U Wall Retaining Wall System
Northeast Prestressed Products, LLC. can provide contractors with a solution to their retaining wall problems. The U Wall system is an easy to install, self-standing, MSE wall that uses geogrid to stabilize the soil. U Wall requires no connections to the geogrid.
Uwall has some distinct advantages over other precast retaining wall systems. First is the size. The face of the unit is 32 square feet. The units are very easy to set, 10 to 12 per hour, which means 320 to 384 square feet can be set in one hour! And, although each piece covers a huge area, due to the unique design the units remain light weight (less than 2 tons each).
Another big advantage is the interlocking shear key design between each piece. The shear keys make it impossible to separate the units with lateral pressure and help guide the piece into place. They also eliminate the need for a connection between the geogrid and the wall.
In addition the units are free standing. There is no need for shoring or other support prior to backfill. The units can also be dry stacked. There is no need for tripping or multiple handling as they can be picked from the truck and put right into place on the wall.
Uwall is formed and cast in such a way that formliners are easy to change. Virtually any face pattern can be specified.
Aside from the advantages listed above, the main difference between Uwall and the PennDOT standard MSE wall is the Uwall is a free standing stable assembly as opposed to facing units which must be shored during erection and permanently attached to the reinforcing. Uwall does not use any steel for soil reinforcement.
Estimated design life is 75 - 114 years based on FHWA test method on geogrid.
Low permeability, high strength, air entrained concrete provides durable long lasting concrete, resistant to continual freeze thaw cycles. Epoxy rebar prevents steel corrosion and lengthens concrete life.