Abstract
A bracing assembly for a geosynthetic wrapped system is provided. The bracing assembly includes a standing brace bar, a bottom brace bar, and a cross brace bar having different configurations to facilitate both easy and mistake free assembly of the bracing assembly. Furthermore, the standing brace bar and the bottom brace bar include guide tips that are sized and shaped to direct insertion of the standing brace bar and the bottom brace bar respectively into a weave of a geotextile fabric material such that a first connector of the bottom brace bar and a first connection slot of the standing brace bar are aligned together and with a fold line of the geotextile fabric material.
Claims
1. A method for constructing an internally braced geosynthetic fabric layer, the method comprising: weaving a three-dimensional woven geotextile fabric material on a loom; while the geotextile fabric material is in the loom, inserting a bottom brace bar into a weave of a horizontal layer section of the geotextile fabric material and a standing brace bar into a weave of an upright fold of the geotextile fabric material; folding the geotextile fabric material so that the upright fold and the standing brace bar are in an angled orientation relative to the horizontal layer section; coupling the bottom brace bar to the standing brace bar while the upright fold and the standing brace bar are in the angled orientation; by inserting a first T-connector of the bottom brace bar into an upper portion of a T-slot connection formed in the standing brace bar and sliding the first T-connector down into a lower portion of the T-slot connection to prevent a first head of the first T-connector from passing through the upper portion of the T-slot connection; coupling a cross brace bar to the standing brace bar by inserting a second T-connector of the cross brace bar through a first I-slot connection formed in the standing brace bar and rotating the second T-connector to prevent a second head of the second T-connector from passing through the first connection; and coupling the cross brace bar to the bottom brace bar by inserting a third T-connector of the cross brace bar through a second I-slot connection formed in the bottom brace bar and rotating the third T-connector to prevent a third head of the third T-connector from passing through the second I-slot connection. wherein the standing brace bar has a first configuration, the bottom brace bar has a second configuration different from the first configuration, and the cross brace bar has a third configuration different from both the first configuration and the second configuration, wherein the first configuration coin rises the T-slot connection and the first I-slot connection, wherein the second configuration comprises the second I-slot connection and the first T-connector, and wherein the third configuration comprises the second T-connector and the third T-connector.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising: inserting the standing brace bar into the weave of the upright fold of the geotextile fabric material by first inserting a first guide tip of the standing bar into the weave of the upright fold; and inserting the bottom brace bar into the weave of the horizontal layer section of the geotextile fabric material by first inserting a second guide tip of the bottom brace bar into the weave of the horizontal layer section.
Description
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) FIG. 1 is a cross-section showing a typical constructed geosynthetic reinforced earth structure using internally braced woven geotextile fabric layers;
(2) FIG. 2 is a side view of a conventional bracing assembly;
(3) FIG. 3 is a close up of section A of the conventional bracing assembly of FIG. 2;
(4) FIG. 4 is a side view of a bracing assembly according to disclosed embodiments;
(5) FIG. 5 is an isometric view of a standing brace bar of the bracing assembly of FIG. 4 according to disclosed embodiments;
(6) FIG. 6 is a front view of a standing brace bar of the bracing assembly of FIG. 4 according to disclosed embodiments;
(7) FIG. 7 is a side view of a standing brace bar of the bracing assembly of FIG. 4 according to disclosed embodiments;
(8) FIG. 8 is a front view of a section B of the standing brace bar of FIG. 6 according to disclosed embodiments;
(9) FIG. 9 is a cross-section of the standing brace bar of FIG. 6 along the line C-C according to disclosed embodiments;
(10) FIG. 10 is an isometric view of a bottom brace bar of the bracing assembly of FIG. 4 according to disclosed embodiments;
(11) FIG. 11 is a front view of a bottom brace bar of the bracing assembly of FIG. 4 according to disclosed embodiments;
(12) FIG. 12 is a side view of a bottom brace bar of the bracing assembly of FIG. 4 according to disclosed embodiments;
(13) FIG. 13 is a cross-section of a connector of the bottom brace bar of FIG. 11 along the line D-D according to disclosed embodiments;
(14) FIG. 14 is a front view of a section E of the bottom brace bar of FIG. 11 according to disclosed embodiments;
(15) FIG. 15 is a cross-section of the bottom brace bar of FIG. 14 along the line F-F according to disclosed embodiments;
(16) FIG. 16 is front view of a cross brace bar of the bracing assembly of FIG. 4 according to disclosed embodiments;
(17) FIG. 17 is an isometric view of a section G of the cross brace bar of FIG. 16 according to disclosed embodiments; and
(18) FIG. 18 is an isometric view of an internally braced geosynthetic fabric layer according to disclosed embodiments.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
(19) Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. Unless specified or limited otherwise, the terms “mounted,” “connected,” “supported,” and “coupled” and variations thereof are used broadly and encompass both direct and indirect mountings, connections, supports, and couplings. Further, “connected” and “coupled” are not restricted to physical or mechanical connections or couplings.
