Abstract: Described herein is a protected container 10 employed to prevent soil erosion. The protected container is a geotextile container having a debris shield disposed thereon. The debris shield protects the integrity of the geotextile container by providing a strike barrier which has air and water flow capabilities. The debris shield is a composite fabric comprising a woven protective layer having abrasion resistance and a woven three-dimensional layer which provides impact dampening and energy dissipation.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a geosynthetic wicking fabric for transporting water from beneath pavement structures to reduce or prevent damaged caused by frost heave and thaw. Further, the present invention is directed to a wicking drainage system employing the wicking fabric.

Abstract: A bi-layer, woven geotextile fabric has interwoven first and second layers. The first layer is over and under woven through the second layer in a pre-determined pattern so that the first layer has portions which face a first side of the second layer and portions which face a second side of the second layer. Monofilaments in the warp direction of the first layer have a pre-determined differential heat shrinkage characteristic that is greater than the monofilaments in the warp direction of the second layer. Closed cells defined by the pattern of the over and under weave are disposed on the first and second sides of the second layer. Shrinkage of the monofilaments in the warp direction of the first layer provide for a separation of a portion of the second layer from the first layer at the cells.

Abstract: A reinforcing fabric for use in various applications, including retaining walls. Artificial grass is strategically provided on the fabric so that, when the fabric is positioned in the retaining wall installation, the artificial grass is at least visible on the vertical face of the wall.

Abstract: A method and system of processing animal waste, whereby liquid is removed from the waste and recycled for use in other applications. Moreover, use of the method and system facilitates capture of the solid waste, which may then be used as fertilizer. In the present method and system, waste sludge is fed into a geotextile container, which functions as a filter. The liquid from the sludge permeates the geotextile container, while the geotextile container retains the solid waste. Multiple geotextile containers may be used to further filter and clean the liquid. The liquid exiting the geotextile container flows into a liquid reservoir, from which the liquid may be drawn for use in other applications. During this process, the solid waste is trapped in the geotextile container, where it will digest and compost and may be easily accessed for use as fertilizer or other nutrients.

Abstract: Geosynthetics and structures for earth reinforcement, stabilization and retention. Membranes used in such structures are formed by weaving a number of fill members, which are preferably fibrillated polypropylene members or strips, with a plurality of warp member sets, which are preferably formed of extruded polypropylene yarns. The woven membrane so formed sustains the moderate tensile loads imposed by earth reinforcement requirements in roadways, runways, and other ways. It is inexpensive because the materials are inexpensive and may be woven in a cost efficient way, and, if desired, in a way which allows the strength and tensile properties of the membrane to be varied for a custom application by varying the composition, number and disposition of the fill members and warp members.

Abstract: Tufted mats for a broad variety of erosion control, turf reinforcement, and earth reinforcement applications. The mats are formed of scrim which is tufted, preferably on conventional carpet machinery, with a number of tufted ends in order to provide high tensile strength, greatly porous and flexible mats which may be easily installed, but which contain a number of interstices for capturing root systems, retaining soil, and controlling the flow of water. The properties of the mats may be easily controlled and optimized by controlling the properties and arrangements of the cross machine ends and machine ends forming the scrim if woven (or corresponding ends, filaments or fibers if knitted or nonwoven), as well as the tufted ends which are tufted into the scrim.

Abstract: Woven geotextile grid for earth reinforcement applications. The grid is formed of woven fabric which is coated with a suitable polyvinylchloride or other plastic coating. The fabric is formed of a plurality of spaced-apart pick yarn bundles which are interwoven with a plurality of spaced-apart warp yarn bundles. The pick yarn bundles are held in place in the warp yarn bundles with locking yarns which run parallel to the pick yarns and which are positioned adjacent to the edges of the pick yarn bundles. The warp yarns extend between the pick yarn bundles and locking yarns to lock the pick yarn bundles into place. A plurality of pairs of leno yarns oriented parallel to the warp yarns additionally strengthen the fabric by interlocking with one another in the spaces between pick yarn bundles and locking yarns. The result is a grid which has wide lateral and longitudinal members that lock together to form large interstices through which soil and water may penetrate.

