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DRAINAGE SOLUTIONS
SINCE 1908

MECHANICALLY
STABILIZED EARTH
(MSE) WALL SYSTEMS
PERMANENT AND TEMPORARY ENGINEERED
WALL SOLUTIONS

ECONOMICAL

DURABLE

VERSATILE

ARMTEC.COM
MSE RETAINING WALLS

Armtec Mechanically Stabilized Earth (MSE) walls and Reinforced Soil Slopes TYPICAL APPLICATIONS
provide a cost-effective earth retention solution for both permanent and •• Land development
temporary applications.
•• Highway and road structures
Mechanically stabilized earth technology allows the construction of slopes that •• Preload embankments
are steeper than those naturally permitted by the native soil’s internal friction •• Forestry, mining, and oil and
angle. Steeper slopes permit more efficient land usage reducing overall gas applications
development costs. •• Landscape projects
•• Golf courses
Armtec systems utilize geosynthetics such as uniaxial geogrids or high strength
woven geotextiles to reinforce the soil and create a stable gravity mass to resist •• Residential properties
potential lateral loading. When slopes become steeper than 70 degrees above
the horizontal, they require fascia materials to provide increased stability at the
face of the system. A variety of facing options are available such as welded wire
mesh, Bin-Wall, geocell and decorative concrete blocks.

With Armtec’s MSE WALL SYSTEMS,

your project is on solid ground.

STRONG AND
FUNCTIONAL ECONOMICAL VERSATILE
DURABLE

• Increased soil stability
• Proven long-term
performance
• Exceptional erosion
protection
• Allows construction of • Low upfront cost • Suitable for both permanent
vertical or near-vertical • Efficient land usage and temporary applications
MSE walls • Wide range of fascia options
• Potential for on-site soil to
• Flexible system tolerates be used as backfill available
more movement than
rigid walls

WHISTLER SKI TRAIL

GEOGRID WRAP-BACK DESIGN USED TO VEGETATED WALLS PROVIDE AN AESTHETICALLY

ACOMMODATE LOCATION’S SEISMIC ACTIVITY PLEASING, NATURAL APPEARANCE

2 VISIT ARMTEC.COM FOR MORE INFORMATION

MSE WALL DESIGN

TYPICAL MSE WALL COMPONENTS

MSE Walls are comprised of three components: soil reinforcement, backfill material and a facing unit.
1. Soil Reinforcement
Uniaxial geogrids or high strength woven geotextiles provide soil reinforcement.

2. Backfill Material
A free draining, granular material is typically recommended for soil reinforcement backfill.
The gradation of backfill material follows AASHTO LRFD construction specifications.

SIEVE SIZE PERCENT PASSING (%)

100mm (4.0in) 100

4.25mm (No. 40) 0 – 60

75μm (No. 200) 0 – 15

• Minimum backfill compaction is typically 95% Standard Proctor Maximum Dry Density (SPMDD)

3. Facing Unit
Typical facing units include welded wire mesh, geocell, Bin-Wall, decorative concrete blocks
or vegetated face.

FIGURE 2: Typical MSE Retaining Wall

REINFORCED SOIL ZONE

NOTE:
The following industry accepted standards
of practice are used in design:
NATIONAL CONCRETE MASONRY
ASSOCIATION (NCMA) FEDERAL HIGHWAY 1 SOIL REINFORCEMENT
ADMINISTRATION (FHWA)
3
GEOCELL NATIVE SOIL
FASCIA

2 COMPACTED
BACKFILL MATERIAL

PERFORATED
DRAIN PIPE

FOUNDATION SOIL

ARMTEC DRAINAGE SOLUTIONS 3

PERMANENT WELDED WIRE MESH WALLS

ROCK FACED WELDED

WIRE MESH WALL

The combination of a welded wire

mesh facing, biaxial grid wrap and
uniaxial geogrid soil reinforcement
produces a rock aggregate facing that
is both cost-effective and reliable.
Rock aggregate faced systems are
best suited for structures with
geometries that are too steep to
support vegetation.

