ProprietaryWallPolicy MaineDOT February12,2007

MAINEDEPARTMENTOFTRANSPORTATION POLICYFORPROPRIETARYRETAININGWALLSYSTEMS PURPOSE ThisdocumentistoprovideasystematicpolicywhichenablestheMaineDOTtopreapproveproprietary retaining wallsystems. ThedocumentisbasedonFHWAguidelines,AASHTOStandardSpecifications, and AASHTOLRFDBridgeDesignSpecifications,and providesinformationfortheconsistentselection, reviewandacceptanceofproprietarywalls. Thispreapprovalprocessisusedtoupdateandmaintainanapprovedlistofproprietarywallsandspecial provisionsforwallsystems. Achecklistofthevariousitemsneededfortechnicalconsiderationandtherequiredsubmittalfor acceptanceofwallsystemsisgivenbelow. PREAPPROVAL NotallwallsystemsaresuitableforDepartmentprojects. Departmentpreapprovalofdifferentwall systemspriortopreparationofcontractdocumentseliminatestheuseofsubstandardsystemsandsystems thathavenotbeenadequatelyevaluated. Apreapprovedlistalsoprovidescontractorsamoreconcise descriptionoftheproposedwallsystem(s)andhenceamoreaccuratebid. Thecriteriaforappointmentto theDepartmentsQualifiedProductListareasfollows: 1.1ThesuppliermusthaveaDepartmentapprovedmanufacturingfacilitytofabricatethenecessary wallcomponents. 1.2ThewallsystemhasasoundtheoreticalandpracticalbasisfortheDepartmenttoevaluateits claimedperformance. 1.3Pastexperienceinbuildingandperformanceoftheproposedsystem. 1.4EvaluationbyFHWAsHITEC(HighwayInnovativeTechnologyEvaluationCenter),ifavailable. 1.5 Documentationand designcalculationsdemonstrating thewallsystemscompliancewith: a) b) c) d)
th AASHTOStandardSpecificationsforHighwayBridges,17 Edition(2002),forAllowable StressDesignprojects, AASHTOLRFDBridgeDesignSpecifications,currentedition,forLRFDDesignprojects MaineDOTismigratingtoallLRFDdesignin2007, FHWANHI00043Mechanically Stabilized EarthWallsandReinforcedSoilSlopesDesign andConstructionGuidelines,2001, FHWANHI00044Corrosion/Degradation ofSoilReinforcementsforMechanically StabilizedEarthWallsandReinforcedSoilSlopes,2000.

1.6Thesupplierorwallmanufacturershouldsubmitapackagethatcontainsthefollowingitems:

Page1of 5

ProprietaryWallPolicy MaineDOT February12,2007

a)

Howandwhenthewallwasdeveloped,systemtheory,laboratoryandfieldexperimentswhich supportthetheoryorwalldesign.

b) Practicalapplicationswithdescriptions,photosandalistofusersincludingnames,addresses andphonenumbers. c) ListofDepartmentsofTransportationthathavepreapprovedtheproposedwallsystem includingnames,addressesandphonenumbers. d) Heights,loading,surcharge,andbackslopethatthesupplierisseekingapprovalfor. e) Detailsofwallelements,analysisofstructuralelements,specialdesignsfortrafficbarriersor guardrailposts,drainagedetails,minimumembedmentforfrostprotection,abutmentsandcorner andskewdetails. f) Designcalculationsdemonstratingthestabilityofthewallagainstsliding,overturning,bearing capacity,reinforcementpullout,reinforcementrupture,andreinforcement/facingconnection failure,forallthosewallheightsandloadingconditions(trafficimpact,trafficsurcharge)for whichthedesignersupplierrequestspreapprovalbytheDepartment,inaccordancewiththe documentslistedinparagraph1.5,above. Designcalculationsthatconsistofcomputerprogramgeneratedoutputshallbesupplemented withatleastonehandcalculationandgraphicdemonstratingthedesignmethodologyused. Designcalculationsshallprovidethoroughdocumentationofthesourcesofequationsusedand materialproperties.Thewallcalculationsshallbeprepared andsealedbyaProfessional EngineerlicensedintheStateofMaine. g) Estimateddesignlife,corrosiondesign,proceduresforfieldandlaboratoryevaluationof corrosion,corrosivity,durabilityandlongtermperformanceincludingspecialrequirements. h) Maximumtolerabledifferentialsettlementswithinthewallandbetweenthewallfacingelements. i) Samplematerialandconstructionqualitycontrolspecificationsshowingmaterialtype,quality, certifications,fieldtesting,acceptanceandrejectioncriteriaandinstallationprocedures. j) Facingpanelorblockdimensions,tolerance,geometryandweight,detailsofhowtheyfit togethershearstrengthandlongtermdurabilityofalignmentpins,shearlipscompressive strength,freezethawresistanceandmoistureabsorptioncharacteristicsoffacingblocksor panels. k) Laboratorytestdataforconnectionstrengthbetweensoilreinforcementandfacingelementsand frictionalresistancebetweensoilreinforcementandbackfill. l) ForreinforcementforMSEwallsmacrostructure,metals,coatingsorpolymersusedultimate tensilestrength10,000hourcreeptestdataatmultipleloadlevelsandtemperaturesbackfill requirementsincludingshearstrength,gradationandcorrosivity:chemical,biologicaland microstructuraldegradationdatathatcanbeusedtoestimatelongtermstrengthlossesduringthe designlife.

