City of Abilene Item 423 Retaining Wall
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RETAINING WALL ITEM 423 CITY OF ABILENE ITEM 423 RETAINING WALL 423.1 DESCRIPTION. This Item shall govern for furnishing the materials and constructing retaining walls as shown on the Plans and required by this Item. Spread footing retaining walls shall consist of reinforced concrete footings and reinforced concrete stems as shown on the Plans. Mechanically Stabilized Earth (MSE) walls shall consist of a volume of select backfill with tensile reinforcing elements distributed throughout and a concrete facing. Other types of retaining walls shall be as shown on the Plans. 423.2 MATERIALS. All materials shall conform to the pertinent requirements of the following Items: Item 420, “Concrete Structures” Item 421, “Portland Cement Concrete” Item 440, “Reinforcing Steel” TxDOT Item 445, “Galvanizing” TxDOT Item 458, “Waterproofing for Structures” TxDOT Item 556, “Pipe Underdrains” Unless otherwise shown on the Plans, concrete for retaining walls shall conform to the following: Cast-in-Place, Reinforced Class “C” Cast-in-Place, Non-reinforced Class “A” Precast Class “H”, f'c=4000 psi Filter fabric material shall conform to TxDOT Departmental Material Specification D-9-6200. Materials for earth reinforcements shall be as shown on the Plans. All steel elements in contact with soil shall be galvanized or epoxy coated. Epoxy coating shall be in accordance with Item 440, “Reinforcing Steel”, except that the coating thickness shall be a minimum of 18 mils. Joint fillers, pads, waterstops, and other incidental materials shall be as shown on the Plans, or approved by the Engineer. BACKFILL MATERIAL. (1) Backfill for spread footing retaining walls shall be in accordance with Item 132, “Embankment”, Type B, unless otherwise shown on the Plans. (2) Backfill for MSE walls shall be free from organic or otherwise deleterious materials, and shall conform to the following gradation limits as determined by Test Method Tex-110-E: 423-{PAGE } ITEM 423 RETAINING WALL Sieve Size Percent Passing Type A 3 inches 100 No. 40 0-60 No. 200 0-15 Type B 6 inches 100 3 inches 75-100 No. 200 0-15 Type B material not meeting the No. 200 sieve gradation limit stated above may be used if it conforms to the following requirements: The percent passing the No. 200 sieve as determined by Test Method Tex-110-E shall not exceed 25 percent. The Plasticity Index (P.I.) as determined by Test Method Tex-106-E shall not exceed six. The material, when compacted to 95% of Da density as determined by Test Method Tex-114- E at optimum moisture content, shall exhibit an angle of internal friction of not less than 344 degrees as determined by Test Method Tex-117-E. When the backfill gradation results in 15 percent or less material passing the No. 40 sieve, when tested in accordance with Test Method Tex-110-E, the backfill will be considered rock backfill. Unless otherwise shown on the Plans, Type B backfill shall be used. The pH range shall be from 5.5 to 10.0 as determined by Test Method Tex-128-E. The resistivity shall not be less than 3000 ohms-cm as determined by Test Method Tex-129-E. Material with a resistivity between 1500 and 3000 ohms-cm may be used provided the chloride content does not exceed 100 ppm and the sulphate content does not exceed 200 ppm as determined by Test Method Tex-620-J. MSE well systems using nonmetallic or epoxy coated metallic reinforcements may use backfill which does not comply with the pH and resistivity requirements. Epoxy coated metallic reinforcements may be used only when shown on the Plans or approved by the Engineer. All connection hardware used with nonmetallic or epoxy coated reinforcements shall likewise be nonmetallic or epoxy coated. When nonmetallic or epoxy coated reinforcements are used, the maximum allowable backfill particle size shall be three-quarter (3/4) inch. (3) Unless otherwise shown on the Plans, the Contractor shall have the option of stabilizing backfill for MSE walls with five (5) percent Portland Cement by dry weight of the backfill material. When Type A backfill is shown on the Plans, the Contractor may use Type B backfill stabilized with five (5) percent Portland Cement by dry weight of the backfill material. When cement stabilized backfill is used, special drainage provisions shall be provided as shown on the Plans. 423-{PAGE } RETAINING WALL ITEM 423 When cement stabilized backfill is used, gradation, pH, and resistivity testing shall be run on the raw, unstabilized backfill material. Testing for angle of internal friction will not be required. 