Abstract: Woven geotextile grid for earth reinforcement applications. The grid is formed of woven fabric which is coated with a suitalbe polyvinylchloride or other plastic coating. The fabric is formed of a plurality of spaced-apart pick yarn bundles which are interwoven with a plurality of spaced-apart warp yarn bundles. The pick yarn bundles are held in place in the warp yarn bundles with locking yarns which run parallel to the pick yarns and which are positioned adjacent to the edges of the pick yarn bundles. The warp yarns extend between the pick yarn bundles and locking yarns to lock the pick yarn bundles into place. A plurality of pairs of leno yarns oriented parallel to the warp yarns additionally strenghten the fabric by interlocking with one another in the spaces between pick yarn bundles and locking yarns. The result is a grid which has wide lateral and longitudinal members that lock together to form large interstices through which soil and water may penetrate.

Abstract: A revetment panel for installation along embankments and other earthen structures, including structures partially or fully covered by water, which utilizes a fabric web having a plurality of compartments. The compartments are staggered in relation to each other and separated by selvage. The web is formed of two fabric layers, which are woven separately to form the compartments and fastened together to form selvage separating them. Slots are formed in the selvage which allow cables to pass longitudinally through the web and interlock the compartments, and which allow filler material to flow between compartments during filling. The web is transported to its installation site and placed. The compartments in the web are then inflated with the filler material, which may be cementitous slurry or mortar consisting in part of sand and gravel found near the installation site, or simply a mixture of sand, gravel, and water or other ingredients.

Abstract: A jacket for protecting rope, cable, chain or other connecting means used to interconnect blocks, grids or other forms in a revetment structure. The protective jacket comprises tubing which extends in substantially continuous form through the revetment structure and surrounds the connecting means and protects it from abrasion, as well as from degradation and deterioration caused by contact with water, salt sand, ice, sunlight and ultraviolet light, and other components of the environment.

Abstract: A revetment panel for installation along embankments and other earthen structures, including structures partially or fully covered by water, which utilizes a fabric web having a plurality of compartments separated by selvage. The web is formed of two fabric layers, which are woven separately on the same loom to form the compartments, and interwoven to form the selvage. The fabric layers are separately woven to form slots in the selvage which allow cables to pass through the web, and which allow filler material to flow between compartments during filling. The web is transported to its installation site, and placed. The compartments in the web are then inflated with the filler material, which may be cementitious slurry or mortar consisting in part of sand and gravel found near the installation site, or simply a mixture of sand, gravel, and water. The resulting matrix of forms interconnected by fabric and cable provides a durable, economical and flexible erosion control layer.

Abstract: A machine and method for assembling cables and precast grids or blocks into articulated erosion control revetment mats which utilizes a transfer roller conveyor oriented at right angles to a mat receiving belt or roller conveyor and communicating with the mat receiving conveyor by means of a right angle transfer table, together with a hydraulical powered push bar. One embodiment utilizes a belt-type mat receiving conveyor and an automatic push bar position sensing mechanism to activate the mat receiving conveyor and stop the mat and push bar at the proper position and return the push bar after it reaches its extreme of travel. A second embodiment of the invention is designed to be easily transported and assembled at a construction site and to have low power consumption requirements. A cable handling rake utilized with the machine and method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A revetment panel for installation along embankments and other earthen structures, including structures partially or fully covered by water, which utilizes a fabric web having a plurality of compartments separated by selvage. The web is formed of two fabric layers, which are woven separately on the same loom to form the compartments, and interwoven to form the selvage. The fabric layers are separately woven to form slots in the selvage which allow cables to pass through the web, and which allow filler material to flow between compartments during filling. The web is transported to its installation site, and placed. The compartments in the web are then inflated with the filler material, which may be cementitous slurry or mortar consisting in part of sand and gravel found near the installation site, or simply a mixture of sand, gravel, and water. The resulting matrix of forms interconnected by fabric and cable provides a durable, economical and flexible erosion control layer.

Abstract: A cellular precast grid and mat for use as revetment. The grid, which may typically be cast of concrete, is substantially rectangular, having a flat bottom and, in its middle, two optional vertical openings of rectangular cross section with two inwardly sloping sides. The grid also has two vertical U-shaped channels on each longer opposed side and a two-tier vertical channel on each shorter opposed side, which vertical channel can accept projecting portions of the shorter side of two like grids positioned in abutting relationship, thereby permitting arrangement of grids into revetment of abutting staggered interlocking rows of grids. The grids may be individually placed with or without interconnecting pins or may be interconnected into mats by passing cables through tunnels passing horizontally through the grids parallel to the longer sides.