# US 10,501,896 B2 · Multi-axial grid or mesh structures with high aspect ratio ribs

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- Number: US 10,501,896 B2
- Document ID: US10501896B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/022,132
- Filed: 2018-06-28
- Published: 2019-04-04
- Granted: 2019-12-10
- Earliest claimed: 2008-02-15
- Assignees: Tensar Technologies Limited
- Applicants: Tensar Technologies Limited
- Inventors: Anthony T. Walsh
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10501896B2

## CPC

- E01C 11/16: Reinforcements ({as anchoring elements between layers E01C7/145, E01C7/185, E01C7/325} ; for building in general E04C)
- B29C 55/14: successively
- B29C 55/143: {firstly parallel to the direction of feed and then transversely thereto}
- B29D 28/00: Producing nets or the like, {e.g. meshes, lattices}(by knotting D04G)
- B32B 5/028: {Net structure, e.g. spaced apart filaments bonded at the crossing points}
- B32B 5/12: characterised by the relative arrangement of fibres or filaments of {different layers, e.g. the fibres or filaments being parallel or perpendicular to each other}
- D03D 9/00: Open-work fabrics
- D04H 3/04: in rectilinear paths, e.g. crossing at right angles
- D04H 3/045: for net manufacturing
- E02D 3/005: {Soil-conditioning by mixing with fibrous materials, filaments, open mesh or the like}
- E02D 17/202: {with flexible securing means}
- B29K 2995/0053: bi-axially
- B32B 2250/20: All layers being fibrous or filamentary
- B32B 2262/02: Synthetic macromolecular fibres
- B32B 2459/00: Nets, e.g. camouflage nets
- D10B 2505/204: Geotextiles
- Y10T 428/24273: including aperture
- Y10T 428/24298: Noncircular aperture [e.g., slit, diamond, rectangular, etc.]
- E01C: CONSTRUCTION OF, OR SURFACES FOR, ROADS, SPORTS GROUNDS, OR THE LIKE; MACHINES OR AUXILIARY TOOLS FOR CONSTRUCTION OR REPAIR (forming roads or like surfaces by compacting or grading snow or ice E01H)
- B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00)
- B29D: PRODUCING PARTICULAR ARTICLES FROM PLASTICS OR FROM SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE (making granules B29B9/00; making preforms B29B11/00)
- B32B: LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
- D03D: WOVEN FABRICS; METHODS OF WEAVING; LOOMS
- D04H: MAKING TEXTILE FABRICS, e.g. FROM FIBRES OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL (weaving D03; knitting D04B; braiding D04C; net-making D04G; sewing D05B; tufting D05C; finishing non-woven fabrics D06); FABRICS MADE BY SUCH PROCESSES OR APPARATUS, e.g. FELTS, NON-WOVEN FABRICS; COTTON-WOOL; WADDING {; NON-WOVEN FABRICS FROM STAPLE FIBRES, FILAMENTS OR YARNS, BONDED WITH AT LEAST ONE WEB-LIKE MATERIAL DURING THEIR CONSOLIDATION}(non-woven fabrics having an intermediate or external layer of a different kind, e.g. of woven fabric, B32B)
- E02D: FOUNDATIONS; EXCAVATIONS; EMBANKMENTS (specially adapted for hydraulic engineering E02B); UNDERGROUND OR UNDERWATER STRUCTURES {(tunnels, tunnelling, mining E21)}
- B29K: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR {MOULDS, } REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS
- D10B: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBLASSES OF SECTION D, RELATING TO TEXTILES
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

