Principal Investigator(s):
Arturo Schultz, Former Professor, Civil, Environmental and Geo-Engineering
Co-Investigators:
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Mark Snyder, Former University Researcher, Civil, Environmental and Geo-Engineering
Project summary:
A condition assessment survey of segmental concrete block retaining walls (SCBRWs) along roadways in the Twin Cities is proposed to determine the extent and severity of durability problems from freeze-thaw damage. The survey comprises three stages; (1) rapid condition assessment of approximately 100 walls in the Twin Cities, (2) detailed condition assessment of those walls exhibiting the greatest amount of distress, and (3) a winter survey to determine exposure to snow and ice accumulation. Proposed activities besides the survey, include a brief literature review of durability of dry-cast concrete masonry products from which those parameters to be evaluated in the survey will be selected. A database from the surveys will be compiled which summarizes the characteristics and performance of the SCBRWs. Analysis of the database and interpretation of the results will serve to define the magnitude of durability problems in SCBRWs along roadways in the Twin Cities.