Department of State Growth

SECTION 682 - REINFORCED SOIL STRUCTURES

##This section cross-references Sections 160, 175, 204, 610 and 620.
If any of the above sections are relevant, they should be included in the specification.
If any of the above sections are not included in the specification, all references to those
sections should be struck out, ensuring that the remaining text is still coherent.:

682.01 GENERAL

This section specifies requirements for the supply of materials, the manufacture and
construction of Reinforced Soil Structures (RSS) and certain general requirements for the
design.

RSS shall comply with the requirements of the tender drawings and this section and shall
comprise a composite system of compacted select fill and reinforcement with a precast
concrete wall facing.

The Contractor shall design and supply all materials and components and construct the RSS
in accordance with this section and other relevant sections of the Specification.

If an RSS is used in conjunction with a bridge abutment, all vertical and horizontal loads
arising from the bridge must be supported independently of the RSS on a piled foundation
that complies with the design, material and construction requirements of VicRoads Standard
Specification, the Australian Standard for Bridge design, the Australian Standard for Piling
and the relevant VicRoads Bridge Technical Notes.

682.02 STANDARDS

Design and construction of RSS shall comply with the requirements of the Australian
Standard for Bridge design - Foundations and soil supporting structures as listed in
Section 175. Where a RSS is to function as an earth retaining structure and designed in
accordance with the Australian Standard for earth retaining structures as listed in
Section 175, in circumstances where the design requirements differ between the two
Australian Standards, the requirements of Bridge design – Foundations and soil supporting
structures shall take precedence over those of the requirements of earth retaining structures.

682.03 DEFINITIONS

Reinforced Soil Structure (RSS): An earth retaining structure comprising selected fill and
soil reinforcement that is embedded at regular intervals in both vertical and horizontal
directions within the fill to form a composite structure. The visible face of the RSS may
incorporate decorative or structural reinforced concrete or masonry facing panels that include
a strip foundation.

Soil Reinforcement: Metallic or synthetic components that are embedded in the select fill
and which act through interface friction, bearing or other means to provide the required
strength and stability of the RSS. Soil reinforcement may be anchored at its trailing end.

Metallic Soil Reinforcement: Soil reinforcement made of steel or other metals in the form
of straps or bars.

Synthetic or Flexible Soil Reinforcement: Soil reinforcement in the form of sheets,

strips or grids made from synthetic materials.

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Anchor: Steel plates, transverse bars or vertical pins that are installed permanently in the
fill and that connect to the trailing end of the soil reinforcement. The anchors may be used
to transfer load to the rear of the RSS or as a means of providing tension in the soil
reinforcement during construction.

Wall Facing Panel: Decorative and/or structural reinforced concrete or masonry facing
elements retaining the compacted select fill material with provision for connection to the soil
reinforcement. Wall facing may be full- height, sectional or segmental panels. Facing panels
and walls include a strip foundation.

Connection: Mechanical or other components which connect the wall facing panels to the
soil reinforcement and which are designed to transfer loads between the soil reinforcement
and the wall facing panels.

682.04 SUBMISSION OF DETAILS

## (should the Project require information regarding the proposed RSS design prior to award
of the Contract, suitable notes should be included in the Conditions of Tender -
SPECIFICATION AUTHOR TO DELETE THIS NOTE):

(a) Prior to Manufacture

The Contractor shall submit the following information for review by the Superintendent
not less than two weeks prior to the manufacture of facing panels:
(i) supplier and type of proposed proprietary RSS system;
(ii) preliminary drawings describing the geometry of the proposed reinforced soil block,
drainage provisions, soil reinforcement type and arrangement, wall facing
arrangement and surface finish and connections; and
(iii) type and source of select fill including particle size distribution, shear strength and
coefficient of friction value. The characteristic value for angle of friction at constant
volume of reinforced fill material under effective stress conditions must be carried
out using in accordance with Australian Standard - Methods of testing soils for
engineering purposes - Soil strength and consolidation tests - Determination of
shear strength of a soil - Direct shear test using a shear box as listed in Section
175. The effective cohesion of the reinforced fill adopted for design shall be taken
as zero.

(b) The Contractor shall submit the following information for review by the Superintendent
not less than two weeks prior to the commencement of construction of the RSS or its
foundations:
(i) for-construction drawings;
(ii) copy of the Certificate of Compliance – Design, certified by the Proof Engineer;
(iii) sampling and test plan for materials that demonstrates compliance with the
specified standards, including the shear strength and co-efficient of friction for the
select fill;
(iv) contract-specific quality plan in accordance with Section 160.