(20) The following discussion is presented to enable a person skilled in the art to make and use embodiments of the invention. Various modifications to the illustrated embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles herein can be applied to other embodiments and applications without departing from embodiments of the invention. Thus, embodiments of the invention are not intended to be limited to embodiments shown, but are to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and features disclosed herein. The following detailed description is to be read with reference to the figures, in which like elements in different figures have like reference numerals. The figures, which are not necessarily to scale, depict selected embodiments and are not intended to limit the scope of embodiments of the invention. Skilled artisans will recognize the examples provided herein have many useful alternatives and fall within the scope of embodiments of the invention.
(21) FIG. 4 is side view of a bracing assembly 20 according to disclosed embodiments. As seen in FIG. 4, the bracing assembly 20 can include a standing brace bar 22 having a first configuration, a bottom brace bar 24 having a second configuration, and a cross brace bar 26 having a third configuration. As described in more detail below, the first configuration, the second configuration, and the third configuration can all be different from one another to facilitate both easy and mistake free assembly of the bracing assembly 20.
(22) FIG. 5 is an isometric view of the standing brace bar 22 according to disclosed embodiments. Furthermore, FIG. 6 is a front view of the standing brace bar 22, and FIG. 7 is a side view of the standing brace bar 22 according to disclosed embodiments. As seen in FIGS. 5-7, the standing brace bar 22 can include a first guide tip 28, a first slot region 30, a body 32, and a second slot region 34. The first slot region 30 can be disposed between the body 32 and the first guide tip 28 and can have formed therein a first slot connection 36. In some embodiments, the first slot connection 36 can include a T-slot connection as described in detail herein. The body 32 can be disposed between the first slot region 30 and the second slot region 34 and can include a raised support section 40 with a maximum height that is greater than a maximum height of the first and second slot regions 30 and 34 (see e.g. FIG. 7). In some embodiments, the raised support section 40 can be omitted, and the body 32 can have a profile matching that of the first and second slot regions 30 and 34. In some embodiments, the body 32 can include a support cutout 38 that is configured to allow the support brace bar 22 to bend and flex without breaking when used in a geosynthetic fabric layer to construct a stabilized earth wall and/or slope. Furthermore, as seen in FIGS. 5-7, the second slot region 34 can have formed therein a second slot connection 42. In some embodiments, the second slot 42 can include an I-slot.
(23) FIG. 8 is a front view of a section B of the standing brace bar 22 of FIG. 6 according to disclosed embodiments. As seen in FIG. 8, the first slot connection 36 can include the T-slot connection having an upper portion 44 and a lower portion 46. Furthermore, as seen in FIG. 8, the first guide tip 28 can have a bullnose or arrow shape that assists in installation of the standing brace bar 22 into a geosynthetic fabric as described herein.
(24) FIG. 9 is a cross-section of the standing brace bar 22 along the line C-C shown in FIG. 8 according to disclosed embodiments. As seen in FIG. 9, the body 32 can include transition areas 48 that transition the height of the body 32 from the max height of the raised support section 40 to the max height of the remainder of the standing brace bar 22. In some embodiments, the transition areas 48 can be curved or sloped in a concave manner to provide support strength to the standing brace bar 22 so that the standing brace bar 22 will not break under load when used in a geosynthetic fabric layer to construct a stabilized earth wall and/or slope.
(25) FIG. 10 is an isometric view of the bottom brace bar 24 according to disclosed embodiments. Furthermore, FIG. 11 is a front view of the bottom brace bar 24 and FIG. 12 is a side view of the bottom brace bar 22 according to disclosed embodiments. As seen in FIGS. 10-12, the bottom brace bar 24 can include a second guide tip 50 similar to the first guide tip 28, a third slot region 52 that is similar to the second slot region 34, a body 54 similar to the body 32, and a first connector 56. Like the first guide tip 28, the second guide tip 50 can have a bullnose or arrow shape that assists in installation of the bottom brace bar 24 into a geosynthetic fabric as described herein. The third slot region 52 can be disposed between the body 54 and the second guide tip 50 and can have formed therein a third slot connection 58. In some embodiments, the third slot connection 58 can include an I-slot connection as described in detail herein. The body 54 can be disposed between the third slot region 52 and the first connector 56 and can include a raised support section 60 similar to the raised support section 40 with a maximum height that is greater than a maximum height of the third slot regions 52 and the first connector 56 (see e.g., FIG. 12). In some embodiments, the raised support section 62 can be omitted, and the body 54 can have a profile matching that of the third slot regions 52 and the first connector 56. In some embodiments, the body 54 can include a support cutout 60 similar to the support cutout 38 that is configured to allow the bottom brace bar 24 to bend and flex without breaking when used in a geosynthetic fabric layer to construct a stabilized earth wall and/or slope.
