AGGREGATE REDUCTION IN STORMWATER MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/717,031, filed on Nov. 6, 2024, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates generally to systems, methods, and devices for reducing aggregate in stormwater management systems, and more particularly, to reducing aggregate installed around stormwater chambers by using a geogrid material below the stormwater chambers of the stormwater management system.

BACKGROUND

Fluid run-off systems may include systems designed to process rainwater or other fluid run-off, particularly stormwater. Fluid run-off systems may include below-ground systems such as underground storage chambers, concrete drainage structures, thermoplastic storage chambers, or crate-type water management systems. These systems may be used to control water in areas that may experience overloads in the local drainage system during periods of high precipitation, such as around construction sites and developed urban areas. These systems may temporarily store and divert water run-off from impervious surfaces, such as sidewalks, roads, and parking lots. These systems may then control the fluid discharge back to the environment to meter rainfall discharge from a site and reduce the risk of flooding. Stormwater also carries debris and solid contaminants, such as dirt, sand, and organic debris. Fluid run-off systems may be designed to receive and retain stormwater, allowing particulates to settle at the bottom of a stormwater management system before the stormwater is released out of the system. For example, fluid run-off systems may use geotextiles to facilitate the settlement and containment of particulates within the fluid run-off system. Geotextiles may be wrapped around stormwater management chambers, crates, or other fluid run-off systems to improve drainage, prevent erosion, improve water quality, and improve overall efficiency of the fluid run-off system.

Below-grade fluid run-off systems may be subject to the stresses and strains imparted by surrounding layers of soil, gravel, and other materials. Further, wheel loads and track loads from heavy equipment during construction may cause stresses and strains on the fluid run-off systems in addition to the stresses and strains from repetitive wheel loads by vehicles operated over the top of the finished site. Current geotextiles used to filter contaminants from the flow of stormwater and separate the open aggregate fill from the native soils do not provide structural support to the fluid run-off system to reinforce the system. Assembly and installation of existing fluid run-off systems may also be labor intensive and difficult. Further, current fluid run-off systems may require large amounts of aggregate to be backfilled around the below-ground fluid run-off systems.

Solutions are needed to improve these and other deficiencies in fluid run-off systems. Such solutions should reduce labor and assembly costs by reducing the amount of aggregate that is required to backfill around the below-ground fluid run-off systems. Such solutions should use geogrid systems to provide support and reinforcement to the below-ground fluid run-off systems, which may reduce the amount of aggregate that is required for backfill. For example, such solutions may use a geogrid system, such as the Tensar InterAx® NX750™ Geogrid (NXSWT100) or the Tensar InterAx® NX850™ Geogrid (NXSWT200) or equivalent technology. Such geogrid systems have been used as subgrade stabilization and base reinforcement for trafficked areas, such as roads and parking lots, and shallow structural foundations. However, such geogrid systems have not previously been used to reinforce and support below-grade fluid run-off systems, as disclosed herein. Using the geogrid systems to provide structural support to a fluid run-off system may reduce labor and material costs associated with installing the fluid run-off system.

SUMMARY

The disclosed embodiments describe systems, methods, and devices for a fluid run-off system. These systems, methods, and devices may include a fluid run-off system which may comprise a layer of foundation stone, at least one stormwater management system located above the layer of foundation stone, a layer of embedment stone located around the at least one stormwater chamber, a layer of initial fill located above the layer of embedment stone, a layer of final fill located above the layer of initial fill, a filtration fabric located around a perimeter of the layer of foundation stone and the layer of embedment stone, and a geogrid system located around a perimeter of the filtration fabric.

