US3226935A - Retaining wall and method of constructing same - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 4, 1966 3,226,935

RETAINING WALL AND METHOD OF CONSTRUCTING SAME Filed June 8, 1961 J. W- SCHNELLER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Md 5 n N y m w W f m RETAINING WALL AND METHOD OF CONSTRUCTING SAME Filed June 8, 1961 Jan. 4, 1966 w. SCHNELLER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 W m mm w E Z A a vjmwB W. I 1 r A 7 3,226,935 RETAINING WALL AND METHOD OF CONSTRUCTING SAME Joseph W. Schneller, 402 Longmeadow Road, Eggertsville, N .Y. Filed June 8, 1961, Ser. No. 116,241 8 Claims. (CI. 6149) This invention relates to retaining wall construction and more particularly to a new and improved retaining wall constructed along the berm line of a body of water such as a canal, and a new and improved method of constructing such Wall. t

The present invention is especially useful in constructing canal bulkheads in the southern portions of the United States, specifically in states like Florida wherein swampy or low land is being reclaimed for both residential and business building purposes. In such areas it is common practice to form bodies of water such as canals by digging out the swampy or low land and using the dug out earth to build up dry land areas between such canals. Once this 3,226,935 Patented Jan. 4, 1966 FIG. 8 is a partial perspective view of forms utilized to shape a pile-reinforced footing of a wall constructed according to still another embodiment of the invention, and

, FIG; 9 is a partial perspective view of forms utilized to shape a pile-reinforced footing of a Wall constructed according to a still further embodiment of the invention.

Referring to the drawings, wherein like numerals indicate like parts, the various embodiments of the invention will now be described in detail.

As will beapparent from FIGS. 15, the first embodiment shown therein is especially adapted for use when rock bed with the surface of the ground G adjoining the canal initial operation is completed, it is then necessary to prevent erosion of the soil adjoining the canals by building retaining Walls or bulkheads, and a primary consideration in constructing such retaining walls is cost, from both the material and labor standpoints.

This consideration becomes critical where rock or coral is encountered so as to prohibit jetting the walls in place, or where the soil is so soft that stability cannot be maintained without the use of piles. As used herein, the term jetting refers to the application of water pressure from the nozzle of a hose topart the earth along the berm line and thereby permit the upstanding wall components to be partially sunk edgewise into the ground. 3

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the invention to provide a new and improved retaining wall and a new and improved method of constructing the same along the berm line of a body of water, such wall and method being especially adapted for use under theabove mentioned circumstances and producing substantialsavings in both material and labor costs.

Another object is to provide such 'a wall and method wherein corrugated sheets of economical, light weight and rigid material such as asbestos cement are used to facilitate and expedite construction of the wall.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description and accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of forms utilized to shape a footing of a wall constructedaccording to one embodiment of the invention; t

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the footing of FIG. 1 after pouring; i

FIG. 3 is a partial perspective View of the completed footing of FIG. 1 following removal of the forms and formation of the keyway in the footing;

FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view illustrating a partially completed wall including the arrangement and locking of the corrugated sheets embedded in the keyway of the footing of FIGS. 1-3;

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view illustrating the wall of FIG. 4 after completion, following installation of the cap, deadman and anchoring rod, and the backfilling operation, all according to said one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view of forms utilized to shape a pile-reinforced footing of a wall constructed according to another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view of forms utilized to shape a pile-reinforced footing of a wall constructed according to a further embodiment of the invention;

is denoted at BL.

In practicing the invention according to this and the other embodiments, it is preferred that a trench 141 be dug along the berm line BL. However, this step is not absolutely necessary and can be dispensed with, such as when rock or coral is encountered along the surface of the ground.

Following the trenching operation, a pair of laterally spaced forms 11 are erected on their longitudinal edges in the trench 10 and arranged so that one extends along the berm line BL and the other is inland thereof. In a typical installation, each form would be made of wood about 2 inches thick and 16 inches wide, and the forms would be spaced about 16 inches apart to form a square footing.

Next, the desired number of longitudinally spaced cross-pieces or straps 12 are nailed to the upper edges of the forms, and these cross-pieces in turn carry an elongated keyway forming member 13- which may be nailed thereto. This member, in a typical installation, is in the form of an elongated 4 by 4 wooden piece which extends longitudinally along the berm line BL and is centered between the forms 11. It is to be noted that the trench It) is initially made Wider than the spaced forms 11, and these forms are held from collapsing outwardly away from each other by the usual transverse tension rods or wires (not shown), after which the walls of the trench are built up against forms 11 for added stability.

Following this, a sufficient quantity of suitable selfsetting cementitious material 14 such as concrete is poured to fill the space between forms 11 and is provided with the usual preplaced reinforcing rods 15, as shown in FIG. 2. While selection of the concrete mix may be varied as desired, it is suggested that the lowest possible slump which is practical to pour be used for speed of setting.

After the concrete 14 has set, the forms 11, crosspieces 12 and member 13 are removed, thereby leaving the completed, i.e., cast-in-place reinforced footing 16 which is provided with the upwardly open and longitudinally extending central keyway 17, as best seen in FIG. 3. t

The footing 16 is now ready for installation or" the corrugated sheets 18, as illustrated in FIG. 4. These sheets are formed of light weight and rigid, mineral fibercement material such as asbestos cement and are commercially available. Typically, the sheets are of elongated rectangular shape and vary in length from about 4 to about 12 feet measured along their corrugations 19, and are usually about 42 inches wide. Depending upon thickness, their weight ranges from about 4.2 lbs. per square foot to about 5.8 lbs. per square foot, and the pitch of the corrugation 19, measured from center to center, is about 4.2 inches. These asbestos cement sheets are natural grey in color and have a thickness (measured between the crest and vale of .a corrugation) ranging from approximately 0.4 inch to about 0.610 inch, with the depth of the corrugation varying from about 1% inches to about 1.6 inches.

The pertinent strength characteristics of such asbestos cement sheets, when saturated with water and measured on a per foot width basis, are as follows, with the smallest values being for the thinnest sheet and the largest values for the thickest sheet: modulus of elasticity from about 3.4 10 p.s.i. to about 5.4 10 p.s.i.; moment of inertia from about 0.764 in. to about 1.26 inf; section modulus from about 1.01 in. to about 1.58 in. modulus of rupture or breaking stress from about 3380 p.s.i. to about 6000 p.s.i. and shear load per foot width from about 2795 lbs. to about 5880 lbs. As will be apparent, such sheets have a high ratio of strength to weight and are quite suitable for their intended use. As a matter of fact, the saturated strength values are approximately 80% of those for a completely dry product, which further indicates their suitability for retaining wall construction.

In a typical wall, sheets 18 of about 5 feet in length are employed, and are installed as follows. Each sheet 18 is stood on edge with its corrugations 19 extending upwardly, and its lower edge is installed lengthwise in the keyway 17. As the sheets 18 are installed one after another in upstanding contiguous relationship, they are arranged so that a corrugation of each sheet overlaps a corrugation of an adjacent sheet, as clearly seen in FIG. 4, and such sheets are locked together by fastening the overlapping corrugations 19 in any suitable manner.

For example, each sheet may be provided with a through hole 20 in its end corrugation 19 near its upper edge, and a wire 21 may be passed through aligned holes in the overlapping corrugations, after which the Wire is formed into a loop and its ends are tied. This particular manner of locking the sheets together is described in greater detail in my related copending application Serial No. 105,635 filed April 26, 1961, and entitled Method of Constructing Retaining Wall.

During the installation of sheets 18, they may be braced in any suitable manner (not shown), to maintain them in the desired upstanding position while their lower edges are anchored in the keyway 17 as follows. A sufficient quantity of self-setting cementitious material 22 such as mortar or grout is poured into the keyway until the space herein on both sides of sheets 18 is filled. This operation is known as embedding the lower edges of the sheets 18 in keyway 17, and securely anchors the lower edges of the sheets in place.

Referring now to FIG. 5, a completed wall W is illustrated therein. Once the grout or mortar 22 has set, the sheets are provided with a cap 23 along their upper edges. Typically, the cap 23 is formed from cementitious material such as concrete and which cap is poured in place and reinforced with one or more rods 24. Suitable forms (not shown) are employed to define the shape of the cap 23 and these forms are removed following pouring and setting of the concrete. In a typical installation, the cap 23 is about 6 inches high by inches wide, and the upper edges of sheets 18 are embedded longitudinally and centered therein to a depth of about 2 inches.

At the same time, the desired number of deadmen, in the form of concrete blocks 30 (only one being shown) are formed in the ground G at the desired distance behind or landward of sheets 18. These deadmen 30 are each connected to cap 23 by an anchor rod 31 which has its lower hook 32 embedded in the deadman and its upper hook 33 embedded in cap 23, preferably around reinforcing rod 24. When such rods 31 are later loaded by the backfill BF, resistance is provided by the weight of the concrete in the deadman 30 and the soil between the deadman and the wall W.

