Air-filled bladder based bridging across weak and compressible solids

Abstract

A system for creating a bridge across an expanse of weak and compressible materials (e.g., a lagoon) may include an air bladder, a geosynthetic installed over the air bladder and across the expanse, and fill materials installed over the geosynthetic and across the expanse. In conjunction, the air bladder, geosynthetic, and fill materials may create a bridge across the expanse. The geosynthetic may include a separation geotextile and/or a geogrid or a reactive core mat. The geosynthetic may be installed with a free excess length corresponding to a final expected profile of the geosynthetic after consolidation of underlying materials. The air bladder may be inflated to take up the excess slack in the geosynthetic. After or while fill is consolidated, the air bladder may be deflated in a controlled manner to maintain stability while consolidating the underlying materials. Additional systems and associated methods are also disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for bridging across an expanse of weak and compressible materials, the system comprising:
 an air bladder; a geosynthetic installed over the air bladder and across the expanse; and   fill materials installed over the geosynthetic and across the expanse, wherein the air bladder, geosynthetic, and fill materials, in conjunction, create a bridge across the expanse.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the geosynthetic comprises a separation geotextile installed over the air bladder and across the expanse. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the geosynthetic comprises a geogrid installed over the separation geotextile and across the expanse. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the geosynthetic comprises a reactive core mat installed over the air bladder and across the expanse. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the geosynthetic is anchored at, proximate to, or beyond a perimeter of the expanse, the geosynthetic provided with a free excess length corresponding to a final expected tensioned profile of the geosynthetic after underlying materials have been consolidated. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the air bladder is inflatable to take up slack in the geosynthetic represented by the free excess length. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a drainage blanket or fill comprised of foamed glass aggregate placed on the geosynthetic. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the foamed glass aggregate has a dry bulk density that is less than or equal to 15 lb/ft 3 , or between 15 and 62.4 lb/ft 3 . 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a drainage blanket placed on the geosynthetic and comprising reactive particles, surfaces or elements to passive treat or polish expressed liquids/water from underlying materials. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a fill of stabilized dredged material (SDM) that is created using a variety of techniques with special attention given to pneumatic flow tube mixer (PFTM) technology to avoid or limit trafficking the area during fill placement. 
     
     
         11 . A method for bridging across an expanse of weak and compressible materials, the method comprising:
 installing an air bladder in the expanse; and   installing a geosynthetic over the air bladder and across the expanse; and   installing fill materials over the geosynthetic and across the expanse,   wherein the air bladder, geosynthetic, and fill materials, in conjunction, create a bridge across the expanse.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein installing the geosynthetic comprises installing a separation geotextile or a reactive core mat over the air bladder and across the expanse. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein installing the geosynthetic further comprises installing a geogrid over the separation geotextile or the reactive core mat and across the expanse. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising installing one or more drainage pipes above the geosynthetic. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising anchoring the geosynthetic at, proximate to, or beyond a perimeter of the expanse, and optionally in perimeter trenches along the perimeter of the expanse, wherein the geosynthetic is provided with a free excess length corresponding to a final expected tensioned profile of the geosynthetic after underlying materials have been consolidated. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising inflating the air bladder to take up slack in the geosynthetic represented by the free excess length. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein installing the fill materials comprises uniformly placing fill material from the perimeter concentrically inwards. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein installing the fill material comprises placing a drainage blanket on the geosynthetic, the drainage blanket comprising foamed glass aggregate and/or reactive particles, surfaces, or elements to passive treat or polish expressed liquids/water from underlying materials. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising creating a fill of stabilized dredged material (SDM) using a variety of techniques with special attention given to pneumatic flow tube mixer (PFTM) technology to avoid or limit trafficking the expanse during fill placement. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising deflating the air bladder.