423.3 GENERAL. (1) Options. When optional or alternate design details are shown on the Plans, the Contractor will have the option of constructing any of the types of retaining wall shown. The Contractor will be required to use the same facing design within an area of continuous retaining walls. When the Contractor proposes two (2) or more systems, or when the Plans require a special surface finish, the Engineer may require drawings indicating the proposed design arrangement for his approval. The Contractor's attention is directed to the fact that retaining wall options shown on the Plans may be proprietary. The Contractor shall provide for use of these systems in accordance with Part I, General Provisions – Division I, General Requirements & Covenants. (2) Working Drawings. When proprietary wall systems are used, or when otherwise shown on the Plans, the Contractor shall prepare and submit working drawings and design calculations. Prior to fabrication, the Contractor shall submit to the Engineer seven (7) sets of casting drawings, seven (7) sets of construction drawings and two (2) sets of design calculations. Upon completion of construction, one (1) set of reproducible as-built drawings shall be submitted to the Engineer. Casting drawings shall include all information necessary for precasting wall elements, including railing and coping when it is to be prefabricated. Casting drawings shall reflect shape and dimensions of panels; size, quantity and details of the reinforcing steel; the quantity, type, size, and details of connection and lifting hardware, and any additional details necessary. Construction drawings shall include a numbered panel layout and shall reflect horizontal and vertical alignment of the walls as well as the existing and proposed ground lines, as shown on the Plans. The drawings shall also include all information needed to erect the walls including the proposed leveling pad elevations; the type and details of the soil reinforcing system (if applicable); the details and manufacturer of all pads, fillers, and filter fabric; the limits and dimensions of structural backfill; details necessary to incorporate coping, railing, drainage and electrical conduit as shown on the Plans; and any additional details necessary to complete the work. Leveling pad elevations may vary from the elevations shown on the Plans. Unless otherwise noted on the Plans, one (1) foot minimum cover shall be provided from the top of the leveling pad to finish grade. Design calculations shall include a summary of all design parameters used, including material types, strength values and assumed allowables; assumed loads and loading combinations; and factor of safety parameters. Calculations shall be submitted covering the range of heights and loading conditions on the project. Both internal and external stability calculations will be required. Construction drawings and design calculations shall bear the seal of a Registered Professional Engineer. 423.4 CONSTRUCTION METHODS. (1) General. Construction of retaining walls shall conform to the design and details shown on the Plans and to the pertinent requirements of the following Items: Item 110, “Excavation” 423-{PAGE } ITEM 423 RETAINING WALL Item 132, “Embankment” Item 400, “Excavation and Backfill for Structures” TxDOT Item 424 TxDOT Item 458 TxDOT Item 556 Any required piling or drilled shafts shall be in accordance with the pertinent specification. (2) Mechanically Stabilized Earth (MSE) Walls. The foundation for the structure shall be graded level for a width equal to or exceeding the approved length of the reinforcing system or as shown on the Plans. Prior to wall construction, the foundation shall be compacted with a smooth wheel vibratory roller or other roller approved by the Engineer. Any foundation soils found to be unsuitable shall be removed and replaced. Drilled shafts and piling located within the MSE volume shall be placed prior to construction of the retaining wall. At each foundation level, a concrete leveling pad shall be provided as shown on the Plans. The leveling pad shall be given a wood float finish and shall be in place a minimum of 24-hours before panel erection begins. No curing or strength testing of the leveling pad concrete will be required. Filter fabric shall be placed behind all wall joints, and at the intersection of retaining walls with other structures, including riprap. Filter fabric shall cover joints a minimum of six (6) inches on each side and shall be positively held in place. As fill material is placed, the panels shall be maintained in position by methods acceptable to the Engineer. Care shall be exercised during lifting, setting, and alignment of panels to prevent damage to the panels. Any operation which results in chipping, spalling, or cracking of panels shall be discontinued. Damaged panels shall be removed and replaced, or repaired, as approved by the Engineer, at the Contractor's expense. External bracing may also be required for the initial lift. Vertical tolerances and horizontal alignment tolerance shall not exceed three-quarter (3/4) inch when measured along a 10-foot straight edge. The maximum allowable offset in any panel joint shall be three-quarter (3/4) inch. The overall vertical tolerance of the wall (plumbness from top to bottom) shall not exceed one-half (1/2) inch per ten (10) feet of wall height.