Geo textiles and geogrids in subgrade stabilization and base course reinforcement applications

A way structure, comprising:

• A. a subgrade formed at least partially of soil;
• B. a base course formed at least partially of a gravel material;
• and
• C. a woven reinforcement membrane contacting the base course, comprising:
• 1. a plurality of fill member sets, each set formed of a plurality of bracketed fill members extending in a fill direction, and a pair of bracketing fill members disposed adjacent the bracketed fill members, extending in the fill direction and bracketing the bracketed fill members, at least some of the fill members comprising an extruded polypropylene film containing a plurality of slits, the fill member sets featuring first and second sides defining a portion of first and second sides of the reinforcement membrane;
• 2. a plurality of warp member sets, each set formed of a plurality of warp yarns extending in a warp direction, alternate warp members in each warp member set positioned on the first and second sides of each fill member intersected by the warp member set, each warp member formed of extruded polypropylene and alternately positioned on first and second sides of successive fill members in a fill member set intersected by the warp member;
• 3. a plurality of pairs of locking yarn pairs, each pair of pairs bracketing a warp member set, a locking yarn in the pair crossing the other locking yarn in the pair between successive fill members in the fill member set, at least some of the locking yarns formed of extruded polypropylene;
• and
• 4. a binder coating comprising natural rubber placed on the fill member sets intersected by the warp member sets, the binder coating serving at least partially to retain the fill member sets and the warp member sets in place with respect to each other.

A method of forming a way, comprising the steps of:

• A. preparing and grading a subgrade formed at least partially of soil;
• B. placing on the subgrade a reinforcement membrane comprising:
• 1. a plurality of fill member sets, each set formed of a plurality of bracketed fill members extending in a fill direction and a pair of bracketing fill members disposed adjacent the bracketed fill members, extending in the fill direction and bracketing the bracketed fill members, at least some of the fill members comprising a film substrate containing a plurality of slits, the fill member sets featuring first and second sides defining a portion of first and second sides of the reinforcement membrane;
• 2. a plurality of warp member sets, each set formed of a plurality of warp yarns extending in a warp direction, alternate warp members in each warp member set positioned on the first and second sides of each fill member intersected by the warp member set, each warp member alternately positioned on first and second sides of successive fill members in a fill member set intersected by the warp member;
• and
• 3. a binder coating placed on the fill member sets intersected by the warp member sets, the binder coating serving at least partially to retain the fill member sets and the warp member sets in place with respect to each other;
• and
• C. placing on the membrane a base course comprising gravel.

A method of forming a way, comprising the steps of:

• A. preparing and grading a subgrade formed at least partially of soil;
• B. placing on the subgrade a portion of a base course comprising gravel;
• C. placing on the portion of the base course a reinforcement membrane comprising:
• 1. a plurality of fill member sets, each set formed of a plurality of bracketed fill members extending in a fill direction and a pair of bracketing fill members disposed adjacent the bracketed fill members, extending in the fill direction and bracketing the bracketed fill members, at least some of the fill members comprising a film substrate containing a plurality of slits, the fill member sets featuring first and second sides defining a portion of first and second sides of the reinforcement membrane;
• 2. a plurality of warp member sets, each set formed of a plurality of warp yarns extending in a warp direction, alternate warp members in each warp member set positioned on the first and second sides of each fill member intersected by the warp member set, each warp member alternately positioned on first and second sides of successive fill members in a fill member set intersected by the warp member;
• and
• 3. a binder coating placed on the fill member sets intersected by the warp member sets, the binder coating serving at least partially to retain the fill member sets and the warp member sets in place with respect to each other;
• and
• D. placing on the membrane the remainder of the base course comprising gravel.

An earthen structure, comprising:

• A. a subgrade formed at least partially of soil;
• B. a woven reinforcement membrane contacting the subgrade, comprising:
• 1. a plurality of fill member sets, each set formed of a plurality of bracketed fill members extending in a fill direction and a pair of bracketing fill members disposed adjacent the bracketed fill members, extending in the fill direction and bracketing the bracketed fill members, at least some of the fill members comprising a film substrate containing a plurality of slits, the fill member sets featuring first and second sides defining a portion of first and second sides of the reinforcement membrane;
• 2. a plurality of warp member sets, each set formed of a plurality of warp yarns extending in a warp direction, alternate warp members in each warp member set positioned on the first and second sides of each fill member intersected by the warp member set, each warp member alternately positioned on first and second sides of successive fill members in a fill member set intersected by the warp member;
• and
• 3. a plurality of pairs of locking yarn pairs, each pair of pairs bracketing a warp member set, each locking yarn in the pair of pairs alternately positioned on the first and second sides of successive fill members in a fill member set intersected by the locking yarn, the locking yarn crossing the other locking yarn in the pair between successive fill members in the fill member set;
• and
• C. a topgrade comprised at least partially of soil and overlying the membrane.