{"schema":"https://ver.cy/schemas/card/1.0.0","id":"vr.tr.mechanically-stabilized-earth","code":"thing-q845075","url":"https://ver.cy/models/thing/q845075/","name":"mechanically stabilized earth","alternateNames":[],"kind":"thing","status":"published","version":"0.2.0-wave.4","language":"en","classifiers":{"family":"Thing Registry","category":"Physical world and living systems","entryKind":"thing","plane":"PHY","domain":["PHY.BLT"],"industry":[],"navPath":"","tags":[],"facets":{}},"whatItIs":"A soil construction method in which compacted fill is reinforced with layers of steel strips, geogrids or geotextiles connected to facing elements such as precast concrete panels or blocks, creating retaining walls, bridge abutments and embankments that are often cheaper and more tolerant of settlement than conventional concrete walls; the modern method was developed by French engineer Henri Vidal, who patented Reinforced Earth in the 1960s. Design follows standards covering internal and external stability, drainage and corrosion of reinforcement, and failures usually relate to poor drainage, backfill or construction quality.","purpose":"Let an agent explain mechanically stabilised earth, relay components, design principles, history and failure causes from geotechnical engineering sources, and distinguish MSE walls from gravity retaining walls, soil nailing, gabions and reinforced soil slopes.","scope":{"in":[],"out":[],"boundaries":[]},"distinguishingFeatures":["Layered reinforcement","Flexible structure","Modular facing","Drainage critical"],"structure":{"bundles":[{"id":"understand","name":"Understand","description":"What MSE is.","layers":[{"id":"definition","name":"Definition","description":"Definition.","findings":[{"id":"definition-finding","name":"Definition","description":"Definition.","questions":[{"text":"Is a retaining wall bulging, cracking or leaning, in which case keep clear and contact the owner or building authorities?","kind":"boundary"},{"text":"What is mechanically stabilised earth, and how does it differ from gravity walls, soil nailing, gabions and reinforced slopes?","kind":"definition"}]}]},{"id":"components","name":"Components","description":"Components.","findings":[{"id":"components-finding","name":"Components","description":"Components.","questions":[{"text":"What are the reinforcement, backfill, facing and drainage components?","kind":"definition"},{"text":"Which entry fits the specific component?","kind":"action"}]}]}]},{"id":"design","name":"Design","description":"Design.","layers":[{"id":"stability","name":"Stability","description":"Internal and external stability.","findings":[{"id":"stability-finding","name":"Stability","description":"Stability.","questions":[{"text":"How do engineers check sliding, overturning, pullout and rupture?","kind":"provenance"},{"text":"Which references are standard?","kind":"provenance"}]}]},{"id":"drainage","name":"Drainage","description":"Drainage.","findings":[{"id":"drainage-finding","name":"Drainage","description":"Drainage.","questions":[{"text":"Why is drainage essential for MSE walls?","kind":"provenance"},{"text":"Which sources are cited?","kind":"provenance"}]}]}]},{"id":"history","name":"History","description":"History.","layers":[{"id":"vidal","name":"Vidal","description":"Henri Vidal.","findings":[{"id":"vidal-finding","name":"Vidal","description":"Vidal.","questions":[{"text":"How did Henri Vidal develop Reinforced Earth?","kind":"provenance"},{"text":"Which entry fits Henri Vidal?","kind":"action"}]}]},{"id":"adoption","name":"Adoption","description":"Highway adoption.","findings":[{"id":"adoption-finding","name":"Adoption","description":"Adoption.","questions":[{"text":"How did highway agencies adopt MSE walls?","kind":"provenance"},{"text":"Is the information accurate?","kind":"boundary"}]}]}]},{"id":"context","name":"Context","description":"Failures.","layers":[{"id":"failures","name":"Failures","description":"Failure investigations.","findings":[{"id":"failures-finding","name":"Failures","description":"Failures.","questions":[{"text":"What causes do investigations attribute MSE wall failures to?","kind":"provenance"},{"text":"Is the presentation neutral and