Patent ID: 7073984
Filing Date: 2006-07-11
Classification: E02D

Abstract:
1. A precast concrete retaining wall construction element and shear key for retaining a soil mass, comprising: an upstanding solid face panel having a shape of a hexahedron with front and rear walls, a top wall, two side walls and a bottom wall and where the are of said front wall is between about 30 and about 40 square feet and the ratio of the width of said face panel to the height of said face panel is between about 1.2 to about 1.6; an integral stem extending rearwardly from said rear wall of said face panel and in a generally T-shaped arrangement for embedment in the soil mass; said integral stem having an upper wall, a bottom wall, two side walls, a rear wall and said upper and bottom wall each defining a notch therein and each of said side walls including a pan insert therein; the shear key in the form of a polyhedron constructed to fit within one of said notches in one of said upper and bottom walls and adapted to fit within a corresponding notch in an abutting stem of a second element placed on top of or below said retaining wall construction element; said shear key including a face having a cross-sectional area in the shape of a hexagon and defining an area of about one square foot; and which includes two U-shaped reinforcing bars each of which includes two leg portions and a connecting member.