US 12,729,500 B2Granted

Spider-web inspired geogrids

AssigneeGeorgia Tech Research Corporation

InventorsDavid Frost, Candas Oner

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Abstract

Exemplary geosynthetic apparatus, e.g., geogrid, and designs thereof are disclosed that are configured to restrict displacement of aggregate that mimics biostructures that optimized aperture size, aperture shape and aperture orientation to improve load distribution, improve durability, and/or improve performance in retaining aggregates and other geo materials. The exemplary geosynthetic apparatus as a product is configured as a unit cell in which the center of the unit cell has a primary structure that extend through the center to the edge of the unit cell or one or more intermediate radial position (also referred to as “radial transect boundaries”) therebetween. In embodiments in which the primary structure extends to the transect boundaries through the center of the unit cell, the primary structure are referred to as “radial ribs.”

Claims19

Dependent claims

A geogrid comprising:

a substantially planar layer of polymeric material having a pattern formed therein to provide lateral confinement of a geotechnical environment to restrict displacement of aggregates, wherein the pattern comprises a plurality of interlocking beam members to form a repeating set of polygonal unit cells, wherein each cell of the repeating set of polygonal unit cells comprises (i) a center and (ii) a plurality of repeating apertures formed in between the interlocking beam members, wherein the plurality of repeating apertures of each unit cell comprises a first region comprising a first set of apertures having at least three vertices and a second region disposed radially outward from the first region relative to the center, the second region comprising a second set of apertures having (i) at least four vertices selected from the group consisting of a square-, rectangular-, parallelogram-, deltoid-, and trapezoidal-shaped apertures or (ii) a triangular-shaped apertures each having an different orientation to one another,
wherein each of the repeating set of polygonal unit cells has a center interconnection at the center to which a plurality of continuous rib members and associated apertures extend and connect to lateral members, defining one or more radial transect boundaries that extend circumferentially around the center to at least partially define the first and second regions of the plurality of repeating apertures,
wherein the plurality of continuous rib members extend radially through the center, and through the one or more radial transect boundaries, to an outer boundary of the repeating polygonal unit cell.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.