After the cap 23, deadman 30 and anchor rods 31 are in place, the joints between the overlapping corrugations 19 of sheets 18 are suitable sealed, such as with tar, tar paper or mortar. The final operation is moving the earth to provide the backfill BF behind the wall W. However, prior to this operation, the landward sides of the sheets 18 may be reinforced with a quantity of stabilized soil (no shown), all as described in detail in my aforesaid copending application.

From the foregoing, it will be evident that practicing the invention provides not only a strong and stable wall W, but also one which is both economical and simple to construct. The use of the light weight corrugated asbestos cement sheets 18 contribute greatly to the savings in material and labor costs efiected because they are not only low in price, but are also strong and easy to handle, there usually being no need for heavy equipment such as a crane to erect such sheets.

Referring now to FIGS. 6-9, each of these embodiments of the invention relates to a pile reinforced footing. These embodiments are especially adapted for use where the soil adjoining the berm line BL is unstable in order to stabilize the same.

Practice of the invention according to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6 is the same as for the embodiment of FIGS. 15, except that prior to pouring the concrete 14 forming footing 16, a plurality of longitudinally and laterally spaced piles are partially sunk into the ground along the opposing surfaces of forms 11, i.e., until they extend downwardly a substantial distance below the bottom surface of trench 10 and upwardly a substantially shorter distance above such surface. These piles 34 are preferably in the form of wooden members such as railroad ties which have approximate dimensions of 6 inches x 8 inches x 6 feet 8 inches, and are preferably jetted but can be driven into the ground until their upper edges are recessed about 4 inches below the tops of forms 11. Whereupon, the footing 16 is poured along, over and between the exposed surfaces of piles 34 to securely embed the piles in the footing. Thus, the footing 16, when reinforced with piles 34, provides an exceptionally stable base for the wall W.

Referring now to FIG. 7, a third embodiment of the invention is illustrated therein, and the invention is practiced in the same manner as for FIGS. 1-5, with the following exceptions. After the trench 10 is dug, if used at all, a plurality of upstanding contiguous lower sheets 18a are jetted one by one into the ground along the berm line BL centrally in trench 10. In performing this operation, each sheet 18a is first arranged on edge in an upstanding position with its corrugation extending upwardly along the berm line, and then the usual hose nozzle (not shown) is employed to part the earth in the usual manner and to permit the sheets 18a to sink into the ground to the desired level, which is indicated by the fact that the corrugations of such sheets extend downwardly a substantial distance below the bottom surface of trench 10 and upwardly a substantially shorter distance above such surface. In a typical installation, these sheets are 4 feet in length and protiude about 4 inches above the bottom of trench 10.

After one sheet has been sunk, the next sheet is similarly arranged and sunk except that its end corrugation 19a overlaps the end corrugation 19a of the previously sunk sheet, and when the subsequent sheet is sunk to the desired level, these sheets are locked together to prevent the subsequent sheet from sinking further into the ground than the previously sunk sheet. This locking operation may be accomplished in any suitable manner, such as by providing the holes 20a in the overlapping corrugations near their upper edges and looping the wire 21a therethrough, just as described with reference to FIG. 4 for upper sheets 18, as well as in my aforesaid copending application.

Once the sheets 18a are in place to form the continuous piles, the forms 11 are erected and the footing 16 and keyway 17 are formed, i.e., cast-in-place, as described above, the footing being poured along and over the exposed surface of the piles for securely embedding the same in the footing. This embodiment of the invention is also particularly suited to use under' unstable soil conditions, and may be used advantageously where jetting operations are feasible to provide the desired stable base for the wall, while simplifying the pile forming operation, as compared to the embodiment of FIG. 6.

A fourth embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 8, and practice of the invention in accordance with this embodiment is the same as for the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7 except that the centeredlower corrugated sheets 18b are spaced longitudinally along the berm line BL to form a plurality of individual piles rather than continuous piles. In a typical installation, the sheets 18b are 4 feet in length but are cut to 12 inches in width.

As will be apparent, a wall constructed in accordance with this embodiment is also specially suitable for unstable soil, yet a saving in material cost is effected by spacing the pile-forming sheets 1%.

