Fastener arrangement and method for securing cellular confinement system

For use with a three-dimensional cellular confinement system having a multitude of cells defined by cellular walls, a fastener comprising:

• a thermoplastic body integrally molded to a reinforcing bar so that the body is fixed adjacent to the end of the reinforcing bar;
• a top portion configured and arranged to receive an external force of sufficient magnitude to drive the reinforcing bar into a substrate;
• and
• a tendon-retaining protrusion extending from and integrally formed with the body for receiving and retaining a tendon passing through the cellular walls and securing the cellular confinement system.

For use with a three-dimensional cellular confinement system having a multitude of cells defined by cellular walls, a fastener comprising:

• a molded thermoplastic body with a first portion, a second portion, and a shoulder;
• the body having an opening extending from the first portion to the second portion and configured and arranged to receive a reinforcing bar, the opening tapered so as to be wider adjacent the second portion of the body than adjacent the first portion of the body;
• the first portion configured and arranged to receive an external force of sufficient magnitude to securely hold the reinforcing bar in the opening;
• and
• a tendon-retaining protrusion extending from the thermoplastic body at the shoulder and configured for retaining a tendon securing the cellular confinement system.

For use with a three-dimensional cellular confinement system having a multitude of cells defined by cellular walls, a fastener comprising:

• a body with a first portion and a second portion;
• the first portion having an opening arranged to receive a reinforcing bar;
• the second portion configured and arranged to receive an external force of sufficient magnitude to securely hold the reinforcing bar in the opening;
• and
• a cellular wall-retaining protrusion extending from and integrally formed with the body for receiving and retaining a cellular wall and securing the cellular confinement system.

For use with a three-dimensional cellular confinement system for retaining a material over a substrate and within a multitude of cells divided by cell walls, a method of reinforcing the system comprising:

• providing the three-dimensional cellular confinement system with a plurality of holes in the cell walls;
• passing a flexible tendon through the holes in the cell walls;
• providing a reinforcing bar with two ends and a molded tendon-retaining body secured proximate to one of the ends of the reinforcing bar;
• driving the reinforcing bar into the substrate;
• and
• securing the flexible tendon to the molded tendon-retaining body, and wherein the step of providing a reinforcing bar includes providing a reinforcing bar having a molded tendon-retaining body including at least two tendon-retaining protrusions extending from and integrally formed with the body for retaining the tendon.

For use with a three-dimensional cellular confinement system for retaining a material over a substrate and within a multitude of cells divided by cell walls, a method of reinforcing the system comprising:

• providing the three-dimensional cellular confinement system with holes in respective ones of the cell walls;
• passing a flexible tendon through the holes in the cell walls;
• providing a molded tendon-retaining body within one of the cells, the body having a tendon-retaining protrusion extending from and integrally formed with the body for receiving and retaining the flexible tendon;
• and
• securing the flexible tendon to the molded tendon-retaining body so as to reinforce the cellular confinement system.

For use with a three-dimensional cellular confinement system for retaining a material over a substrate and within a multitude of cells divided by cell walls, a method of reinforcing the system comprising:

• providing the three-dimensional cellular confinement system with a plurality of holes in the cell walls;
• passing a flexible tendon through the holes in the cell walls;
• providing a plurality of tendon retaining bodies, the tendon retaining bodies including a first portion having an opening extending into the first portion and configured and arranged to be driven onto a reinforcing bar so that the body is fixed adjacent to the end of the reinforcing bar, a second portion having a surface configured and arranged to receive a force of sufficient magnitude to drive the body onto the reinforcing bar, and a tendon-retaining protrusion extending from and integrally formed with the body for receiving a tendon;
• providing a first molded tendon-retaining body within one of the cells, the body having a tendon-retaining protrusion extending from and integrally formed with the body for receiving and retaining the flexible tendon;
• providing a reinforcing bar with two ends and a second molded tendon-retaining body secured adjacent to one of the ends of the reinforcing bar;
• driving the reinforcing bar into the substrate;
• and
• securing the flexible tendon to the first and second molded tendon-retaining bodies.