A multi-axial geogrid possesses a series of interconnected strands or ribs that are arranged along at least two different axes within the plane of the structure. The strands or ribs have an aspect ratio, defined as the ratio of the thickness to width, of greater than 1.0, thickness being the direction normal to the plane of the structure. The geogrid can be manufactured by modifying the process parameters in order to create high aspect ratio ribs, using any of the various known methods for producing geogrids. A reinforced civil engineering structure, and method therefor, is formed by embedding in soil one or more horizontal layers of geogrid having high aspect ratio ribs. The reinforced structure shows improved rutting performance when subjected to vehicular traffic.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A multi-axial geogrid comprising a first generally uniform array of substantially straight highly oriented strands or ribs extending in a first direction across said geogrid in spaced apart rows and a second generally uniform array of substantially straight highly oriented connecting strands or ribs extending in a second direction and interconnecting with adjacent rows of said first array at junctions to form apertures or openings between adjacent oriented strands or ribs extending in the first and second directions and the junctions between said first and second arrays, said strands or ribs in said multi-axial geogrid that extend in the first direction having an aspect ratio greater than 1.0 in the completed geogrid.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The multi-axial geogrid of claim 1, wherein the geogrid has triangular apertures or openings, and said aspect ratio is between greater than 1.0 and about 2.5.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The multi-axial geogrid of claim 1, wherein the geogrid has rectangular apertures or openings, and said aspect ratio is in the range between greater than 1.0 and about 4.0.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The multi-axial geogrid of claim 1, wherein the strands or ribs that extend in the second direction have an aspect ratio greater than 1.0 in the completed geogrid.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The multi-axial geogrid of claim 1, wherein said geogrid is embedded in a particulate material so that the particulate material is at least partially interlocked in said apertures or openings.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The multi-axial geogrid of claim 1, wherein the first array includes a first series of parallel strands or ribs and said second array includes a second series of parallel strands or ribs, the interconnections of said first and second series of strands or ribs at said junctions being essentially perpendicular to form generally rectangular apertures or openings.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The multi-axial geogrid of claim 1 wherein the geogrid has three or more series of parallel strands or ribs intersecting each other at junctions such that the angles of the intersecting strands or ribs at the junction are angles not equal to 90°.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The multi-axial geogrid of claim 7 wherein the geogrid has three series of parallel strands or ribs intersecting each other at the junctions at angles of about 60° to form generally equilateral triangular apertures or openings.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The multi-axial geogrid of claim 1 wherein the strands or ribs have a concave cross-section at or near their center.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The multi-axial geogrid of claim 1 wherein a material composition of the strands in the first array of the completed geogrid is the same as a material composition of the strands in the second array of the completed geogrid.

### Claim 11

A civil engineering reinforcing structure, comprising a multi-axial geogrid including a generally uniform array of substantially straight molecularly oriented strands or ribs extending across said geogrid in spaced apart rows in a first direction and a generally uniform array of substantially straight molecularly oriented connecting strands or ribs extending in a second direction and joined at interconnecting junctions with adjacent rows of said strands or ribs extending in said first direction to form apertures or openings between adjacent molecularly oriented strands or ribs in said first and second directions as joined at said interconnecting junctions, said molecularly oriented strands or ribs of said multi-axial geogrid in the first direction having an aspect ratio at a longitudinal midpoint which is greater than 1.0 in the completed geogrid constituting the civil engineering reinforcing structure.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The civil engineering reinforcing structure of claim 11, wherein said geogrid is embedded in a particulate material so that the particulate material is at least partially interlocked in said apertures or openings.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The civil engineering reinforcing structure of claim 11, wherein said geogrid is formed by biaxially stretching a generally flat polymer starting sheet having a plurality of spaced holes therein.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

The civil engineering reinforcing structure of claim 11, wherein the strands or ribs in the array extending in the first direction are essentially perpendicular to the strands or ribs in the array extending in the second direction to form generally rectangular apertures or openings.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The civil engineering reinforcing structure of claim 14, wherein the aspect ratio is in the range between greater than 1.0 and about 4.0.

### Claim 16 (depends on 11)

The civil engineering reinforcing structure of claim 11, wherein the geogrid has a third array of oriented strands or ribs intersecting each other at junctions such that the angles of the intersecting strands or ribs of the three arrays at the junctions are angles not equal to 90°.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The civil engineering reinforcing structure of claim 16, wherein the angles of the intersecting strands or ribs are about 60° to form generally equilateral triangular apertures or openings.

### Claim 18 (depends on 11)

The civil engineering reinforcing structure of claim 11, wherein the geogrid has triangular apertures or openings, and said aspect ratio is between greater than 1.0 and about 2.5.

### Claim 19 (depends on 11)

The civil engineering reinforcing structure of claim 11, wherein the strands or ribs have a concave cross-section at or near their center.

### Claim 20 (depends on 11)

The civil engineering reinforcing structure of claim 11 wherein said molecularly oriented strands or ribs in the second direction have an aspect ratio at a longitudinal midpoint of said molecularly oriented strands or ribs which is greater than 1.0 in the completed geogrid.

### Claim 21 (depends on 11)

The civil engineering reinforcing structure of claim 11, wherein a material composition of the strands in the first array of the completed geogrid is the same as a material composition of the strands in the second array of the completed geogrid.