Referring now to FIG. 9, the fifth embodiment of the invention is shown therein. Like the embodiments of FIGS. 7 and 8, lower corrugated sheets are employed to form piles. However, the sheets 180, which are typically 42 inches wide and 4- feet long, are jetted into the ground in two laterally spaced rows along the berm line BL to simultaneously produce forms equivalent to the wooden forms 11 used in the previous embodiments. In a typical installation, the sheets 18c are sunk so that their exposed surfaces extend about 16 inches above the ground and are spaced the same distance apart to define the shape of the footing 16. In addition, the sheets 180 in each row are suitably locked together to obtain the desired uniform height, as by looped wires 21c. passing through alined holes 200 in the overlapping corrugations 190.

In locating the keyway forming member 13, the crosspieces 12 may be secured to the top edges of the sheets 18c in any suitable manner. For example, the crosspieces 12. may extend betweena pair of inwardly facing corrugations 19c and be held in place by nails 35 abutting the outer surfaces of such corrugations.

This embodiment of the invention is, like the embodiments of FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 especially suited where the soil is quite unstable, and has an advantage over each of the foregoing embodiments in that the sheets 18c function both as forms for the pouring of the fitting 16 as well as continuous piles for reinforcing such footing, thereby resulting in further substantial savings in both labor and material costs.

It will now be seen how the invention accomplishes its various objects, and numerous additional advantages of the invention will also beapparent. While the invention has been described and illustrated herein by reference to certain embodiments, it is to be understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein by those skilled in the art without departing from the invention, the scope of which is to be determined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In the method of constructing a retaining wall on unstable ground along the berm lineof a body of water, the steps comprising: stabilizing said ground by sinking edgewise into said ground along said berm line a row of piles in the form of upstanding corrugated lower sheets ofrlight Weight and rigid, mineral fiber-cement material, until the corrugations of said lower sheets extend downwardly a substantial distance below a surface of said ground and upwardly a substantially shorter distance above said surface, casting-in-place on said surface and along exposed surfaces of said piles an elongated footing a self-setting cementitious material and forming therein an upwardly open and longitudinally extending keyway, installing longitudinally in said keyway the lower 6 edges of a row of .upstandingcontiguous corrugated upper sheets of light weight and rigid, mineral fiber-cement material, with the corrugations of said upper sheets extending upwardly and with end corrugations of said upper sheets overlapping corrugations, and embedding the lower edges of said upper sheets in said keyway by filling the space therein on both sides of said upper sheets with selfsetting cementitious material.

2. In the method of constructing a retaining wall on unstable ground along the berm line of a body of water, the steps comprising: stabilizing said ground by sinking edgewise into said ground along said berm line a row of continuous piles, in the form of upstanding contiguous corrugated lower sheets of light weight and rigid, mineral fiber-cement material, until the corrugations of said lower sheets extend downwardly a substantial distance below a surface of said ground and upwardly a substantially shorter distance above said surface, with end corrugations of said lower sheets overlapping, casting-in-place on said surface and along exposed surfaces of said piles an elongated footing of self-setting cementitious material and forming therein an upwardly open and longitudinally extending keyway, installing longitudinally in said keyway the lower edges of a row of upstanding contiguous corrugated upper sheets of light weight and rigid, mineral fiber-cement material, with the corrugations of said upper sheets extending upwardly, and with end corrugations of said upper sheets overlapping, locking said upper sheets together by fastening said overlapping corrugations, and embedding the lower edges of said upper sheets in'said keyway by filling the space therein on both sides of said upper sheets with self-setting cementitious material.

3. In the method of constructing a retaining wall on unstable ground along the berm line of a body of water, the steps comprising: stabilizing said ground by sinking .edgewise into said ground along said berm line a row of continuous piles, in the form of upstanding contiguous corrugated lower sheets of light weight and rigid, mineral fiber-cement material, until the corrugations of said lower sheets extend downwardly a substantial distance below a surface of said ground and upwardly a substantially shorter distance above said surface, with end corrugations of said lower sheets overlapping, casting-in-place on said surface and centering along and over the exposed surfaces of said piles, an elongated footing of self-setting cementitious material and forming therein an upwardly open and longitudinally extending keyway, installing longitudinally in said keyway the lower edges of a row of upstanding contiguous corrugated upper sheets, of light weight and rigid, mineral fiber-cement material, with the corrugations of said upper sheets extending upwardly, and with end corrugations of said upper sheets overlapping, locking said upper sheets together by fastening said overlapping corrugations, and embedding the lower edges of said upper sheets in said keyway by filling the space therein on both sides of said upper sheets with self-setting cementitious material.

