Cost Evaluation and Management for Adopting Reinforced Earth Retaining Structures in Jordan

Abstract

Globally, different studies and investigations in the field of new technologies and alternative building materials are continuously performed to decrease the cost and time of carrying out construction projects. In this research, a geotechnical and management investigations were conducted to evaluate (primarily) the cost of adopting reinforced earth retaining structures in Jordan and then to compare this technology with conventional concrete retaining walls. In Jordan, the reinforced earth technique is relatively performed, since 2005; however, it is still not popular among the construction engineering sectors.

The methodology of this research consisted of two stages. The first stage included collecting for literature of previous investigations and the required information related to the above subject; whereas, the second stage focused on the idea of adopting reinforced earth structures for a proposed project in Jordan, then considering it as a case study for this research. Briefly, the study project was a proposed retaining wall that to be executed along one side of an existing road located at Al Fuhais City (about five kilometers from the Capital Amman). Accordingly, a comparison study for implementing two alternatives of retaining structures had been conducted for this project (i.e., reinforced earth & reinforced concrete retaining walls). The engineering evaluation of carrying out this project has been studied during performing a comprehensive analysis for each alternative considering the structural cost, labor and equipment's costs, quality and availability of the required materials, applicability, and the construction management.

Considering the results of this research, it was concluded that conducting reinforced earth retaining structures in Jordan has more benefits considering their lower cost, less duration of execution, the availability of materials, the presence of workers with good experience, in addition to other several factors concerning the structure's durability, and serving as projects with most convenient to local environment.

Keywords: Reinforced Earth Walls, Engineering Management, Cost Evaluation, Planning, R.C Walls.