In some embodiments, a bottom layer of the geogrid system may be located beneath the layer of foundation stone. In some embodiments, a top layer of the geogrid system may be located above the layer of embedment stone. In some embodiments, the geogrid system may comprise a coextruded composite polymer sheet. In some embodiments, the geogrid system may comprise a plurality of ribs. In some embodiments, the plurality of ribs may form hexagons, triangles, and trapezoids. In some embodiments, the layer of foundation stone may interlock with the plurality of ribs. In some embodiments, the plurality of ribs may be configured to restrain the layer of foundation stone against rotation. In some embodiments, the layer of foundation stone may comprise at least nine inches of foundation stone. In some embodiments, the layer of foundation stone may include at least one of: angular stone or recycled concrete. In some embodiments, the layer of embedment stone may extend at least twelve inches above the at least one stormwater chamber. In some embodiments, the layer of embedment stone may include at least one of: angular stone or recycled concrete. In some embodiments, the layer of initial fill may extend six inches to twelve inches above the layer of embedment stone. In some embodiments, the layer of initial fill may comprise a granular soil and aggregate mixture. In some embodiments, the layer of final fill may comprise at least one of soil material or rock material. In some embodiments, the filtration fabric may comprise a woven geotextile fabric. In some embodiments, the filtration fabric may be configured to filter particulates from a flow of stormwater.

Additional features and advantages of the disclosed embodiments will be set forth in part in the description that follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the disclosed embodiments. The features and advantages of the disclosed embodiments will be realized and attained by the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are examples and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the disclosed embodiments as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate several embodiments of the present disclosure, and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the disclosed embodiments.

FIG. 1 depicts a front view of a fluid run-off system, according to disclosed embodiments.

FIG. 2 depicts a top view of a geogrid system, according to disclosed embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Examples of embodiments of the present disclosure are described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the figures, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, wherever convenient, the same reference numbers are used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. While examples and features of disclosed principles are described herein, modifications, adaptations, and other implementations are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosed embodiments. Also, the words “comprising,” “having,” “containing,” and “including,” and other similar forms are intended to be equivalent in meaning and be open ended in that an item or items following any one of these words is not meant to be an exhaustive listing of such item or items or meant to be limited to only the listed item or items. It should also be noted that as used in the present disclosure and in the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

The disclosed embodiments improve deficiencies in existing fluid run-off systems. The disclosed embodiments reduce aggregate required in a fluid run-off system by using a geogrid system to provide support and reinforcement to the below-ground fluid run-off systems. Reducing aggregate may reduce labor and material costs by allowing easy field installation of the fluid run-off system.

FIG. 1 depicts a front view of fluid run-off system 100. In some embodiments, as depicted in FIG. 1, system 100 may include an array of stormwater chambers 105 arranged side-by-side in rows. In other embodiments, system 100 may include underground storage chambers, concrete drainage structures, thermoplastic storage chambers, crate-type water management systems, or any other forms of below-grade retention or detention systems. Although FIG. 1 depicts three stormwater chambers 105, any suitable number of stormwater chambers may be utilized within system 100. Each stormwater chamber 105 may be an open-bottom chamber with a side wall having a round or polygonal cross-section. In some embodiments, the side wall of one or more stormwater chambers 105 may be perforated. In some embodiments, stormwater chambers 105 may be corrugated. Stormwater chambers 105 may be constructed of plastic (e.g., polypropylene, HDPE, LDPE, PVC, etc.), metal, and/or any other suitable material. A stormwater chamber 105 may also include an inlet endcap and an outlet endcap at its two respective ends. As depicted in FIG. 1, stormwater chambers 105 may be placed below grade. For example, stormwater chambers 105 may be placed beneath a pavement layer 145 or below an unpaved area 150.

System 100 may also include geogrid 122. Geogrid 122 may be placed above subgrade soils 110. Geogrid 122 may comprise a geosynthetic material used to reinforce soil and other materials. For example, geogrid 122 may include a geogrid system, such as the Tensar InterAx® NX750™ Geogrid (NXSWT100) or the Tensar InterAx® NX850™ Geogrid (NXSWT200). Geogrid 122 may be made from a polymer material, such as polyester, polyethylene, polypropylene or any other suitable material. For example, geogrid 122 may comprise a coextruded, composite polymer sheet. In some embodiments, geogrid 122 may include mass composition of about 83% polypropylene and about 17% additive. Geogrid 122 may be provided in sheets that may be 12 feet wide by 197 feet long, with a total square yardage of 274 square yards. Each sheet of geogrid 122 may weigh approximately 150 to 190 pounds. Geogrid 122 may provide support and reinforcement to surrounding soil, which may reduce the amount of aggregate that is needed to backfill around system 100. In some embodiments, geogrid 122 may be installed above subgrade soils 110 to provide support and reinforcement below stormwater chambers 105, thereby reducing the amount of foundation stone that needs to be installed below stormwater chambers 105 to support stormwater chambers 105. In some embodiments, geogrid 122 may also be wrapped around the outer perimeter of the array of stormwater chambers 105, including above the embedment stone that is located above stormwater chambers 105. In such embodiments, geogrid 122 provides further support and reinforcement above stormwater chambers 105, thereby reducing the amount of initial fill and cover fill that may need to be installed above stormwater chambers 105. In some embodiments, the use of geogrid 122 within system 100 may reduce the amount of foundation stone, initial fill, and/or cover fill by about 6% to about 16%. Reducing the amount of foundation stone, initial fill, and cover fill required in system 100 may reduce labor and material costs associated with installing system 100.

System 100 may further include filtration fabric 115. In some embodiments, filtration fabric 115 may be wrapped around the outer perimeter of the array of stormwater chambers 105. As depicted in FIG. 1, filtration fabric 115 may be wrapped around the outer perimeter of the array of stormwater chambers 105 and geogrid 122 may be wrapped around the perimeter formed by filtration fabric 115. In other embodiments, geogrid 122 may be wrapped around the perimeter of the array of stormwater chambers 105 and filtration fabric 115 may be wrapped around the perimeter formed by geogrid 122. Filtration fabric 115 may capture and filter out sediment and other media from run-off as the run-off flows out of stormwater chambers 105. In various embodiments, filtration fabric 115 may be formed from a single layer of a woven geotextile fabric, such as a woven polypropylene material. Filtration fabric 115 may capture sediment to protect the water permeable media surrounding stormwater chambers 105 from sediment accumulation, which can slow or altogether halt the percolation of the filtered run-off into the earth. Additionally, filtration fabric 115 may provide scour protection for the underlying ground. In some embodiments, filtration fabric 115 may cover the entire open bottom of each of stormwater chambers 105. In other embodiments, filtration fabric 115 may cover a portion of the open bottoms of stormwater chambers 105, such as a section adjacent to the inlet end cap. In some embodiments, a single continuous piece of filtration fabric 115 may extend beneath the entire stormwater chamber array. Alternatively, one or more stormwater chambers 105 in the array may have separate pieces of filtration fabric 115.

System 100 may further include foundation stone 120. Foundation stone 120 may be installed above the base layer of geogrid 122 and filtration fabric 115 and below stormwater chambers 105. In some embodiments, foundation stone 120 may comprise clean, crushed, angular stone or recycled concrete. A depth of foundation stone 120 installed above the base layer of geogrid 122 and filtration fabric 115 may vary. In some embodiments, a minimum of 9 inches of foundation stone 120 may be installed. In other embodiments, the minimum depth of foundation stone 120 may be greater than or less than nine inches. Installation of geogrid 122 within system 100 may reduce the amount of foundation stone 120 required to support stormwater chambers 105. For example, in some embodiments, without geogrid 122, system 100 may require thirty-six inches of foundation stone to provide adequate structural support and reinforcement to stormwater chambers 105. When geogrid 122 is installed in such a system, system 100 may require eighteen inches of foundation stone to provide adequate structural support and reinforcement to stormwater chambers 105. Stormwater chambers 105 may be placed on top of the layer of foundation stone 120. Stormwater chambers 105 may receive and temporarily store rainwater and other run-off from one or more surface level drains. Over time, stormwater chambers 105 may disperse the run-off stored therein by percolation into the surrounding water permeable media through the open bottoms of stormwater chambers 105.

System 100 may further include embedment stone 130 (also referred to herein as “aggregate”), which may be installed around and above stormwater chambers 105. In some embodiments, embedment stone 130 may comprise clean, crushed, angular stone or recycled concrete. In some embodiments, embedment stone 130 may be installed around stormwater chambers 105 and above stormwater chambers 105. In some embodiments, a minimum of twelve inches of embedment stone 130 may be installed above stormwater chambers 105. In other embodiments, the minimum layer of embedment stone 130 extending above stormwater chambers 105 may be greater than or less than twelve inches. When filtration fabric 115 and geogrid 122 are wrapped around the outer perimeter of the system, filtration fabric 115 may be installed over embedment stone 130 and geogrid 122 may be installed over filtration fabric 122, such that filtration fabric 115 and geogrid 122 surround stormwater chambers 105, foundation stone 120 and embedment stone 125.