(c) Where synthetic soil reinforcement is to be used, the type of materials shall be submitted
for review, including but not limited to the following:
(i) dimensions including cross-sectional dimensions of strip and grid materials;
(ii) characteristic ultimate tensile strength - longitudinal and transverse (where geogrid
is used);
(iii) strain at both ultimate and nominated tensile strength, in both longitudinal and
transverse directions where grid materials are to used;

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(iv) creep-limited strength in the longitudinal axis at the specified design life;
(v) long term tensile strength at 5% elongation (i.e. initial and creep strain);
(vi) minimum breaking load;
(vii) Considerations of and allowance for strength reduction over the life of the structure
due to creep deformation and rupture;
(viii) allowance for strength reduction due to variations in manufacturing process;
(ix) allowances for extrapolation of uncertainties where test duration is less than the
design life;
(x) material strength and durability testing for the effects of exposure to -
1. water,
2. aggressive fluids,
3. aggressive soils,
4. UV radiation,
5. temperature effects,
6. resistance to mechanical damage,
7. contact with the fill material(s) intended for use with the RSS;
(xi) list of partial factors for both construction damage and environmental effects;
(xii) predicted maximum lateral displacement in facing panel;
(xiii) wall geometry;
(xiv) facing panel details including -
1. intended applications – structure name and dimensions,
2. geometry,
3. durability considerations in accordance with the requirements of the Australian
Standard for Bridge design as listed in Section 175 (exposure classification, mix
design, cover),
4. sealing of joints,
5. joint details – load-transfer mechanism,
6. foundations;
(xv) foundations – geotechnical considerations;
(xvi) the performance and durability of synthetic soil reinforcement used as part of the
proprietary reinforced soil systems shall comply with the Specification and the
manufacturer’s specification;
(xvii) installation -
1. training,
2. supervision,
3. general sequence of working,
4. method of placing and compacting fill and tensioning ties,
5. details of ties around obstructions such as piles and void formers.

682.05 GEOTECHNICAL INFORMATION

The Contractor shall assess all available site conditions information and consider conducting a
site-specific geotechnical investigation to establish the properties of the existing natural or
constructed ground. The assessment and investigation shall include the soil and ground
water properties necessary for the design of the RSS and the accuracy of its construction and

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performance in accordance with the requirements of the Specification. The Superintendent

will not be responsible for the RSS failing to meet the Specification or any costs associated
with mitigation of the RSS to meet the requirements the Specification as a result of latent
geotechnical conditions.

The Contractor shall allow sufficient time in its program for the geotechnical investigation
and laboratory testing.

682.06 DESIGN

RSS shall have a minimum design life of 100 years.

The Contractor shall design the RSS and prepare a specification and drawings for the
manufacture of its components and for its construction.

The Contractor shall have in place a Quality Management System in accordance with Section
160 which ensures compliance with the performance requirements described on the drawings
and in the Specification. The design shall be proof-engineered by a Proof Engineer who shall
be prequalified at Level PE in accordance with the VicRoads prequalification scheme or
approved by the Superintendent.

RSS used in conjunction with a bridge abutment shall be independent of the bridge structure.
Vertical and horizontal loads arising from the bridge shall be supported on piles. Piles shall
be surrounded with a compressible material to ensure that horizontal loads arising from the
RSS are not be transmitted to the piles.

The RSS shall be designed to support dead and live loads arising from bridge approach roads
including vertical and lateral loads soil pressures, impact loads from barriers and guard
fences and loads arising from signs and sign support structures.

Void formers shall be provided within the RSS to accommodate foundations where specified
or detailed on the drawings. Void formers shall be designed to withstand soil-pressure and
the loads arising from piling activities with appropriate provisions for pile creep.

If a protective barrier is required at the face of the RSS, the position of the RSS shall be
adjusted in order to maintain the specified minimum clearance between the edge of the
adjacent lane and the barrier.

The RSS shall satisfy the stability requirements of the Australian Standards for Bridge design
and Earth retaining structures.

The Contractor shall determine the allowable bearing pressures and the maximum settlement
of the founding material under the RSS using information obtained from the site-specific
geotechnical investigation conducted in accordance with Clause 682.05.

Subsurface drainage which complies with this Specification shall be provided within the RSS
where necessary to intercept groundwater and to prevent the development of hydrostatic
pressure behind the facing panels.

A separate drainage system which complies with this Specification shall be provided to collect
and discharge surface water into the storm water drainage system.

The verticality of the RSS wall facing shall lean backward at a minimum slope of
1(H) in 40 (V).

682.07 MATERIALS

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The Contractor shall supply all materials required for the manufacture and construction of the
RSS.

The initial strength, stiffness and durability of materials for use in RSS shall be such that, on
the expiry of the design life, the materials possess sufficient strength and stiffness to satisfy
the requirements of the design.

Not less than four weeks prior to the proposed use of materials and components the
Contractor shall submit a signed statement including test reports demonstrating compliance
of the materials and components with the RSS supplier’s specification and the Specification.

The requirements for RSS soil reinforcement that is located in aggressive environments shall
be as specified on the drawings and in the Specification.

Reinforcing strips which are attached to the wall facing panels and embedded in the fill
together with their connections shall be fabricated from materials which shall be sufficiently
strong, stiff, stable and durable to satisfy the performance and design requirements of the
Specification.

The Contractor shall submit data from laboratory and site applications in
representative conditions that demonstrates the suitability of the proposed system
to satisfy the specified design life.

682.08 SOIL REINFORCING

(a) Steel (Non-Extensible) Reinforcement for RSS

(i) All steel components for use in RSS shall comply with the requirements of Section
611. Steel straps shall have a thickness of 5 mm. All steel components including
couplers shall be galvanized in accordance with the Australian Standard for Hot-dip
galvanized (zinc) coatings on fabricated ferrous articles as listed in Section 175.
The Contractor shall submit certificates of compliance to the Superintendent
demonstrating that the thickness of steel components and the minimum zinc
coating mass for galvanized steel components complies with Section 160.
(ii) Steel soil reinforcement shall incorporate additional sacrificial steel to allow for loss
of thickness due to corrosion. The rate of corrosion shall be determined by nature
of installation and climatic conditions relevant to the site. The minimum rate of
corrosion shall be 0.02 mm per year. The total derived thickness shall be sufficient
to achieve the specified design life. At the end of the design life, the residual
thickness of steel shall be sufficient to safely support the design dead and live
loads.
Assessment of the rate of corrosion for this purpose shall include an allowance for
the effect of stray currents from adjacent power sources.

(b) Synthetic (Extensible) Soil Reinforcement for RSS

(i) Synthetic soil reinforcement shall not be incorporated in RSS for bridges, retaining
walls or other structures without the prior approval of the Superintendent subject
to the requirements of Clause 682.04.
(ii) Where approval to use geosynthetic soil reinforcement in the works is granted, the
batches of material delivered to site shall be not more than 12 months old at the
time of their incorporation into the works.
(iii) Joints for synthetic soil reinforcement shall have a strength that is not less than the
adjacent synthetic soil reinforcement and shall enable the adjacent reinforcement

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to achieve its full tensile strength over the design life of the structure allowing for
the effects of creep together with any other changes in material properties that
may occur over the life of the structure.

682.09 TESTING OF SYNTHETIC SOIL REINFORCEMENTS

(a) The Contractor shall provide a certificate of compliance stating that each batch of
synthetic soil reinforcement complies with the type, strength and durability requirements
of the Specification. The certificate shall provide full details of the required material
properties and shall be accompanied by test results.

(b) Certificates dated more than one calendar year before the date of delivery of the
materials to site shall not be accepted.

(c) The Contractor shall submit two representative samples of each layer of soil reinforcing
material for testing in a NATA-accredited laboratory*. The Contractor shall provide a
statement which shall be supported with the test results certifying that the durability of
the effectiveness of the material with time (e.g. chemical and biological degradation,
creep and elongation when the material is subject to the design loads) are in accordance
with the manufacturer’s specification and the associated national or international
standards and the requirements of the Specification. The statement of compliance shall
be provided for the Superintendent’s review two weeks prior to commencement of
construction of the RSS.

* If NATA has not accredited a laboratory for testing, the following must be satisfied:
(i) materials testing shall be conducted in accordance with recognised standards and
test procedures by a NATA-accredited laboratory;
(ii) testing overseas must be conducted by a laboratory which is accredited in
accordance with a Mutual Recognition Agreement and is listed on the NATA web-
site. Test reports shall be endorsed with the identifying mark of the accredited
laboratory. In this case the test must be conducted and the results certified in
accordance with the accreditation conditions; or
(iii) approval by the Superintendent including results in an acceptable format.

(d) Testing shall reflect conditions specific to the intended application including the relevant
design loads and the intended fill materials.

(e) Test results are to include interpretation where appropriate.

