surface, an upper surface and a lower surface, and first and second sidewalls. Both the first and second sidewalls have a first and second part, the sidewall first part extends from the block front surface towards the block back surface at an angle of no greater than ninety degrees in relationship to the block front surface, the sidewall second part surfaces adjoins and lies between the sidewall first parts and the block back surface. The block also has a flange extending from the block back surface past the height of the block. Also disclosed ate landscaping structures such as a retaining wall comprising a plurality of the composite masonry blocks of the present invention.

Abstract: A method for producing purpose-made blocks (10). According to said method, several purpose-made blocks (10) are produced in a mold (37) in such a way that the blocks (10) are arranged in at least one row (28) of purpose-made blocks in the mold (37) and respective adjacent blocks (10) of a block row (28) are interconnected in a zone of at least one predetermined breaking point (30). The purpose-made blocks (10) of a block row (28) are removed together from the mold (37) and the blocks (10) are separated from one another in the zone of the predetermined breaking point (30). According to the invention, adjacent purpose-made blocks (10) of one or each block row (28) are produced in the mold (37) in such a way that axes of the purpose-made blocks (10) deviate at least partially in the longitudinal direction (32) of each block row (28) from the longitudinal axis (32) of each block row (28) and that lateral pressure is exerted on the or each molded block row (28) to separate the predetermined breaking points (30).

Abstract: A precast concrete retaining wall construction element for retaining a soil mass in a railway installation or the like includes an upstanding solid face panel having the shape of a hexahedron where a rectangular front wall and an integral stem. The front wall defines an area of between about 18.75 and 75 square feet and wherein the ratio of the width of the face panel to its height is between about 0.75 to about 3.0. A reinforced element including an upward extension, an improved shear key and stacked arrangement are also disclosed.

Abstract: Concrete blocks configured for use in forming retaining walls that require the use of rebar and grout to structurally anchor a retaining wall to a foundation. The blocks include first and second core openings extending through the blocks. The core openings are configured so that when the blocks are stacked into courses with other blocks, the core openings of the blocks line up in a manner that allow rebar to extend through the core openings from the foundation to the top of the retaining wall. Further, the core openings facilitate pouring of the grout down through the aligned core openings. In addition, the core openings are configured so that the core openings do not overhang joints between blocks or overhang block edges that would allow grout to leak out as grout is being poured down the core openings.

Abstract: A retaining wall block system is described. The block system includes blocks of different sizes that are configured to be compatible with each other in the construction of a retaining wall or free-standing wall. Each block has at least three faces which are textured to produce the appearance of natural stone. The faces have varying sizes based on variations in width.

Abstract: A precast concrete retaining wall construction element for retaining a soil mass in a railway installation or the like includes an upstanding solid face panel having the shape of a hexahedron where a rectangular front wall and an integral stem. The front wall defines an area of between about 18.75 and 75 square feet and wherein the ratio of the width of the face panel to its height is between about 0.75 to about 3.0. A reinforced element including an upward extension, an improved shear key and stacked arrangement are also disclosed.

Abstract: A plurality of solid core concrete blocks used in forming a retaining wall. The retaining wall can be used in building construction, road construction, landscaping, hillside erosion control, gardens, and like applications. Also, the retaining wall can be a straight wall, an angled wall or a curved wall depending on the application. Each of the blocks includes a vertical front face and rear face, a horizontal top and bottom and a vertical first side and second side. The first side includes a first ear and two sides of an angular first notch next to the first ear. One side of the first notch is parallel to a length of the front and rear faces and forms a side of the first ear. A second side of the first notch is disposed inwardly into the block and at an angle of 10 to 45 degrees from a horizontal line perpendicular to a length of the front and rear faces.

Abstract: A concrete retaining wall block provided with integral indicators that indicate the batter that will result from constructing a retaining wall of a multiplicity of the blocks. The indicators for indicating the batter are preferably one or more indentations formed in a surface of the block other than the front surface.

Abstract: A retaining wall system for stabilizing an earthen wall. The retaining wall system comprises a panel structure, an anchor mesh panel, and a lock member. The wall panel defines an exposed face and a rear face. An insert is partly embedded within the wall panel such that a portion of the insert is spaced from the rear face of the wall panel to define a lock opening. The anchor mesh panel comprises at least one tension member defining an anchor axis. The tension member is bent at a first edge location to define a bearing portion. The lock member is inserted through the lock opening to engage the tension member and the insert to inhibit relative movement between the anchor mesh panel and the wall panel.

Abstract: A retaining wall anchoring system for a segmental retaining wall comprising a plurality of tieback rods adapted to be embedded into soil or rock with a proximal portion extending therefrom, at least one elongated force distribution member positionable directly adjacent the proximal portion of at least one of the tieback rods, a washer positionable about the proximal portions of the tieback rod in abutment with the force distribution member, and a fastener fixedly securable to the proximal portion of the tieback rod to securely clamp the washer against the force distribution member such that tensile forces imposed on the tieback rod are transmitted to the force distribution member so as to distribute these forces throughout a portion of the retaining wall.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a wall block for use in a segmental retaining wall system. The wall block comprises an interior face for forming an interior surface of a segmental retaining wall, an exterior face for forming an exterior surface of the segmental retaining wall, first and second sides that extend from the exterior face to the interior face, and a top surface and a bottom surface. Further provided in the wall block is a channel defined by a front wall, a rear wall, and an arcuate bottom surface. The channel extends across one of the faces and surfaces.

Abstract: A masonry block that is produced from a workpiece that is split in a block splitting assembly which uses any of a variety of projections to supplement or replace the action of the splitting blade in splitting and dressing the workpiece. The resulting masonry block has features that provide the masonry block with a weathered appearance.

Abstract: A segmental retaining wall system comprising a plurality of wall blocks. Each wall block comprises an interior face for forming an interior surface of a segmental retaining wall, an exterior face for forming an exterior surface of the segmental retaining wall, first and second sides that extend from said exterior face to said interior face, a top surface, and a bottom surface. In addition, a plurality of wall blocks include apparatus for retaining a reinforcement member to the segmental retaining wall. In one arrangement, this apparatus comprises a channel that is defined by a front wall, a rear wall, and a channel bottom surface. This channel is provided in one of the faces and surfaces, and includes an inwardly extending shoulder.