METHOD FOR CONSTRUCTING A GEOSYNTHETIC FABRIC LAYER

Abstract

A clamp assembly is provided for a geosynthetic-wrapped system. The clamp assembly includes a vertical clamp bar, a lower clamp bar, and a cross clamp bar, each with different configurations to facilitate easy and error-free assembly. Furthermore, the vertical clamp bar and lower clamp bar include guide prongs sized and shaped to direct their insertion into a geotextile fabric weave, ensuring that the first connector on the lower clamp bar and the first connecting groove on the vertical clamp bar align with a fold line in the geotextile fabric.

Description

CLAMP MOUNTING FOR A SYSTEM WRAPPED WITH GEOSYNTHETICS USED TO BUILD WALLS AND SLOPES STABILIZED SOIL Background In Figure 1, internally bonded geosynthetic fabric layers have been used in the construction of stabilized earth walls and slopes. However, the internal clamp assemblies of these systems, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, are constructed from identical stabilizer bars. The identical nature of the stabilizer bars can lead to incorrect assembly, where the upper clamp supporting the top section of the geosynthetic fabric layer is inserted into the lower clamp instead of the other way around (see, for example, Figures 2 and 3). This incorrect assembly can cause the clamps to break or disconnect during use. For example, when a downward force from the soil and / or rock is applied to the incorrectly assembled clamp assembly, the position of a T-connector can be shifted by the force, causing the T-connector to break or disconnect from its corresponding slot.This disconnection can produce stresses that result in the displacement of the wall or the slope (for example, the clamp and the ground or the. 1958797 of 30 stones contained within the system are pushed outwards). When such displacement occurs, a ripple or rack effect may cause the wall to slide or sink, resulting in a catastrophic failure of the stabilized walls and slopes. Furthermore, such existing clamp assemblies are known to be cumbersome to construct on a job site due to the complexity of the assembly and the space limitations of the job site. In light of these drawbacks, there is a need for improved mounting systems. Specifically, there is a need for an improved clamp mounting system that can be easily assembled off-site and is not susceptible to incorrect assembly. Furthermore, there is a need for systems and methods related to such an improved clamp mounting system. Summary The embodiments described herein relate to a clamp assembly for a geosynthetic-wrapped system. The clamp assembly comprises a vertical clamp bar having a first configuration comprising a first guide tip, a first groove connection, and a second groove connection. The clamp assembly 1958797 of 30 also comprises a lower clamp bar having a second configuration different from the first configuration. The second configuration comprises a second guide tip, a third slot connection, and a first connector configured for interconnection with the first slot connection to couple the lower clamp bar to the vertical clamp bar. In addition, the clamp assembly comprises a cross clamp bar having a third configuration different from the first and second configurations. The third configuration comprises a second connector configured for interconnection with the second slot connection to couple the cross clamp bar to the vertical clamp bar, and a third connector configured for interconnection with the third slot connection to couple the cross clamp bar to the lower clamp bar.The first guide point and the second guide point are sized and shaped to direct the insertion of the vertical clamp bar and the lower clamp bar, respectively, into a weave of a geotextile fabric material, such that the first connector and the first connecting slot are aligned together and with a fold line of the geotextile fabric material. In some embodiments of the clamp assembly, the vertical clamp bar comprises a first grooved region in the 1958797 of 30, which forms the first slot connection, a second slot region in which the second slot connection is formed, and a body disposed between the first slot region and the second slot region. The first slot region is disposed between the first guide point and the body. In some of these embodiments, the first slot region, the second slot region, the body, and the first guide point are formed as a single monolithic structure. Furthermore, or alternatively, in some of these embodiments, a respective maximum height of the first slot region and the second slot region is less than the respective maximum height of the body. In some embodiments of the clamp assembly, the lower clamp bar comprises a grooved region in which the third groove connection is formed and a body disposed between the grooved region and the first connector. The grooved region is located between the second guide point and the body. In some of these embodiments, the grooved region, the body, and the second guide point are formed as a single monolithic structure. Furthermore, or alternatively, in some of these embodiments, a respective maximum height of the grooved region is less than a respective maximum height of the body. 1958797 of 30 In some embodiments of the clamp assembly, the first connector comprises a first T-connector, the second connector comprises a second T-connector, and the third connector comprises a third T-connector. Furthermore, the first slot connection comprises a T-slot connection configured to receive the first T-connector via an upper portion of the T-slot and to secure the first T-connector with a lower portion of the T-slot such that the lower clamp bar engages with the vertical clamp bar. The second and third slot connections comprise respective I-connectors configured to receive the second and third T-connectors. The second and third T-connectors are rotated such that the transverse clamp bar engages with the lower clamp bar. In some embodiments of the clamp assembly, the first guide point and the second guide point comprise respective rounded shapes. In some embodiments of the clamp assembly, the lower clamp bar, the vertical clamp bar, and the cross clamp bar are made of a rigid or semi-rigid, non-metallic