4. In the method of constructing a retaining wall on unstable ground along the berm line of a body of water, the steps comprising: stabilizing said ground and simultaneously erecting a pair of laterally spaced and elongated forms by sinking edgewise into said ground along said berm line a pair of laterally spaced rows of continuous piles in the form of upstanding contiguous corrugated lower sheets of light Weight and rigid, mineral fiber;-

-cement material, until the corrugations of said lower cementitious material and forming therein an upwardly open and longitudinally extending keyway, installing longitudinally in said keyway the lower edges of a row of upstanding contiguous corrugated upper sheets of light weight and rigid, mineral fiber-cement material, with the corrugations of said upper sheets extending upwardly, and with end corrugations of said upper sheets overlapping, locking said upper sheets together by fastening said overlapping corrugations and embedding the lower edges of said upper sheets with self-setting cementitious material.

5. In a retaining wall constructed on unstable ground along the berm line of a body of water, the combination comprising: a row of piles in the form of upstanding corrugated lower sheets of light weight and rigid, mineral fiber-cement material stabilizing and sunk into said ground along said berm line, with the corrugations of said lower sheets extending downwardly a substantial distance below a surface of said ground and upwardly a substantial shorter distance above said surface, an elongated footing of self-set cementitious material cast-in-place on said surface and along exposed surfaces of said piles and provided with an upwardly open and longitudinally extending keyway, a row of upstanding, contiguous corrugated upper sheets of light weight and rigid, mineral fibercement material having their lower edges installed longitudinally in said keyway, with the corrugations of said upper sheets extending upwardly and with end corrugations of said upper sheets overlapping, means fastening said overlapping corrugations and locking said upper sheets together, and self-set cementitious material embedding the lower edges of said upper sheets in said keyway by filling the space therein on both sides of said upper sheets.

6. In a retaining wall constructed on unstable ground along the berm line of a body of water, the combination comprising: a row of contiguous piles in the form of upstanding contiguous corrugated lower sheets of light weight and rigid, mineral fiber-cement material stabilizing and sunk into said ground along said berm line, with the corrugations of said lower sheets extending downwardly a substantial distance below a surface of said ground and upwardly a substantially shorter distance above said surface and with end corrugations of said lower sheets overlapping, an elongated footing of self-set cementitious material cast-in-place on said surface and along exposed surfaces of said piles and provided with an upwardly open and longitudinally extending keyway, a row of upstanding, contiguous corrugated upper sheets of light weight and rigid, mineral fiber-cement material having their lower edges installed longitudinally in said keyway, with the corrugations of said upper sheets extending upwardly and with end corrugations of said upper sheets overlapping, means fastening said overlapping corrugations and locking said upper sheets together, and selfset cementitious material embedding the lower edges of said upper sheets in said keyway by filling the space there in on both sides of said upper sheets. i

7. In a retaining wall constructed on unstable ground along the berm line of a body of water, the combination comprising: a row of continuous piles in the form of upstanding contiguous corrugated lower sheets of light weight and rigid, mineral fiber-cement material stabilizing and sunk into said ground along said berm line, with the corrugations of said lower sheets extending down wardly a substantial distance below a surface of said ground and upwardly a substantially shorter distance above said surface, and with end corrugations of said lower sheets overlapping, an elongated footing of self-set cementitious material cast-in-place on said surface and centered along and over the exposed surfaces of said piles and provided with an upwardly open and longitudinally extending keyway, a row of upstanding, contiguous corrugated upper sheets of light weight and rigid, mineral fiber-cement material having their lower edges installed longitudinally in said keyway, with the corrugations of said upper sheets extending upwardly, and with end corrugations of said upper sheets overlapping, means fastening said overlapping corrugations and locking said upper sheets together, and self-set cementitious material embedding the lower edges of said upper sheets in said keyway by filling the space therein on both sides of said upper sheets.