System 100 may further include initial fill 135, which may be installed above the top layer of geogrid 122 and filtration fabric 115. Initial fill 135 may comprise a granular, well-graded soil/aggregate mixture. In some embodiments, pavement subbase material may be used for initial fill 135. In some embodiments, six inches to twelve inches of initial fill 135 may be installed over the top layer of geogrid 122 that is wrapped above stormwater chambers 105. In other embodiments, more than twelve inches of initial fill 135 or less than six inches of initial fill 135 may be installed over the top layer of geogrid 122 that is wrapped above stormwater chambers 105. Initial fill 135 may be compacted over geogrid 122 and geogrid 122 may provide support and reinforcement for initial fill 135. Final fill 140 may be installed over initial fill 135. Final fill 140 may comprise any soil/rock materials, native soils, or other fill materials. In some embodiments, final fill 140 may be located directly below pavement layer 145 or unpaved area 150.

FIG. 2 depicts a top view of geogrid 122. Geogrid 122 may comprise a coextruded, composite polymer sheet that is punched and oriented. Geogrid 122 may include a structure consisting of continuous and non-continuous ribs. In some embodiments, as depicted in FIG. 2, the ribs of geogrid 122 may form hexagons, triangles, and trapezoids. In other embodiments, ribs 122 of geogrid may be oriented to form alternative patterns of hexagons, triangles, trapezoids, or any other shapes. Particles of foundation stone may mechanically interlock with the ribs of geogrid 122 and the varying sizes and shapes of the ribs may allow for increased interaction between geogrid 122 and the foundation stone. An interlocking between foundation stone particles and geogrid 122 may restrain the foundation stone against rotation and lateral translation, which may provide increased structural support throughout system 100. The restraining effect caused by the ribs of geogrid 122 interlocking with the foundation stone particles may stiffen the shear response of the foundation stone, which may increase lateral dispersion of surface loads and reduce applied subgrade pressures to system 100. As disclosed herein with respect to FIG. 1, geogrid 122 may be installed around stormwater chambers 105 and in such embodiments provides structural support and reinforcement for soil and system 100. For example, geogrid 122 may increase interparticle forces within the foundation stone installed below stormwater chambers 105 which may increase the load spread angle below stormwater chambers 105. The load spread angle may include the angle at which a load spreads out in the soil. A higher load spread angle may allow for less foundation stone to be installed within a system. This may reduce the material and labor costs associated with installing system 100.

The foregoing description has been presented for purposes of illustration. It is not exhaustive and is not limited to precise forms or embodiments disclosed. Modifications and adaptations of the embodiments will be apparent from consideration of the specification and practice of the disclosed embodiments. For example, while certain components have been described as being coupled to one another, such components may be integrated with one another or distributed in any suitable fashion.

Moreover, while illustrative embodiments have been described herein, the scope includes any and all embodiments having equivalent elements, modifications, omissions, combinations (e.g., of aspects across various embodiments), adaptations and/or alterations based on the present disclosure. The elements in the claims are to be interpreted broadly based on the language employed in the claims and not limited to examples described in the present specification or during the prosecution of the application, which examples are to be construed as nonexclusive. Further, the steps of the disclosed methods can be modified in any manner, including reordering steps and/or inserting or deleting steps.

The features and advantages of the disclosure are apparent from the detailed specification, and thus, it is intended that the appended claims cover all systems and methods falling within the true spirit and scope of the disclosure. As used herein, the indefinite articles “a” and “an” mean “one or more.” Similarly, the use of a plural term does not necessarily denote a plurality unless it is unambiguous in the given context. Words such as “and” or “or” mean “and/or” unless specifically directed otherwise. Further, since numerous modifications and variations will readily occur from studying the present disclosure, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation illustrated and described, and, accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure.

Other embodiments will be apparent from consideration of the specification and practice of the embodiments disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as example only, with a true scope and spirit of the disclosed embodiments being indicated by the following claims.