Patent ID: 6884004

Claim:
A method of constructing a tensile reinforcement sheet-to-retaining wall connection, the retaining wall assembled from at least two tiers of blocks placed side by side and a tensile reinforcement sheet connected to the retaining wall by a bearing surface and extending therefrom into backfill material, comprising the steps of: (a) positioning a plurality of blocks in side by side relation to define a first tier of a length of a wall, each of the blocks defining channels in vertically-spaced opposing surfaces; (b) placing an isolator sheet having a longitudinally extending length in the vertically upper channel of at least one of the blocks in the first tier; (c) positioning a connector bar overwrapped with a portion of a tensile reinforcement sheet within the channel with a portion of the tensile reinforcement sheet extending therefrom, the tensile reinforcement sheet substantially co-extensive with the longitudinal extents of the isolator sheet; (d) positioning blocks in side by side relation on the first tier to define a second tier of the wall, the vertically lower channels of the blocks in the second tier aligning with the vertically upper channels of the first tier, said channels defining lateral bearing surfaces to hold the overwrapped connector bar within the wall; (e) covering the portion of the tensile reinforcement sheet lateral of the wall with backfill to mechanically engage the wall to the backfill, whereby the isolator sheet protectingly reduces abrasion of the loaded tensile reinforcement sheet by the bearing surfaces.