8. In a retaining wall constructed on unstable ground along the berm line of a body of water, the combination comprising: a pair of laterally spaced rows of continuous piles in the form of upstanding contiguous corrugated sheets of light weight and rigid, mineral fiber-cement material stabilizing and sunk edgewise into said ground along said berm line and simultaneously forming an erected pair of laterally spaced and elongated forms, with the corrugations of said lower sheets extending downwardly a substantial distance below a surface of said ground and upwardly a substantially shorter distance above said surface, and with end corrugations of said lower sheets overlapping, an elongated footing of selfset cementitious material cast-in-place on said surface and between and along the opposing exposed surfaces of said piles and provided with an upwardly open and longitudinally extending keyway, a row of upstanding, contiguous corrugated upper sheets of light weight and rigid, mineral fiber-cement material having their lower edges installed longitudinally in said keyway, with the corrugations of said upper sheets extending upwardly, and with end corrugations of said upper sheets overlapping, means fastening said overlapping corrugations and locking said upper sheets together, and self-set cementitious material embedding the lower edges of said upper sheets in said keyway by filling the space therein on both sides of said upper sheets.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 975,665 11/1910 Wemlinger 6141 1,019,180 3/1912 Naylor 50-100 1,423,884 7/1922 Rush 61-49 1,602,623 10/1926 Noetzli 6131 1,778,574 10/1930 Thornley 6139 1,888,630 11/1932 Knight 61-31 1,964,870 7/1934 Chappell 50533 2,099,542 11/1937 Stevens 6158 2,200,636 5/1940 Palmer 50186 2,573,987 11/1951 Sage 50100 2,769,277 11/1956 Kellor 61-35 X 2,815,656 12/1957 Klein et a1 5100 3,031,801 5/1962 Leuthesser 50-100 X FOREIGN PATENTS 524,731 12/1953 Belgium.

OTHER REFERENCES Architectural Forum of July 1951, pp. 188. American Builder: February 1960, pp. 164165.

CHARLES E. OCONNELL, Primary Examiner.

JACOB L. NACKENOFF, JACOB SHAPIRO,

Examiners.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,226,935 January 4, 1966 Joseph W, Schneller It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

In the grant, lines 1 to 3, for "Joseph W. Schneller, of Eggertsville, New York," read Joseph W. Schneller, of Eggertsville, New York, assignor to National Gypsum Company, of Buffalo, New York, a corporation of Delaware, line 12, for "Joseph W. Schneller, his heirs" read National Gypsum Company, its successors in the heading to the printed specification, lines 4 and 5, for "Joseph W. Schneller, 402 Longmeadow Road, Eggertsville, N. Y." read Joseph W. Schneller, Eggertsville, N. Y. assignor to National Gypsum Company, Buffalo, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware column 4, line 8, for "no" read not column 5, line 73, for "a" read of column 7, lifle 33, for "contiguous" read continuous Signed and sealed this 29th day of November 1966.

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER EDWARD J. BRENNER Attesting Officer I Commissioner of Patents

Claims (1)

1. IN THE METHOD OF CONSTRUCTING A RETAINING WALL ON UNSTABLE GROUND ALONG THE BERM LINE OF A BODY OF WATER, THE STEPS COMPRISING: STABILIZING SAID GROUND BY SINKING EDGEWISE INTO SAID GROUND ALONG SAID BERM LINE A ROW OF PILES IN THE FORM OF UPSTANDING CORRUGATED LOWER SHEETS OF LIGHT WEIGHT AND RIGID, MINERAL FIBER-CEMENT MATERIAL, UNTIL THE ORRUGATIONS OF SAID LOWER SHEETS EXTEND DOWNWARDLY A SUBSTANTIAL DISTANCE BELOW A SURFACE OF SAID GROUND AND UPWARDLY A SUBSTANTIALLY SHORTER DISTANCE ABOVE SAID SURFACE, CASTING-IN-PLACE ON SAID SURFACE AND ALONG EXPOSED SURFACES OF SAID PILES AN ELONGATED FOOTING A SELF-SETTING CEMENTITIOUS MATERIAL AND FORMING THEREIN AN UPWARDLY OPEN AND LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING KEYWAY, INSTALLING LONGITUDINALLY IN SAID KEYWAY THE LOWER EDGES OF A ROW OF UPSTANDING CONTIGUOUS CORRUGATED UPPER SHEETS OF LIGHT WEIGHT AND RIGID, MINERAL FIBER-CEMENT MATERIAL, WITH THE CORRUGATIONS OF SAID UPPER SHEETS EXTENDING UPWARDLY AND WITH END CORRUGATIONS OF SAID UPPER SHEETS OVERLAPPING CORRUGATIONS, AND EMBEDDING THE LOWER EDGES OF SAID UPPER SHEETS IN SAID KEYWAY BY FILLING THE SPACE THEREIN ON BOTH SIDES OF SAID UPPER SHEETS WITH SELFSETTING CEMENTITIOUS MATERIAL.

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