Vented Cell Structure for Confinement and Interlock of Earth Materials

Abstract

A vented cell structure for confinement and interlock of earth materials comprising polymeric strips bonded together on their faces in a side by side relationship at bonding areas which are staggered from strip to strip such that the plurality of strips may be stretched in a direction perpendicular to the face of the strips to form a layer of cells. The strips form walls of the cells, and each of the cells has an open interior. At least some of the strips having openings through the strips providing communication with the open interior of the cells. The strips have improved coefficients of friction and interaction over the prior art. In some examples, at least one of the openings has an open area of greater than 804 mm 2 .

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A vented cell structure for confinement and interlock of earth materials comprising:
 (a) a plurality of polymeric strips bonded together on their faces in a side by side relationship at bonding areas which are staggered from strip to strip such that the plurality of strips may be stretched in a direction perpendicular to the face of the strips to form a layer of cells;
 (i) the strips forming walls of the cells; 
 (ii) each of the cells having an open interior; 
   (b) at least some of the strips having openings through the strips providing communication with the open interior of the cells;   (c) at least one of the strips having a coefficient of friction greater than 1.37 under a normal stress of 30 psf;   (d) at least one of the strips having a coefficient of friction greater than 1.75 under a normal stress of 50 psf;   (e) at least one of the strips having a coefficient of friction greater than 1.88 under a normal stress of 60 psf;   (f) at least one of the strips having a coefficient of interaction greater than 0.92 under a normal stress of 30 psf;   (g) at least one of the strips having a coefficient of interaction greater than 1.18 under normal a stress of 50 psf;   (h) at least one of the strips having a coefficient of interaction greater than 1.26 under a normal stress of 60 psf.   
     
     
         2 . The vented cell structure of  claim 1 , wherein at least one strip has at least one opening with an open area of greater than 804 mm 2 . 
     
     
         3 . The vented cell structure of  claim 1 , wherein more than 75% of the openings have an open area of greater than 804 mm 2 . 
     
     
         4 . The vented cell structure of  claim 1 , wherein more than 90% of the openings have an open area of greater than 804 mm 2 . 
     
     
         5 . The vented cell structure of  claim 1 , wherein each cell has a same number of openings communicating with each adjacent cell. 
     
     
         6 . The vented cell structure of  claim 1 , wherein each cell has a different number of openings communicating with each adjacent cell. 
     
     
         7 . The vented cell structure of  claim 1  wherein each opening has a same geometric shape. 
     
     
         8 . The vented cell structure of  claim 1 , wherein each opening has a different geometric shape. 
     
     
         9 . The vented cell structure of  claim 1 , wherein the openings are non-circular. 
     
     
         10 . The vented cell structure of  claim 1 , wherein the openings are polygon shaped. 
     
     
         11 . The vented cell structure of  claim 1 , wherein the openings are triangular. 
     
     
         12 . The vented cell structure of  claim 1 , wherein each strip has a width between about 3 inches to 12 inches. 
     
     
         13 . A reinforced earth material structure comprising:
 (a) the vented cell structure of  claim 1 ; and   (b) a fill material within the cells; said fill material in adjacent cells communicating through said openings to form a continuous interlocking material network.   
     
     
         14 . The reinforced earth material structure of  claim 13 , wherein the fill material comprises earthen materials such as sand, gravel, crushed concrete, recycled asphalt, engineered fill, foamed glass aggregate, including any combination thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The reinforced earth material structure of  claim 13 , wherein the fill material consists essentially of gravel. 
     
     
         16 . A vented cell structure for confinement and interlock of earth materials comprising:
 (a) a plurality of polymeric strips bonded together on their faces in a side by side relationship at bonding areas which are staggered from strip to strip such that the plurality of strips may be stretched in a direction perpendicular to the face of the strips to form a layer of cells;
 (i) the strips forming walls of the cells; 
 (ii) each of the cells having an open interior; 
   (b) at least some of the strips having openings through the strips providing communication with the open interior of the cells;   (i) at least one of the openings has an open area of greater than 804 mm 2 .   
     
     
         17 . The vented cell structure of  claim 16 , wherein a majority of the openings have an open area of greater than 804 mm 2 . 
     
     
         18 . The vented cell structure of  claim 16 , wherein more than 75% of the openings have an open area of greater than 804 mm 2 . 
     
     
         19 . The vented cell structure of  claim 16 , wherein more than 90% of the openings have an open area of greater than 804 mm 2 . 
     
     
         20 . The vented cell structure of  claim 16 , wherein each cell has a same number of openings communicating with each adjacent cell. 
     
     
         21 . The vented cell structure of  claim 16 , wherein each opening has a same geometric shape. 
     
     
         22 . The vented cell structure of  claim 16 , wherein the openings are non-circular. 
     
     
         23 . The vented cell structure of  claim 16 , wherein each cell has at least 1 opening communicating with each adjacent cell. 
     
     
         24 . The vented cell structure of  claim 16 , wherein the strips have a coefficient of friction under a stress of 30 psf at greater than 1.37. 
     
     
         25 . The vented cell structure of  claim 16 , wherein the strips have a coefficient of interaction under a stress of 30 psf at greater than 0.92. 
     
     
         26 . A reinforced earth material structure comprising:
 (a) the vented cell structure of  claim 16 ; and   (b) a fill material within the cells; said fill material in adjacent cells communicating through said openings to form a continuous interlocking material network.   
     
     
         27 . The reinforced earth material structure of  claim 26 , wherein the fill material comprises sand, gravel, crushed concrete, recycled asphalt, engineered fill, foamed glass aggregate, including any combination thereof. 
     
     
         28 . The reinforced earth material structure of  claim 26 , wherein the fill material consists essentially of gravel.