The GeoWall competition challenges civil engineers to design and fabricate a model mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) retaining wall using paper reinforcement taped to a poster board wall facing. As stated by ASCE, “The design objective is to use the least amount of reinforcement needed to support the retained soil plus vertical surcharge loading.” The model MSE retaining wall and the testing box (“the sandbox”) are entirely student built and the project requires months of planning and labor. Team members progress through several iterations of designs before a final model is selected and constructed.
New members learn to design a MSE retaining wall, perform the necessary sizing and performance calculations, and actually construct the model! This is a new team for our chapter, so underclassmen and upperclassmen alike are encouraged to become involved and join the team!
For more information, contact GeoWall captain Thomas McCollum (trpm@udel.edu)
Photos from 2014-2015 ASCE Regionals:
