Laminate geotextile for soil reinforcement

Abstract

A soil reinforcement geotextile sheet comprising a planar carrier with a plurality of elongate tensile elements mechanically attached in spaced-apart, substantially parallel relation to a major surface of the carrier, for positioning within a soil structure with the tensile elements oriented substantially perpendicular to a sloped face of the soil structure. A method of reinforcing a soil structure is disclosed.

1 . A soil reinforcement sheet for soil structures, comprising a planar carrier and a plurality of elongate tensile elements disposed in spaced-apart, substantially parallel relation and attached to a major surface of the carrier for disposing as a reinforcement within a soil structure.  
   
   
       2 . The soil reinforcement sheet as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the carrier is a nonwoven substrate.  
   
   
       3 . The soil reinforcement sheet as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the carrier has a weight of about 3 ounces per square yard to about 10 ounces per square yard.  
   
   
       4 . The soil reinforcement sheet as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the carrier is a needle punched fabric.  
   
   
       5 . The soil reinforcement sheet as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the carrier is a spunbond fabric.  
   
   
       6 . The soil reinforcement sheet as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the carrier is a calendared fabric.  
   
   
       7 . The soil reinforcement sheet as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising an adhesive layer to attach the tensile elements to the major surface of the carrier.  
   
   
       8 . The soil reinforcement sheet as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the adhesive layer comprises a heat activated polymeric.  
   
   
       9 . The soil reinforcement sheet as recited in  claim 1 , wherein an upper surface of the tensile elements is textured.  
   
   
       10 . The soil reinforcement sheet as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the carrier comprises a plurality of continuous fibers interlaid together to define a nonwoven sheet.  
   
   
       11 . The soil reinforcement sheet as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the carrier comprises a plurality of staple fibers needled together to define a felt sheet.  
   
   
       12 . The soil reinforcement sheet as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the tensile elements attach to the carrier with a mechanical attachment.  
   
   
       13 . The soil reinforcement sheet as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the mechanical attachment of the tensile elements to the carrier comprises a stitching with a yarn.  
   
   
       14 . The soil reinforcement sheet as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the mechanical attachment of the tensile elements to the carrier comprises an adhesive.  
   
   
       15 . A soil reinforcement composite comprising a nonwoven fabric carrier and a plurality of elongate tensile elements mechanically attached in spaced-apart, substantially parallel relation to a major surface of the carrier.  
   
   
       16 . The soil reinforcement composite as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the carrier has a weight of about 3 ounces per square yard to about 10 ounces per square yard.  
   
   
       17 . The soil reinforcement composite as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the carrier is a needle punched fabric.  
   
   
       18 . The soil reinforcement composite as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the carrier is a spunbond fabric.  
   
   
       19 . The soil reinforcement composite as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the carrier is a calendared fabric.  
   
   
       20 . The soil reinforcement composite as recited in  claim 15 , wherein an upper surface of the each of the tensile elements is textured.  
   
   
       21 . The soil reinforcement composite as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the carrier comprises a plurality of continuous fibers interlaid together.  
   
   
       22 . The soil reinforcement composite as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the carrier comprises a plurality of staple fibers needled together to define a felt sheet.  
   
   
       23 . The soil reinforcement composite as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the mechanical attachment of the tensile elements to the carrier comprises a stitching with a yarn.  
   
   
       24 . The soil reinforcement composite as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the mechanical attachment of the tensile elements to the carrier comprises an adhesive.  
   
   
       25 . A method of reinforcing a soil structure comprising the steps of: 
 (a) providing a carrier sheet having a major surface that extends substantially planar in a first direction and a second direction and having a minor thickness;    (b) providing a plurality of elongate tensile elements mechanically bonded to the carrier in spaced-apart parallel relation; and    (c) laying the carrier on a surface of soil and overlaying same with additional soil to entrap the carrier therein with the tensile elements in contact with portions of the additional soil, the carrier laid thereon to orient the tensile elements substantially perpendicular to a face of a slope of the soil structure.    
   
   
       26 . The method as recited in  claim 25 , wherein the carrier comprises a nonwoven fabric.  
   
   
       27 . The method as recited in  claim 25 , further comprising the step of needling the carrier to define a felt sheet.  
   
   
       28 . The method as recited in  claim 25 , wherein the tensile elements mechanically attach to the carrier by a step of adhering with an adhesive.  
   
   
       29 . The method as recited in  claim 25 , wherein the tensile elements mechanically attach to the carrier by a step of stitching a yarn over the tensile element.  
   
   
       30 . The method as recited in  claim 25 , wherein the carrier has a basis weight of about 3 ounces per square yard to about 10 ounces per square yard.