(26) Furthermore, as seen in FIGS. 10-12, the first connector 56 of bottom brace bar 24 can be integrally formed or coupled to an end of the body 54. In some embodiments, the first connector 56 can be configured to interface with the first slot 36 of the standing brace bar 22 so as to couple the bottom brace bar 24 and the standing brace bar 22 together. Further still, in some embodiments, the first connector 56 can comprise a T-connector as descried herein. For example, FIG. 13 is a cross-section of the first connector 56 along the line D-D of FIG. 11, and FIG. 14 is a front view of a section E of the bottom brace bar 24 of FIG. 12 according to disclosed embodiments. As seen in FIGS. 13 and 14, the first connector 56 can include the T-connector having a head 64 and a neck 66.
(27) FIG. 15 is a cross-section of the bottom brace bar 24 along the line F-F shown in FIG. 14 according to disclosed embodiments. As seen in FIG. 15, the body 54, like the body 32, can include transition areas 68 that transition the height of the body 54 from the max height of the raised support section 62 to the max height of the remainder of the bottom brace bar 24. In some embodiments, the transition areas 68 can be curved or sloped in a concave manner to provide support strength to the bottom brace bar 24 so that the bottom brace bar 24 will not break under load when used in a geosynthetic fabric layer to construct a stabilized earth wall and/or slope.
(28) FIG. 16 is front view of the cross brace bar 26 according to disclosed embodiments. As seen in FIG. 16, the cross brace bar 26 can include a second connector 70 configured to interface with the second slot connection 42 in standing brace bar 22 to couple together the cross brace bar 26 and the standing brace bar 22. Additionally, the cross brace bar 26 can include a third connector 72 configured to interface with the third slot connection 58 in bottom brace bar 24 to couple together the cross brace bar 26 and the bottom brace bar 24. In some embodiments, the second connector 70 and the third connector 72 can be used interchangeably to couple the cross brace bar 26 to the standing brace bar 22 and the bottom brace bar 24 via the second and third slot connections 42 and 58. As seen in FIG. 16, in some embodiments, the cross brace bar 26 can include a fourth slot region 76 having a fourth slot connection 78 formed therein, and a body 74 having a fifth slot connection 80 formed therein. The fourth and fifth slot connections 78 and 80 can include T-slot connections as described herein and can be used to couple the cross brace bar 26 to the standing brace bar 22, the bottom brace bar 24, and/or other bracing bars in configurations different from the bracing assembly 20 as shown in FIG. 4. In some embodiments, the fourth and fifth slot connections 78 and 80 are omitted to simplify the cross brace bar 26 and to simplify construction of the bracing assembly 20.
(29) FIG. 17 is an isometric view of a section G of the cross brace bar 26 according to disclosed embodiments. As seen in FIG. 17, the third connector 72 can comprise a T-connector having a head 82 and a neck 84. Though not shown in FIG. 17, the second connector 70 can likewise comprise T-connector having a head and neck. Furthermore, as seen in FIG. 17 the body 74, like the bodies 32 and 54, can include a raised support section 90 and transition areas 92 that transition the height of the body 74 from the max height of the raised support section 90 to the max height of the remainder of the cross brace bar 26. In some embodiments, the transition areas 92 can be curved or sloped in a concave manner to provide support strength to the cross brace bar 26 so that the cross brace bar 24 will not break under load when used in a geosynthetic fabric layer to construct a stabilized earth wall and/or slope.
(30) Various embodiments for manufacturing the standing brace bar 22, the bottom brace bar 24, and the cross brace bar 26 are contemplated. Such embodiments include but are not limited to injection molding or the like. In some embodiments, the first slot region 30, the second slot region 34, the body 32, and the first guide tip 28 are formed as a single monolithic structure. Similarly, in some embodiments, the third slot region 52, the body 54, and the second guide tip 50 are formed as a single monolithic structure. Furthermore, the second connector 70, the third connector 72, and the body 74 can be formed as a single monolithic structure. Additionally, the bottom brace bar 24, the standing brace bar 22, and the cross brace bar 22 can be made of a non-metallic, rigid or semi-rigid material. In some embodiments, the non-metallic, rigid or semi-rigid material can include one of nylon, high-density polypropylene (HDPE), or another suitable polymer.
