Geocell-Based Drainage Base for Synthetic Turf

Abstract

A drainage base system for a synthetic turf includes a geotextile liner disposed above a prepared subgrade, a first geocell layer having a plurality of interconnected open geometrically-shaped cells installed above the geotextile liner, the plurality of open geometrically-shaped cells being filled with a drainage aggregate, a shock absorbing layer disposed above the first geocell layer, and an artificial turf layer installed above the shock absorbing layer.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A drainage base system for a synthetic turf comprising:
 a first geocell layer having a plurality of interconnected open geometrically-shaped cells installed above a subgrade, the open geometrically-shaped cells being filled with a first aggregate; and   an artificial turf layer installed above the first geocell layer.   
     
     
         2 . The drainage base system of  claim 1 , further comprising a geotextile liner disposed between the subgrade and first geocell layer. 
     
     
         3 . The drainage base system of  claim 1 , further comprising a shock absorbing layer disposed between the first geocell layer and the artificial turf layer. 
     
     
         4 . The drainage base system of  claim 1 , further comprising a geotextile layer and a second geocell layer with a second plurality of open geometrically-shaped cells filled with a second aggregate disposed between the first geocell layer and the subgrade. 
     
     
         5 . The drainage base system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of open geometrically-shaped cells of the first geocell layer incorporates a drainage pipe. 
     
     
         6 . The drainage base system of  claim 1 , wherein a first selected ones of the plurality of open geometrically-shaped cells of at least one of the first and second geocell layers are filled with a first type of aggregate, and a second selected ones of the plurality of open geometrically-shaped cells of at least one of the first and second geocell layers are filled with a second type of aggregate. 
     
     
         7 . A method of installing a drainage base for a synthetic turf, comprising:
 installing a first geocell layer having a plurality of interconnected open geometrically-shaped cells above a subgrade;   filling the plurality of open geometrically-shaped cells with an aggregate with excellent drainage properties; and   installing an artificial turf layer above the first geocell layer.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising installing a geotextile liner between the subgrade and the first geocell layer. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising installing a shock absorbing layer between the first geocell layer and the artificial turf layer. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising installing a geotextile layer and a second geocell layer having a plurality of interconnected open geometrically-shaped cells filled with native soil between the first geocell layer and the subgrade. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein installing the first geocell layer comprises installing a drainage pipe. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 blocking selected ones of the plurality of the open geometrically-shaped cells in the geocell layer;   filling remaining unblocked open geometrically-shaped cells in the geocell layer with a first type of aggregate;   unblocking the selected ones of the plurality of the open geometrically-shaped cells in the geocell layer; and   filling the now unblocked open geometrically-shaped cells in the geocell layer with a second type of aggregate;   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein blocking selected ones of the plurality of open geometrically-shaped cells in the geocell layer comprises inserting a plurality of cell plugs in the selected cells. 
     
     
         14 . A drainage base system comprising:
 a geotextile liner disposed above a prepared subgrade;   a first geocell layer having a plurality of interconnected open geometrically-shaped cells installed above the geotextile liner, the plurality of open geometrically-shaped cells being filled with a drainage aggregate;   a shock absorbing layer disposed above the first geocell layer; and   an artificial turf layer installed above the shock absorbing layer.   
     
     
         15 . The drainage base system of  claim 14 , further comprising a second geocell layer having a plurality of interconnected open geometrically-shaped cells filled with native soil disposed between the first geocell layer and the geotextile liner. 
     
     
         16 . The drainage base system of  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of interconnected open geometrically-shaped cells of the first geocell layer incorporates a drainage structure. 
     
     
         17 . The drainage base system of  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of interconnected open geometrically-shaped cells of the first geocell layer incorporates a network of drainage pipes. 
     
     
         18 . The drainage base system of  claim 14 , wherein a first selected ones of the plurality of open geometrically-shaped cells of at least one of the first geocell layer are filled with a first type of aggregate, and a second selected ones of the plurality of open geometrically-shaped cells of the first geocell layer are filled with a second type of aggregate. 
     
     
         19 . The drainage base system of  claim 15 , wherein a first selected ones of the plurality of open geometrically-shaped cells of at least one of the first and second geocell layers are filled with a first type of aggregate, and a second selected ones of the plurality of open geometrically-shaped cells of at least one of the first and second geocell layers are filled with a second type of aggregate.