Nicet Highway Construction Level 3
1. What is Mechanically Stabilized Earth (MSE)? A Mechanically Stabi-
lized Earth (MSE) retain-
ing wall is a compos-
ite structure consisting
of alternating layers of
compacted backfill and
soil reinforcement ele-
ments, fixed to a wall fac-
ing
2. What is A Mechanically Stabilized Earth (MSE) The stability of the wall
derived from? system is derived from
the interaction between
the backfill and soil re-
inforcements, involving
friction and tension. The
wall facing is relative-
ly thin, with the prima-
ry function of preventing
erosion of the structur-
al backfill. The result is
a coherent gravity struc-
ture that is flexible and
can carry a variety of
heavy loads.
3. What are Common Causes for MSE Wall Fail- Mechanically Stabilized
ures? Earth (MSE) walls
are routinely con-
structed without ade-
quate drainage or com-
paction, using wide-
ly spaced reinforcement
and low-quality, on-site
clay soils. These laps-
es can cause significant
movement or collapse of
a section, hindering a
wall's performance.
, Nicet Highway Construction Level 3
4. What are the benefits of repairing an MSE Wall Repair and rehabilitation
In-Place? of an MSE wall is of-
ten 30% of the total
replacement cost, and
our crews can complete
the work around existing
structures.
5. What is used for Temporary Soil Stabilization? Temporary cover (mulch,
plastic, rolled erosion
control product, or tack-
ifier) and / or Tempo-
rary turf establishment
(Apply seed and mulch
for soil erosion protec-
tion and protect it un-
til permanent turf is in
place)
6. What are the Permanent Soil Stabilization ele- (a) Turf establishment.
ments on permanent slopes? Apply seed, fertilizer,
and mulch. (b) Plants,
trees, shrubs, vines,
groundcovers, and other
plants. Furnish and plant
trees, shrubs, vines,
groundcovers, and other
plants. (c) Sod. Furnish
and place sod of peren-
nial turf-forming grasses.
(d) Rock mulch. Furnish
and place rock on fin-
ished surfaces.
7. What is "Mass concrete"? Mass concrete is "any
volume of concrete
with dimensions large
enough to require that
measures be taken to
, Nicet Highway Construction Level 3
cope with generation of
heat from hydration of
the cement and atten-
dant volume change to
minimize cracking".
8. What are some of the other names "Drilled Drilled piers, caissons,
Shafts" are called? cast-in-drilled-hole piles
(CIDH - Caltrans termi-
nology), and bored piles
(Europe)
9. What is a Caisson? A boxlike structure used
in construction work un-
derwater or as a founda-
tion. It is usually rectan-
gular or circular in plan
and may be tens of me-
tres in diameter.
10. What are the different types of concrete bridge 1. Straight bridges 2.
decks? Bridges with curved
geometry 3. Arch
bridges 4. Suspension
bridges
11. What are "Arch" bridges? The arch has a
load-bearing function for
the piles and the road-
way above, discharging
all the forces on the
foundations through the
arch. This type is cho-
sen to span long dis-
tances when support on
the ground is not possi-
ble.
12. What is a "suspension" bridge? They allow the span-
ning of very large dis-
, Nicet Highway Construction Level 3
tances and feature piles
that transmit the loads to
the foundation support-
ing the deck by means
of traction elements (tie
rods or steel cables).
13. What is a Gabion basket? Gabion baskets are
typically rectangular
wire mesh baskets
(made with galvanized
wire) filled with small
rock of approximately
100-250mm in diameter.
The gabion baskets are
often placed on top of
one another in the form
of a vertical or terraced
retaining wall against a
riverbank to prevent fur-
ther erosion of the bank.
14. What is the "clear zone"? The portion of the road-
side, including the shoul-
der, available for the safe
use by an errant vehicle
in which the driver may
regain control of the ve-
hicle.
15. What is a "Culvert"? A structure, not classi-
fied as a bridge, that pro-
vides an opening under
the roadway.
