Multi-axial integral geogrid and methods of making and using same

A method of making a multi-axial integral geogrid, comprising:

• providing a polymer sheet;
• providing a patterned plurality of holes or depressions in the polymer sheet;
• and
• biaxially orienting the polymer sheet having the patterned plurality of holes or depressions therein to provide a plurality of interconnected oriented strands and partially oriented junctions forming a repeating pattern of outer hexagons having an array of openings therein, each of said outer hexagons supporting and surrounding inside said outer hexagon a smaller inner hexagon having oriented strands, and said oriented strands and said partially oriented junctions of said outer hexagons defining a plurality of linear strands that extend continuously throughout an entirety of the multi-axial integral geogrid without intersecting said inside of the outer hexagons.

A multi-axial integral geogrid comprising:

• a plurality of interconnecting oriented strands and partially oriented junctions forming a repeating pattern of a selected outer geometric shape having an array of openings therein;
• each of said outer geometric shapes supporting and surrounding a smaller inner geometric shape having oriented strands, which inner geometric shape is the same as or different from the outer geometric shape;
• and
• said orienting strands and said partially oriented junctions of said outer geometric shapes defining at least two sets of substantially parallel linear strands that extend continuously throughout the entirety of the multi-axial geogrid.

A reinforced and stabilized composite soil structure comprising:

• a mass of particulate material;
• and
• a multi-axial integral geogrid embedded in and engaging with said particulate material and having a plurality of interconnected oriented strands and partially oriented junctions forming a repeating pattern of outer hexagons having an array of openings therein,
• each of said outer hexagons supporting and surrounding a smaller inner hexagon having oriented strands, and
• said oriented strands and said partially oriented junctions of said outer hexagons defining a plurality of linear strands that extend continuously throughout an entirety of the multi-axial integral geogrid.

A multi-axial integral geogrid comprising:

• a plurality of interconnected oriented strands and partially oriented junctions forming a repeating pattern of outer hexagons having an array of openings there,
• each of said outer hexagons supporting, by oriented ribs, a smaller oriented inner geometric configuration,
• said oriented strands, said partially oriented junctions, said oriented ribs and said smaller oriented inner geometric configurations forming at least three different geometric configurations which are repeating throughout an entirety of the multi-axial geogrid, and
• said oriented strands and said partially oriented junctions of said outer hexagons defining a plurality of linear strands that extend continuously throughout the entirety of the multi-axial integral geogrid.