HP Evidence that the proposed synthetic soil reinforcement meets the design
requirements of the Specification shall be provided to the Superintendent for
review. Construction of the RSS shall not proceed until the signed statement
and certificates of compliance have been reviewed by the Superintendent.

682.10 FACING PANELS

Facing panels shall be designed in accordance with BTN1999-008 Detailing of reinforced soil
facing panels and manufactured in accordance with Section 610 and Section 620.

Minimum area of reinforcement, concrete mix designation, cover to reinforcement and

standard of surface finish shall be as described in BTN1999-008 Detailing of reinforced soil
facing panels.

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Facing panels shall be interconnected to prevent relative displacement normal to the wall
face. The maximum differential movement shall be within the limit of the manufacturer of
the RSS and the Specification.

682.11 JOINT FILLERS

Joint fillers shall be provided between facing panels to allow limited rotation at the joints
without spalling of panel edges, to maintain joint thickness within design tolerances and to
prevent loss of fines from the backfill material and staining of the panel faces. The joint filler
shall consist of a flexible, durable and inert material.

682.12 CONNECTIONS

Connections shall have a design life of 100 years.

Connections between facing panels and reinforcing elements shall be made wholly from steel
or from similar metals in order to prevent corrosion.

Steel components shall be galvanized in accordance with the Australian Standard for Hot-dip
galvanized (zinc) coatings on fabricated ferrous articles as listed in Section 175 with a
minimum average coating thickness equivalent to an application rate of 600 grams per
square metre of Zinc.

The Contractor shall provide a certificate of compliance certifying that the mass of zinc
coating on galvanized steel components meets the specified requirements and that steel
components have sufficient sacrificial steel thickness in combination with the galvanizing to
achieve the specified design life.

Connections made of synthetic materials shall comply with the requirements of

Clause 682.08(b). Where connections are made of synthetic soil reinforcement such as
geogrids, there shall be no splicing or joining of geogrid layers in the primary strength
direction.

682.13 HANDLING TRANSPORTATION AND STORAGE

Prefabricated RSS components shall be handled, transported and stored in accordance with
the manufacturer's recommendations in a manner that prevents damage and deterioration.

Precast concrete facing panels shall be handled, transported and stored in accordance with
Section 620.

682.14 SELECT FILL

Select fill shall comply with the requirements of the RSS designer, the minimum
requirements of Section 204 of this Specification for Type A filling and shall:
(a) consist of naturally occurring or processed natural material which at the time of placing
is capable of being compacted in accordance with the specified requirements to form a
stable mass of fill;
(b) be free from organic or other deleterious material;

(c) have a particle size distribution, shear strength and coefficient of friction value to ensure
the RSS design parameters are achieved;

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(d) have the chemical and electrical properties stated in Table 682.131.

Table 682.131

Soil Cl SO4
Resistivity
Reinforcem Site pH (mg/k (mg/kg
(ohm.cm)
ent g) )

Steel Dry Land > 5000

5 - 10 - -
> 1000 -
5 – 10 < 200 < 200
5000
Steel Submerged
(not sea wa > 3000 5 – 10 < 100 < 500
ter)
Polyester N/A - 4-9 - -
HDPE N/A - 3 - 12 - -

If the site is at-risk of submergence by sea water, a specific investigation shall be

conducted and selection of fill materials shall be subject to approval by the
Superintendent.

Testing of the select fill material shall be in accordance with the test methods and frequency
prescribed for the proprietary RSS system and the minimum standards prescribed in
Section 204.

Pulverised fuel ash (PFA) shall not be used as select fill.

682.15 CONSTRUCTION

The RSS shall be constructed at the location and to the shape and dimensions shown on the
drawings in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations subject to the tolerances
specified in Clause 682.20.

Where future extensions of the RSS are indicated on the drawing or detailed as a
requirement in the Contract, the design of the RSS wall shall allow for both initial and future
configurations. For walls which are to be extended in height, the first stage reinforcement
and facing panels shall have sufficient capacity to support subsequent increases in wall-
height together with any surcharge without the need for enhancement. Removal and
replacement of facing panel components to allow future extension is permitted.

The reduced levels and position of the soil reinforcement shall not deviate from the specified
level and position by more than  20 mm.

682.16 EARTHWORKS

HP The Contractor shall submit compaction test results for each layer of fill
placement to the Superintendent for review and acceptance. No further fill
placement shall be allowed if the total thickness of fill placement is greater
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than 1 m measured from the last layer that has been accepted. If any layer is
found to be not in compliance with the compaction requirement, that layer
and the layers above it shall be removed.

