The invention relates generally to woven geosynthetic fabrics. More specifically, the present invention is related to a double layer, single weave geotextile fabric having enhanced water flow, particle retention, and apparent opening size properties.
Woven polypropylene geosynthetic fabrics are utilized to diminish the flow rate of water and maintain soil retention. Often such fabrics are used to establish a stable base for road ways. Thus, water flow through the fabric and soil retention by the fabric are important attributes. Moreover, the fabric should have sufficient tensile for durability, particularly when the fabric is subjected to loads.
However, water flow rate and soil retention are at odds with fabric strength. Typically, to increase strength, the pores of the fabric are reduced. As a result, the fabric is limited to the amount of water that can pass through the fabric and, as a result, the size of the soil particulates it can retain. If higher flow rates and larger particle size retention are desired, the fabric must yield on strength due to lower fabric density. Accordingly, there is a need for a woven geosynthetic fabric which has improved strength for durability while maintaining relatively high flow rates and particle retention. It is to solving this and other needs the present invention is directed.
The present invention is directed to a woven geosynthetic fabric comprising a double layer fabric formed from a single weave. The fabric comprises a first weft yarn, a second weft yarn, and a stuffer pick woven in the weft direction of the fabric, and a warp yarn interweaving the first and second weft yarns and the stuffer pick. The first weft yarn and the second weft yarn have different cross-sectional shapes. At least a portion of the fabric has a plurality of weft yarn sets having stuffer picks respectively disposed and woven between the weft yarn sets. Each weft yarn set has two first weft yarns and two second weft yarns. One of the two first weft yarns is adjacent one of the two second weft yarns and stacked on the other second weft yarn. The adjacent second weft yarn is stacked on the other first weft yarn. In addition, the fabric has ridges and valleys in the weft direction.
In one aspect, the first weft yarn is a high modulus tape comprising an admixture of polypropylene and a polypropylene/ethylene copolymer. In another aspect, the fabric has an AOS of at least 35 and water is capable of flowing through the fabric at a rate of at least 30 gallons/min.
First weft yarns 20 and second weft yarn 30 comprise two types of yarns of differing geometrical cross-sectional shapes and are alternated across the fabric 10 in the warp direction as indicated in
As indicated in
The first and second weft yarns 20, 30 and stuffer pick 40 are woven together with warp yarn 50. Warp yarn 50 comprises a 400 Denier to 1500 Denier monofilament yarn. In one aspect of the invention all yarns used in fabric 10 are made from synthetic polymers. In another aspect of the present invention the yarns are polypropylene and/or a blend of polypropylene. Yet, in another aspect the first weft yarn is a 1400 Denier fibrillated tape having a tenacity of at least 0.75 g/Denier at 1% strain, at least 1.5 g/Denier at 2% strain, and at least 3.75 g/Denier at 5% strain, and made of a composition comprising a melt blended admixture of polypropylene and a polypropylene/ethylene copolymer.
The yarn, monofilament, or tape comprising an admixture of polypropylene and a polypropylene/ethylene copolymer can comprise a polypropylene composition comprising a melt blended admixture of about 94 to about 95% by weight of polypropylene and about 5 to about 6% by weight of a polypropylene/ethylene copolymer. In another aspect, the yarn, monofilament, or tape can comprise an admixture of about 92% to about 95% by weight of polypropylene and about 5% to about 8% by weight of a polypropylene/ethylene copolymer. Further, in one aspect the polypropylene/ethylene copolymer has an ethylene content of about 5% to about 20% by weight of copolymer. In another aspect the polypropylene/ethylene copolymer has an ethylene content of about 8% to about 25%. Also, in another aspect, aspect the polypropylene/ethylene copolymer has an ethylene content of about 5% to about 17% by weight of copolymer. In yet another aspect, aspect the polypropylene/ethylene copolymer has an ethylene content of about 5%, about 6%, about 7%, about 8%, about 9%, about 10%, about 11%, about 12%, about 13%, about 14%, about 15%, about 16%, about 17%, about 18%, about 19%, about 20%, about 21%, about 22%, about 23%, about 24%, or about 25%, or any range therebetween, by weight of copolymer. Still, in another aspect, the polypropylene/ethylene copolymer has an ethylene content of about 16% by weight of copolymer. Such admixture yarn is referred to herein as “high modulus” or “high mod” yarn. The high modulus yarn employed in fabric 10 is described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/085,165 filed Apr. 12, 2011, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. While the density of the fabric will depend on its intended properties and uses, the fabric 10 in the warp direction has a density of 20 to 50 threads/inch, and the fabric 10 in the fill or weft direction has a density of 15 to 40 threads/inch.
The resulting fabric 10 may be, but does not have to be, subjected to a calendaring process whereby the fabric 10 is subjected to heat and pressure (such as by running the fabric through a set of heated rollers) to compress and/or flatten the yarns and thereby reduce the overall thickness of fabric 10.
The fabric 10 provides open channels 100 through the fabric 10 for water flow. This is due to the different geometrical shapes of the first and second weft yarns 20, 30 forming the fabric 10. More specifically, the substantially circular shape and size of second weft yarns 30 ensure that gap 80 is maintained as previously discussed. Open channels 100 through which water can flow extend between adjacent first and second weft yarns 20, 30 and through the gap 80. With this fabric construction, water is able to flow at a rate between 5-175 gallons per square foot per minute through the fabric 10, as measured by ASTM standard D4491-99A. In another aspect water is able to flow at a rate between about 30 to about 150 gallons per square foot per minute through the fabric 10. Also, in another aspect water is able to flow at a rate between about 40 to about 150 gallons per square foot per minute through the fabric 10. Yet, in another aspect water is able to flow at a rate of at least 30 gallons, at least 35 gallons, at least 40 gallons, at least 45 gallons, at least 50 gallons, at least 55 gallons, at least 60 gallons, at least 65 gallons, at least 70 gallons, at least 75 gallons, at least 80 gallons, at least 90 gallons, at least 95 gallons, at least 100 gallons, at least 105 gallons, at least 110 gallons, at least 120 gallons, at least 125 gallons, at least 130 gallons, at least 135 gallons, at least 140 gallons, at least 145 gallons, or at least 150 gallons per square foot per minute through the fabric 10.
In one aspect the fabric 10 has an AOS of at least 35. In another aspect the fabric 10 has an AOS of at least 40. Yet, in another aspect, the fabric 10 has an AOS of at least 45.
An inventive fabric, designated as RS580i, was compared to conventional polypropylene woven fabrics respectively designated HP370 and HP570. Table 1 provides the construction parameters of the respective fabrics.
+Stuffer Pick
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The foregoing is provided for the purpose of illustrating, explaining and describing embodiments of the present invention. Further modifications and adaptations to these embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art and may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the following claims.
This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/323,341 filed Apr. 12, 2010, which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61323341 | Apr 2010 | US |