MAIN MENU       About Us Inspection Request Contact Information Glossary Careers at Avalon  FOUNDATIONS  Deep Foundations Helical Piles and Helical Tiebacks For Enginners: Typical Helical Specifications Drilled Piers Liquefaction Solved   FOUNDATION REPAIR   Underpinning Horizontal Cracks Foundation Replacement Resistive Piers Underpinning Done Right   COMMERCIAL PROJECTS   Mega Foundations with Helical Piles Solar Panel Arrays with Ground Screws Pipeline Anchors Bridge Abutments Post-tensioned Concrete More Commercial Projects   RETAINING WALLS   Retaining Wall Basics Retaining Wall Fortification Solving Limited Access Using EPS Blocks Using W-beams  EXCAVATION  & GRADING Excavation & Drilling Grading   SPECIAL HILLSIDE   ISSUES Road Washout Repair Road Fortification Hillside Stabilization Challenging Hillside Additions & Patios Landslide Repair Impact Walls   OTHER PROJECTS   Avalon Supports the Famous Rockettes		USING EPS BLOCKS Retaining Wall Special Issue Avalon encourages engineers to explore designs with Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) for large backfills. It is cheap, inert, non-toxic, stable, does not absorb water, and it is approximately 160 times lighter than compacted dirt. Because it weighs so little, the pressure against the retaining wall is less, potentially saving the owner significantly on construction costs of the wall. Here the tied-back retaining wall is ready for the installation of a sub-drain and the placement of EPS blocks and rock. The rock will be placed in veins surround the tiebacks and between sections of EPS blocks. After the installation of the EPS blocks and rock, the tiebacks will be tightened. In this photo, EPS blocks and rock veins are being installed. Earlier, special geo-fabric, rock, and a perforated pipe had been installed behind the base of the wall forming a sub-drain. Later, the filter fabric will be folded over the backfill, with soil placed on top. Soils Engineering: Joe Rafferty, Redwood Geotechnical Structural Design: Bob Patterson, Patterson & Associates. A second wall with EPS block, with drain rock. Soils Engineering Becky Dees, Dees & Associates Structural Design: Bob Patterson, Patterson & Associates. A third wall with EPS block. Gaps are filled with rock as water passages. Soils Engineering: Becky Dees, Dees & Associates Structural Design: Bob Patterson, Patterson & Associates. Avalon Structural, Inc. 181 Ridgeview Drive Aptos, CA 95003 (831) 479-4389 (office) info@avalonstructural.com Copyright © 2015 Avalon Structural, Inc. All Rights Reserved CA License 677116 Classifications:  B, C-8 Avalon is a general building contracting firm and does not employ engineers.