Multi-axial grid or mesh structures with high aspect ratio ribs
AssigneeTensar Technologies Limited
InventorAnthony T. Walsh
Life of this patent
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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.
Claims23
A multi-axial geogrid comprising a first array of highly oriented ribs extending in a first direction across said geogrid in spaced apart rows and a second array of highly oriented connecting ribs extending in a second direction and interconnecting with adjacent rows of said first array at junctions to form apertures between adjacent oriented ribs extending in the first direction and in the second direction and the junctions between said first and second arrays, said ribs that extend in at least one of the first direction and the second direction having an aspect ratio greater than 1.0 and an aperture stability modulus greater than 0.3 Nm/degree at 20 kg-cm of applied torque.
A civil engineering reinforcing structure, comprising a multi-axial geogrid including an array of molecularly oriented ribs extending across said geogrid in spaced apart rows in a first direction and an array of molecularly oriented connecting ribs extending in a second direction and joined at interconnecting junctions with adjacent rows of said ribs extending in said first direction to form apertures between adjacent molecularly oriented ribs in said first direction and in said second direction as joined at said interconnecting junctions, said molecularly oriented ribs in at least one of the first direction and the second direction having an aspect ratio greater than 1.0 and an aperture stability modulus greater than 0.3 Nm/degree at 20 kg-cm of applied torque in the completed geogrid constituting the civil engineering reinforcing structure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.