Page2of 5

ProprietaryWallPolicy MaineDOT February12,2007

m) Awelldocumentedfieldconstructionmanualdescribingindetail,withillustrationsasneeded, thestepbystepconstructionsequence. n) Typicalunitcostspersquarefootofverticalfacearea,supportedbydatafromactualprojects giveninb)above. o) Detailsofnodigzones,warningmarkersorotherprotectivemeasures. Thepreapprovalsubmissionwillbereviewedbythe GeotechnicalEngineeringstaffsofthe MaineDOT HighwayProgram,BridgeProgram,andtheTransportationResearchDivision,withregardtothedesign, constructionpracticalityandanticipatedperformanceofthesystem.The MaineDOTFabrication Unitalso reviewstheproductspecifications. BasedonthefindingsoftheDepartmentReview,wallsystemswillbegrantedastatusofeither approved,notapprovedortrialuse.Awallsystemthatadequatelymeetsthecriteriaabove,for thosewallheightsandloadingconditionsforwhichpreapprovalwasrequested, willbelabeled approvedontheMaineDOTQualifiedProductsList.Awallsystemthatdoesnotadequatelymeetthe criteriaabove,forthosewallheightsandloading conditionsforwhichpreapprovalwasrequested,willbe granted anotapprovedstatus.Wallsystemsthatdonotadequately meetthecriteriaabovemaybe grantedatrialstatus.Themaximumnumberandapplication oftrialstatuswallsthatwill be constructed,andthelengthofthetrialuseperiod,willbe defined inalettertothewalldesignersupplieror providedontheMaineDOTQualifiedProductsListwebsite. VENDORandDEPARTMENTRESPONSIBILITY Seven(7)submittalsarerequired. Proprietarywallvendorsshall sendsubmittalsto: DougGayne MaineDepartmentofTransportation Transportation Research Division ProductsApproval 16StateHouseStation Augusta,Maine04333016 Figure1ProprietaryRetainingWallReviewFlowchart,presentstheorganizationalunitandnecessary actionsandtasksbythatunittoselect,coordinateandreview proprietarywallsystems. Tasksare summarizedbelow: DougGayne,Transportation Research Division: ProvidessixcopiestoLeanne Timberlake,EngineerofDesign MaintainsMaineDOTQualifiedProductsListwebpage Actsasthe liaisonbetween theGeotechnicalEngineersResourceTeam(GERT)and the Retaining WallVendorregardingacceptancestatus. LeanneTimberlakeP.E.,MaineDOTBridgeProgram: DistributessixcopiesofVendorSubmittalstotheGeotechnicalEngineersResource Team(GERT)

Page3of 5

ProprietaryWallPolicy MaineDOT February12,2007

GeotechnicalEngineersResource Team,GERT (KittyBreskin P.E.,KarenGross,LauraKrusinski P.E., KateMaguireP.E.,MichaelMoreauP.E.) ReviewofvendorwallsubmittalsinaccordancewiththisPolicy (6to8weeks,per submittal,allotted forreview). Reviewsgeotechnical design andconstructionaspectsofwallsuppliersubmission ExpeditesreviewofstructuralaspectsofthewallsystembyaBridgeProgram StructuralEngineer Expeditesreviewofmixdesign,materialsandfabricationaspectsofthewallsupplier submittal bytheFabricationsUnit MaintainsretainingwallStandardSpecificationsandSpecialProvisions

Page4of 5

ProprietaryWallPolicy MaineDOT February12,2007

WallVendorrequests MaineDOT ApprovedProduct

DougGayneprovides WallVendorwith MaineDOTProprietary Retaining WallPolicy

WallVendorsubmits 7copiesofWall Submittalto DougGayne

st 1

Submittal

DougGaynesends 6copiestoLeanne TimberlakeP.E., BridgeProgram

DougGayneprovides WallVendorwith GERTDecisionand IssuesRequiring VendorResponse

nd 2 submittal andbeyond

DougGayneprovides GERTwithWallVendor nd Submittal 2 ForReview

PrimaryReviewers Reportfindings backtoGERT

GERT Review 68weeksallowed

GERTdesignates PrimaryReviewers (2minimum)

LeanneTimberlake distributes6copiesto TheGeotechnical EngineeringResource Team(GERT)

NoIssues APPROVAL GERTDecision OK?

GERTnotifiesDoug ofWall ApprovedStatus DougGaynenotifies WallVendorof ApprovedorTrialUse Status GERTnotifiesDoug OfWall TrialUseStatus

Significant Issues REJECTION

SomeIssues TRIALUSE

Figure1.ProprietaryRetainingWallReviewFlowchart

Page5of 5