attributed?","kind":"boundary"}]}]},{"id":"geosynthetics","name":"Geosynthetics","description":"Geosynthetics.","findings":[{"id":"geosynthetics-finding","name":"Geosynthetics","description":"Geosynthetics.","questions":[{"text":"How are geogrids and geotextiles tested for durability?","kind":"measurement"},{"text":"Which entry fits geogrid?","kind":"action"}]}]}]}]},"agentConduct":{"may":["Explain mechanically stabilised earth and its uses.","Monitor walls for movement, drainage or corrosion and report to the owner."],"mustNot":["Ignore signs of drainage failure, bulging or settlement.","Approve designs or construction without a qualified engineer.","Dig or add loads near a wall without assessing effects on the reinforcement."],"requiresHuman":["Any design, construction or repair decision on these structures."]},"ethics":{"considerations":["Wall failures can harm people and property below."],"affectedParties":["Road users","Neighbours","Construction workers"]},"owners":{"steward":"The owner of the structure, often a road authority; building authorities approve designs.","roles":[],"masterSystems":[]},"relations":[{"target":"Q811430","type":"parent","note":"registry parent class"},{"target":"retaining wall","type":"related","note":"related"},{"target":"geosynthetics","type":"related"},{"target":"soil nailing","type":"related"},{"target":"gabion","type":"related"}],"interaction":{"identity":{"applicability":"required","items":["Vercy registry: vr.tr.mechanically-stabilized-earth","Wikidata: Q845075 (https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q845075)"]},"properties":{"applicability":"required","items":["Reinforced Earth patent: 1960s note - Henri Vidal","first US highway MSE wall: 1972 year - California, as reported","reinforcement types: steel strips, geogrids, geotextiles list"]},"recognition":{"applicability":"required","items":["Reinforced compacted fill with facing","Mechanically stabilized earth, MSE wall, reinforced earth","Gravity walls resist by mass; soil nailing reinforces existing ground; gabions are rock-filled baskets; reinforced slopes lack vertical facing","Walls of interlocking concrete panels or blocks along highways and bridge approaches."]},"capabilities":{"applicability":"required","items":["explain components and principles","relay history","relay design standards","relay failure causes"]},"hazards":{"applicability":"required","items":["Drainage failure and collapse","Reinforcement corrosion","Poor backfill compaction"]},"interfaces":{"applicability":"required","items":["AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications","FHWA MSE wall guidance","BS 8006 strengthened soils"]},"context":{"applicability":"required","items":["Retaining soil for roads, bridges and sites.","steel strip reinforced walls","geogrid reinforced walls","segmental block walls","reinforced soil slopes"]}},"sources":[{"title":"Wikidata item Q845075: mechanically stabilized earth","url":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q845075","note":"identity and sense of the item"},{"title":"Wikipedia: Mechanically stabilized earth","url":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mechanically_stabilized_earth","note":"general description of the item"}],"openQuestions":["Should reinforced soil slopes be a separate entry?","How should FHWA guidance be linked?","Should the Reinforced Earth trademark be documented?"],"resources":{"spec":"/models/things/publications/thing-q845075/spec.json"},"provenance":{"origin":"thing registry research (pass 2)","builtFrom":["models/things/publications/thing-q845075/spec.json"],"providers":["Claude"],"researchStatus":"unreviewed","generatedAt":"2026-09-14T00:54:02Z","builder":"tools/build_cards.py@1.0.0"},"completeness":{"sections":{"classifiers":"filled","whatItIs":"filled","purpose":"filled","distinguishingFeatures":"filled","structure":"filled","agentConduct":"filled","ethics":"filled","owners":"filled","relations":"filled","interaction.identity":"filled","interaction.properties":"filled","interaction.recognition":"filled","interaction.capabilities":"filled","interaction.hazards":"filled","interaction.interfaces":"filled","interaction.context":"filled","sources":"filled"},"notes":{"_gate":"Published through the thing publication gate 1.0 on 2026-10-06T19:52:02+00:00: completeness 1.00; sense: Wikidata description; 2 live sources; review by codex: pass"},"score":1.0}}