Earthworks for RSS shall comply with the requirements of Section 204.

Testing and Acceptance of Compaction shall comply with Section 204, regardless of the
manufacturer's requirements.

Fill materials shall be placed and compacted in a direction parallel to the face of the structure
and shall be completed in conjunction with the erection of the facing panels.

Compacted layers of fill material shall be horizontal and of uniform thickness.

The upper surface of the fill material shall slope down to the back of the RSS block to
promote drainage of surface water away from the wall facing.

Filling and compaction shall be conducted with care in order to avoid damage to or
displacement of reinforcing elements and facing panels. Tracked machines or vehicles shall
not be allowed to traffic over or work on reinforcing elements until the reinforcement is
protected by a minimum 150 mm layer of fill material. Sheepsfoot rollers shall not be used
for compaction of fill material.

The condition of the soil reinforcement and connections to facing panels shall be inspected by
the Contractor for compliance and a written record of each inspection shall be filed in the
Contractor’s quality system prior to placing the next layer of select fill material.

682.17 ERECTION OF WALL PANELS AND PLACEMENT OF SOIL REINFORCING

ELEMENTS

Wall facing panels shall be placed in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations.

Each facing panel shall be temporarily and securely supported during and after its erection
until the adjacent fill material has been placed and compacted.

Reinforcing elements shall be placed at the required level and position directly on top of the
compacted fill material and connected to the wall panels in accordance with the design. Any
twists, kinks, sags or deviations in the reinforcing elements shall be removed prior to the
placement of fill material on the reinforcing. Wall construction shall include provision of
inserts where specified.

The level and alignment of each course of facing panels shall be checked progressively after
placement of each course and prior to placement of the next course to ensure compliance
with the dimensional and positional tolerances stated in the design. The Contractor shall
record the results of this checking together with details of any non-conformances and the
associated corrective actions.

682.18 SPOON DRAINS

Spoon drains shall be provided at the top of RSS walls to collect surface water drainage from
adjacent batters. The spoon drains shall discharge to collection pits with outlets to a surface
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water drainage system.

682.19 SAFETY FENCES

Where a fall-hazard exists at the top of the RSS, a safety fence shall be provided. Unless
otherwise specified, the fence shall be 1.2 metres high with a galvanized steel tube top and
bottom rail faced with galvanized steel chain mesh.

682.20 TOLERANCES ON FINISHED DIMENSIONS AND POSITION OF REINFORCED

SOIL STRUCTURE

The following tolerances shall apply on completion of the RSS:

(a) plan position shown on the drawings, at base of wall shall not exceed 15 mm;
(b) relative displacement of adjoining smooth panel faces shall not exceed 15 mm measured
normal to face of wall;
(c) local deviation of the wall face measured at any location with a 3 m straight edge shall
not exceed 15 mm;
(d) the tolerance on position measured at the top of the wall face shall not exceed 5 mm per
1 metre of wall height;
(e) the wall level shall not deviate from the specified level by more than 20 mm;
(f) variation in gap width between facing panels shall not exceed 5 mm per metre length
and 10 mm over the full length of the gap.

682.21 SHAPE OF REINFORCED SOIL STRUCTURE

To ensure compliance with the tolerances specified in Clause 682.20, the Contractor shall
install stable and permanent survey reference points on a not more than 5 m (horizontal) by
2 m (vertical) grid covering the whole face of the RSS. The Contractor shall take
measurements of the position of the RSS at the points defined in Clause 682.20(a) to (f) at
intervals not exceeding one month for the first six months immediately following completion
of the RSS and at intervals not exceeding six months thereafter until the end of the Defects
Liability Period. The measurements shall be recorded in writing and reported to the
Superintendent within two weeks of the survey.

The Contractor shall extrapolate these measurements in order to predict the position of the
RSS at the end of its design life. The predicted position of the RSS shall be plotted on a log
time scale plot. If the position of the RSS and its rate of movement at the end of the Defects
Liability Period indicates that the specified positional tolerances will be exceeded before the
end of the design life:
(a) the Contractor shall take remedial action at its own expense to ensure that the RSS will
comply with the specified positional requirements throughout its design life;
(b) the Contractor shall continue to take measurements at its own expense until it is
demonstrated that the RSS will comply with the positional requirements; and
(c) the Defects Liability Period shall be extended by an equivalent period or as agreed by the
Superintendent.

In respect of Clause 682.21(a), not less than two weeks before the commencement
of the remedial work, the Contractor shall submit its proposals for remedial work to
the Superintendent for review.

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