FREYSSINET | Reinforced Earth „Terre Armée“

The original reinforced earth technology.

Reinforced Earth® structures combine select and controlled granular backfill with steel or geosynthetic tensile reinforcements and a modular facing system, generally comprised of precast concrete panels, welded wire mesh or semi-elliptical steel panels. This ideal combination creates a long-lasting gravity retaining structure.

This technology can be adapted to suit retaining walls of any height. It is also capable of supporting major dead and live loads imposed by the associated structures, vehicles or other equipment. By building stable walls capable of bearing heavy loads with little settlement, Reinforced Earth® can be extended to abutments directly supporting bridge decks. Thanks to the flexibility of the Reinforced Earth® technology, bridge abutments can be built on compressible ground, mostly without any need for deep foundations. Reinforced Earth® boasts many advantages for this type of construction. Reinforced Earth® integral abutments eliminate or reduce the need for structural bearings and expansion joints, which significantly reduces operating and maintenance costs.

With many bridges, the central section of the bridge can be supported directly by the reinforced earth abutment, which eliminates the need for piers and piles to support the bridge's central section. Ever since its invention, Reinforced Earth® has been used in the construction of road structures, motorways and bridge abutments, which often means cutting through uneven terrain and working with poor soil conditions and rocky or unstable slopes. Reinforced Earth® was first used to build single-tier or multi-tier retaining walls alongside roads.

It is also used in many other types of applications for road structures:

- Viaduct access ramps,

- Complex multi-level interchanges,

- Structures on uneven terrain,

- Road widening,

- Bridge abutments.