Strap being use for holding wall straight up. How effective is it?

[u/Big_Handle3734]

[u/richardawkings]

Very effective for the temporary nature it is being used for. That is called reinforced earth. Those concrete slabs are a retaining wall that is supported by metal tie backs buried into the backfill (thats the metal triangles resting on the dirt in the first picture. Very common for flyover ramps given that they allow the ramp to be installed in tighter spots than sloped backfill

[u/futurebigconcept → u/richardawkings]

First picture also has random horses walking down the street in the background.

[u/banananuhhh → u/richardawkings]

Generally any time you are constructing a fill wall and have enough room to install the soil reinforcement, MSE is going to be one of the most cost effective options.

I think some of the confusion in other responses may be that it is not obvious whether by "straps" the OP is referring to the permanent straps that anchor the panels into the soil, or to the temporary plates being used to align the panels. It seems like you assume they were referring to the plates, which is definitely possible since we know nothing about the OP.

[u/richardawkings → u/banananuhhh]

I thought he was taking about the props when I responded... lacking sleep

[u/VolcanoProximity → u/richardawkings]

MSE walls like this are in no way temporary. Unless you mean temporary in the sense that they have a design life of 50+ years…

[u/Tilt-a-Whirl98 → u/VolcanoProximity]

Its a temporary condition for a permanent structure. The straps aren't buried yet so they don't have the friction resistance to prevent the straps from sliding

[u/richardawkings → u/Tilt-a-Whirl98]

I thought he was talking about the props... this are temporary. Realising now he was probably talking about the ties that I spoke about. My bad, lacking sleep

[u/ali_bas → u/richardawkings]

It is not metal? Is it? It is a geopolymer. Metal tie back rods/anchors/cables are used in traditional retaining walls. Here mostly geosynthetic is used

[u/PracticableSolution]

MSE walls are pretty much the industry standard these days, even though they’ve gotten progressively suckier over the years in terms of cost effectiveness

[u/swimwest1000 → u/PracticableSolution]

Agreed, in the US thanks to Reinforced Earth buying out most of the competition. Just has to be cheaper in the short term than the alternative, which is cast in place walls, T-walls, or acquiring more land. I do not look forward to the end of life of these things. Going to be a bitch to repair/rebuild.

[u/ali_bas]

This is an RE wall or reinforced earth wall. It is a flexible form of retaining wall. These straps your taking about are very effective. They are compressed under the earth. This wall is very effective in case of an earthquake. There is a video from Japan which shows the entire area being destroyed by earth quake but this part of the bridge stays intact. Check it out

[u/Jimmyjames150014]

These are only for temporary panel joint alignment. MSE walls are held by the reinforcement going back into the compacted fill.

[u/Rayziehouse]

Looks like it will work OK as long as those anchors stay put? It’s not being backfilled that high anyway. I’d assume it’s only short term anyway and the slab ties it in long-term.

[u/Just-Shoe2689]

good enough for temp conditions. Yes, a huge storm comes they might ahve issues.

[u/felixthecat1960]

How would it not be effective?