(31) FIG. 18 is an isometric view of an internally braced geosynthetic fabric layer 100 according to disclosed embodiments. As seen in FIG. 18, the internally braced geosynthetic fabric layer 100 can employ the bracing assembly 20 and can include a three-dimensional woven geotextile fabric 102 having a horizontal layer section 104 and an external layer face 106. The external layer face 106 can be formed by an upright fold of the geotextile fabric layer 100 along a fold line 108 of the internally braced geosynthetic fabric layer 100. In some embodiments, the three-dimensional woven geotextile fabric 102 can be woven in a loom. Furthermore, the horizontal layer section 104 can be configured to receive soil backfill from a horizontal reinforcement layer portion of a reinforced earth zone and slope facing system. Further still, the external layer face 106 can be configured to provide a region of the reinforced earth zone and slope facing system against which soil backfill can be filled and compacted. In some embodiments the three-dimensional woven geotextile fabric 102 can include a three-dimensional pyramidal-woven geotextile fabric. However, additional non-pyramidal shapes for the three-dimensional woven geotextile fabric 102 are also contemplated.
(32) To construct the geosynthetic fabric layer 100, the standing brace bar 22 and the bottom brace bar 24 can be inserted into a weave of the geotextile fabric 102 using the first guide tip 28 and the second guide tip 50 in a direction shown by the arrows X such that the bottom brace bar 24 is located in the horizontal layer section 104, the standing brace bar is located in the external layer face 106, and the first connector 56 is aligned with first slot connection 36 at the fold line 108. In some embodiments, the standing brace bar 22 and the bottom brace bar 24 can be inserted into the weave of the geotextile fabric 102 while the geotextile fabric 102 is in the loom. Additionally or alternatively, in some embodiments, the standing brace bar 22 and the bottom brace bar 24 can be inserted into the weave of the geotextile fabric 102 while the geotextile fabric 102 is in motion on the loom. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the standing brace bar 22 and the bottom brace bar 24 including the first and second guide tips 28 and 50 can be shaped slightly differently such that an installer can readily identify and differentiate the standing brace bar 22 from the bottom brace bar 24 so as to facilitate quick and reliable installation during the weaving process of the geotextile fabric 102. Such embodiments, greatly reduce the time and labor needed to install a system on a job site. For example, the preinstallation and differing configurations the standing brace bar 22 and the bottom brace bar 24 can reduce installation time by approximately 4 hours per every one roll of geosynthetic fabric layer 100.
(33) Once the standing brace bar 22 and the bottom brace bar 24 are inserted into the weave of the geotextile fabric 102 and the geotextile fabric 102 has been fully woven, the geotextile fabric 102 can be folded along the fold line 108 so that the upright fold that forms external layer face 106 and the standing brace bar 22 are in an angled orientation relative to the horizontal layer section 104. Then, while the upright fold and the standing brace bar 22 are in the angled orientation, the bottom brace bar 24 can be coupled to the standing brace bar 22 to form a connection 110. In embodiments where the first slot connection 36 is the T-slot connection and the first connector 56 is the T-connector, the connection 110 can be formed by inserting the T-connector into upper portion 44 of a T-slot connection and sliding the T-connector down into the lower portion 46 of the T-slot connection to prevent the head 64 of the T-connector from passing through the upper portion 44 of the T-slot connection.
(34) Furthermore, the geosynthetic fabric layer 100 can be constructed by coupling the cross brace bar 26 to the standing brace bar 26 to form connection 112 and coupling the cross brace bar 26 to the bottom brace bar 24 to form connection 114 as shown in FIG. 18. In embodiments where the second slot connection 42 and the third slot connection 58 comprise the I-slot connections, the connections 112 and 114 can be formed by inserting T-connector heads of the second and third connectors 70 and 72 through a the I-slot connections and then rotating the T-connector heads to prevent the heads from passing back through the I-slot connections.
(35) In some embodiments, the woven geotextile fabric 102 with the inserted standing brace bar 22 and bottom brace bar 24 are joined together into a roll of similarly constructed woven geotextile fabric layers. Then, the roll can be spread out at a job site where the connections 110, 112, and 114 are formed in the manner described above. This procedure can eliminate some assembly of the system on the job site and allow the geotextile fabric 102 to arrive on site ready to be rolled out in place where the cross brace bar 26 can be added.
(36) It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that while the invention has been described above in connection with particular embodiments and examples, the invention is not necessarily so limited, and that numerous other embodiments, examples, uses, modifications and departures from the embodiments, examples and uses are intended to be encompassed by the claims attached hereto. The entire disclosure of each patent and publication cited herein is incorporated by reference, as if each such patent or publication were individually incorporated by reference herein. Various features and advantages of the invention are set forth in the following claims.