FLEXIBLE FASCIA IS IDEAL FOR AREAS WHERE SETTLEMENT MAY

OCCUR DUE TO COMPRESSIBLE FOUNDATION SOILS

VEGETATED WELDED WIRE

MESH WALLS

Vegetated welded wire mesh walls

are both environmentally friendly and
can provide an aesthetically pleasing
structure. Welded wire mesh facing
is combined with a biaxial green grid
wrap and uniaxial geogrid for soil
reinforcement. The facing system
provides an environment for
long-term vegetation growth on an
erosion controlled face. During
construction, seeded topsoil or
hydro-seed material is placed behind
the biaxial green grid at the face of the
MSE VEGETATED WALLS PROVIDE A DURABLE FACING AND
wall to initiate vegetation growth.
SURFACE EROSION PROTECTION

4 VISIT ARMTEC.COM FOR MORE INFORMATION

 VARIES

TYPICAL SECTION
NTS

FIGURE 2: Wire mesh unit detail

NOTE: 4 GAUGE WIRE WITH WIRE

STIFFENER AT 50mm SPACING (TYP)
Other sizes of wire mesh baskets are also
available. Contact an Armtec representative for
further information.
m
0m
50
mm
00
30

WIRE STRUT STIFFENERS

m
mm
0m
0 10
10

m
0m
40

FIGURE 3: Typical section of welded wire mesh wall facing unit

COMPACTED SOIL FILL

WELDED
WIRE MESH
TOPSOIL AND SEED

EROSION CONTROL PRIMARY SOIL REINFORCEMENT

BLANKET OR (UNIAXIAL GEOGRID) NATIVE SOIL
BIAXIAL GEOGRID

OPTIONAL
SPRIGS

PERFORATED
DRAIN PIPE

FOUNDATION SOIL

MSE RETAINING WALLS ARE VERSATILE

AND CAN BE CUSTOM ENGINEERED TO SUIT
YOUR SITE CONDITIONS!

ARMTEC DRAINAGE SOLUTIONS 5

PERMANENT WALLS

GEOCELL

Armtec’s cellular confinement systems

can be used in conjunction with
granular or weaker soils to create an
engineered-grade composite. Typical
applications include earth retention,
channel lining, slope protection and
load support. Geocells also provide an
economical option for structural end
treatments. Confinement of a weaker
soil within the individual cells of the
geocell mat allows these soils to
exhibit characteristics of stronger
soils. When utilized in conjunction with
uniaxial geogrids, geocells provide an
GEOCELLS CAN GREATLY REDUCE THE NEED FOR EXPENSIVE
effective facing option. Geocell MSE
GRANULAR MATERIALS
walls can be conventionally seeded or
hydro-seeded after construction to
create vegetative walls.

BIN-WALL MSE WALLS

Armtec’s Bin-Wall retaining wall

system is a four-sided bin-type earth
retention system. As a MSE wall,
Bin-Wall uses standard front-face
Bin-Wall components in conjunction
with uniaxial geogrid to create a
stable gravity mass. The geogrid
soil reinforcements allow Armtec’s
Bin-Wall to be easily altered to
accommodate obstructions and
improve stabilty. This system provides
an ideal solution for site locations
with limited or constrained access,
such as in the construction of long
A BIN-WALL MSE WALL WITH GEOGRID SOIL REINFORCEMENT
walls in narrow corridors.
PROVIDES A COST–EFFECTIVE SOLUTION WHERE ACCESS IS
LIMITED AND OBSTRUCTIONS ARE PRESENT

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 TEMPORARY WALLS

Temporary walls can be constructed

utilizing high strength non-woven
geotextiles and temporary forms to
create geotextile wrapped faced walls
which are a cost effective and reliable
temporary wall solution.

Temporary walls reinforced with

geosynthetics are a valuable tool for
construction sites that need to divert
traffic, water flow or apply a surcharge
to consolidate foundation soils while
maintaining the existing surroundings.

TEMPORARY WALLS OFFER AN ECONOMICAL SOLUTION WITH THE When temporary forms cannot be
STRENGTH TO ACCOMMODATE SIGNIFICANT LOADING used due to site constraints, welded
wire mesh facing in combination with
geotextiles is an excellent alternative.

HEADWALLS

Headwalls are used in culvert and

structural plate installations to provide
slope retention, improved hydraulics
and protection against erosion, scour,
piping and uplift.

Armtec’s wire mesh and geocell

MSE walls provide an effective and
economical headwall solution. They
are easy to install and native material
can often be used for backfill, saving
both time and money.

MSE HEADWALLS PROVIDE AN ATTRACTIVE FINISH TO STRUCTURAL

PLATE STRUCTURES

ARMTEC DRAINAGE SOLUTIONS 7

Find out how MSE Wall Systems can be used on your next project.
Contact us today.

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Armtec is a leading Canadian infrastructure and construction materials company combining
creative engineered solutions, relevant advice, dedicated people, proven products and a national
presence with a local focus on exceptional customer service.

1-877-5-ARMTEC | ARMTEC.COM

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Drawings and product details are for information and/or illustrative purposes only, and may vary.
Please contact your local Armtec representative for the most current product information.

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MECHANICALLY STABILIZED EARTH (MSE) SYSTEMS / PRODUCT GUIDE | 2016-11
PROD-C03-G01-PG-E-2016-11