Fanwall noise barrier wall construction report (FHWA-93-03) 2728

Abstract

The Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) has completed a 295.97 foot long section of FANWALL Noise Barrier Wall. The experimental FANW ALL was part of Project I R-240-1 (338)000. FANWALL is a proprietary product produced by Reinforced Earth, Inc. FANW ALL Noise Barrier Walls are erected from precast, reinforced, concrete panels. On I R-240-1(338)000, the panels were cast at Reinforced Earth's Waco, Texas plant and shipped to the project site by truck.. The major advantage of FANW ALL over Cast in Place Noise Barrier was expected to be lower overall cost. Although the purchase price per square foot is higher for FANW ALL than the contract price per square foot for Cast in Place Wall, it was thought that lower labor costs for erecting the wall would bring the overall price of FANW ALL below that of the the Cast in Place type. On Project I R-240-1 (338), the expected labor reduction did not materialize, due to problems in fitting the panels together. Difficulties in fitting the panels were corrected. However, this was not done before the labor required (man-hours) had increased to the point where it was approximately equal to that for the same length of Cast in Place Wall. The completed Fanwall section will be monitored for settlement, lateral movement, and tilting.