Geosynthetics in roads and pavements

MECHANICALLY STABILIZED EARTH 

(MSE) WALLS 

 

Advantages of MSE Wall Systems 

The economics associated with a particular 

highway alignment or with the development of a 

parcel of land may be determined by the ability 

to create sufficient flat, or level, land to satisfy 

space, safety, or access requirements.  Retaining 

walls are a common structural feature located 

adjacent to highways and building sites in many 

areas of the country. Retaining walls are popular 

because their vertical or near vertical faces 

increase the width of the relatively flat areas 

which are preferred for both highways and 

building sites.  These areas must be excavated 

out of the existing terrain often requiring 

 

significant grade changes at the edges of the 

excavation.  Though there are many types of 

retaining walls, geosynthetic reinforced (MSE) 

soil walls provide vertical grade changes at 

significantly less cost than conventional 

retaining walls. 

 

 

Reinforced Soil vs. Conventional Walls 

 

Geosynthetic reinforced soil walls are soil 

structures constructed with the face at an angle 

of close to 90 degrees from the horizontal.  

Conventional retaining walls are gravity 

structures which must be massive enough to 

resist the destabilizing forces of the retained fill.  

Reinforced soil walls create gravity retaining 

structures out of the fill itself by incorporating 

geosynthetic reinforcement into the design.