16. What is "Density"? Mass per unit volume of
material. Specific gravity
multiplied by the density
of water
1. What is Mechanically Stabilized Earth (MSE)? A Mechanically Stabi-
lized Earth (MSE) retain-
ing wall is a compos-
ite structure consisting
of alternating layers of
compacted backfill and
soil reinforcement ele-
ments, fixed to a wall fac-
ing
2. What is A Mechanically Stabilized Earth (MSE) The stability of the wall
derived from? system is derived from
the interaction between
the backfill and soil re-
inforcements, involving
friction and tension. The
wall facing is relative-
ly thin, with the prima-
ry function of preventing
erosion of the structur-
al backfill. The result is
a coherent gravity struc-
ture that is flexible and
can carry a variety of
heavy loads.
3. What are Common Causes for MSE Wall Fail- Mechanically Stabilized
ures? Earth (MSE) walls
are routinely con-
structed without ade-
quate drainage or com-
paction, using wide-
ly spaced reinforcement
and low-quality, on-site
clay soils. These laps-
es can cause significant
movement or collapse of
a section, hindering a
wall's performance.
, Nicet Highway Construction Level 3
4. What are the benefits of repairing an MSE Wall Repair and rehabilitation
In-Place? of an MSE wall is of-
ten 30% of the total
replacement cost, and
our crews can complete
the work around existing
structures.
5. What is used for Temporary Soil Stabilization? Temporary cover (mulch,
plastic, rolled erosion
control product, or tack-
ifier) and / or Tempo-
rary turf establishment
(Apply seed and mulch
for soil erosion protec-
tion and protect it un-
til permanent turf is in
place)
6. What are the Permanent Soil Stabilization ele- (a) Turf establishment.
ments on permanent slopes? Apply seed, fertilizer,
and mulch. (b) Plants,
trees, shrubs, vines,
groundcovers, and other
plants. Furnish and plant
trees, shrubs, vines,
groundcovers, and other
plants. (c) Sod. Furnish
and place sod of peren-
nial turf-forming grasses.
(d) Rock mulch. Furnish
and place rock on fin-
ished surfaces.
7. What is "Mass concrete"? Mass concrete is "any
volume of concrete
with dimensions large
enough to require that
measures be taken to
, Nicet Highway Construction Level 3
cope with generation of
heat from hydration of
the cement and atten-
dant volume change to
minimize cracking".
8. What are some of the other names "Drilled Drilled piers, caissons,
Shafts" are called? cast-in-drilled-hole piles
(CIDH - Caltrans termi-
nology), and bored piles
(Europe)
9. What is a Caisson? A boxlike structure used
in construction work un-
derwater or as a founda-
tion. It is usually rectan-
gular or circular in plan
and may be tens of me-
tres in diameter.
10. What are the different types of concrete bridge 1. Straight bridges 2.
decks? Bridges with curved
geometry 3. Arch
bridges 4. Suspension
bridges
11. What are "Arch" bridges? The arch has a
load-bearing function for
the piles and the road-
way above, discharging
all the forces on the
foundations through the
arch. This type is cho-
sen to span long dis-
tances when support on
the ground is not possi-
ble.
12. What is a "suspension" bridge? They allow the span-
ning of very large dis-
, Nicet Highway Construction Level 3
tances and feature piles
that transmit the loads to
the foundation support-
ing the deck by means
of traction elements (tie
rods or steel cables).
13. What is a Gabion basket? Gabion baskets are
typically rectangular
wire mesh baskets
(made with galvanized
wire) filled with small
rock of approximately
100-250mm in diameter.
The gabion baskets are
often placed on top of
one another in the form
of a vertical or terraced
retaining wall against a
riverbank to prevent fur-
ther erosion of the bank.
14. What is the "clear zone"? The portion of the road-
side, including the shoul-
der, available for the safe
use by an errant vehicle
in which the driver may
regain control of the ve-
hicle.
15. What is a "Culvert"? A structure, not classi-
fied as a bridge, that pro-
vides an opening under
the roadway.
16. What is "Density"? Mass per unit volume of
material. Specific gravity
multiplied by the density
of water