material. In some of these embodiments, the 1958797 of 30 rigid or semi-rigid non-metallic material includes one of nylon and high-density polypropylene (HDPE). The embodiments described herein also relate to an internally bonded geosynthetic fabric layer comprising a three-dimensional woven geotextile fabric having a horizontal layer cut and an outer layer face. The outer layer face is formed by a vertical fold of the geotextile fabric. The internally bonded geosynthetic fabric layer also comprises a clamp assembly that supports the outer layer face in a vertical position. The clamp assembly comprises a vertical clamp bar inserted into a weave of the vertical fold of the geotextile fabric and having a first configuration. The clamp assembly also comprises a lower clamp bar inserted into a weave of the horizontal layer cut of the geotextile fabric, coupled with the vertical clamp bar near a fold line of the geotextile fabric and having a second configuration different from the first configuration.Furthermore, the clamp assembly comprises a cross clamp bar coupled with the vertical clamp bar and the lower clamp bar, and has a third configuration different from the first and second configurations. The horizontal layer cut is configured to receive a fill. 1958797 of 30 earth in order to form a horizontal reinforcement layer part of a slope-facing reinforced earth zone system and the outer layer face is configured to provide a slope-facing reinforced zone system region against which earth fill is filled and compacted. In some embodiments of the internally bonded geosynthetic fabric layer, the first configuration comprises a first guide point, a first slot connection, and a second slot connection. The second configuration comprises a second guide point, a third slot connection, and a first connector that interconnects with the first slot connection to couple the lower clamp bar to the vertical clamp bar. The third configuration comprises a second connector that interconnects with the second slot connection to couple the transverse clamp bar to the vertical clamp bar, and a third connector that interconnects with the third slot connection to couple the transverse clamp bar to the horizontal clamp bar.The first guide point and the second guide point have a size and shape that directs the insertion of the vertical clamp bar and the lower clamp bar respectively into the geotextile fabric in such a way. 1958797 of 30 that the first connector and the first connection slot align together and with the fold line of the geotextile fabric. In some of these embodiments, the first connector comprises a first T-connector, the second connector comprises a second T-connector, and the third connector comprises a third T-connector. The first slot connection comprises a T-slot connection configured to receive the first T-connector through an upper portion of the T-slot and to secure the first T-connector with a lower portion of the T-slot such that it engages the lower clamp bar with the vertical clamp bar. The second slot connection and the third slot connection comprise respective I-connectors configured to receive the second and third T-connectors, wherein the second and third T-connectors are rotated such that they engage the transverse clamp bar with the lower clamp bar. In some embodiments of the internally bonded geosynthetic fabric layer, the first guide point and the second guide point comprise respective rounded shapes. In some embodiments of the internally bonded geosynthetic fabric layer, the lower clamp bar, the bar of 1958797 of 30 vertical clamp and cross clamp bar are made of a rigid or semi-rigid non-metallic material. The embodiments described herein also relate to a method for constructing an internally bonded geosynthetic fabric layer. The method comprises weaving a three-dimensional woven geotextile fabric material on a loom. While the geotextile fabric material is on the loom, the method comprises inserting a lower clamp bar into the weaving of a horizontal layer cut of the geotextile fabric material and a vertical clamp bar into the weaving of a vertical fold of the geotextile fabric material. The method further comprises folding the geotextile fabric material such that the vertical fold and the vertical clamp bar are oriented at an angle to the horizontal layer cut, and engaging the lower clamp bar with the vertical clamp bar while the vertical fold and the vertical clamp bar are in this angled orientation.Furthermore, the method also involves coupling a transverse clamp bar with the horizontal clamp bar and the vertical clamp bar. The vertical clamp bar has a first configuration, the lower clamp bar has a different configuration from the first configuration, and the... 1958797 of 30 cross clamp bar has a third configuration different from the first and second configurations. In some embodiments, the method further comprises coupling the lower clamp bar to the vertical clamp bar by interconnecting a first connector of the lower clamp bar with a first groove connection formed in the vertical clamp bar, and coupling the cross clamp bar to the vertical clamp bar by interconnecting the second connector of the cross clamp bar with a second groove connection formed in the vertical clamp bar. The method also comprises coupling the cross clamp bar to the lower clamp bar by interconnecting a third connector of the cross clamp bar with the third groove connection formed in the lower clamp bar.The first configuration comprises the first slot connection and the second slot connection, the second configuration comprises the third slot connection and the first connector, and the third configuration comprises the second connector and the third connector. In some embodiments, the method further comprises coupling the lower clamp bar to the vertical clamp bar by inserting the first T-connector of the clamp bar 10 1958797 of 30 lower in an upper portion of a T-slot connection formed in the vertical clamp bar and the first T-connector in a lower portion of the T-slot connection to prevent a first head of the first T-connector from passing through the upper portion of the T-slot connection. Further, the method comprises coupling the cross clamp bar to the vertical clamp bar by inserting the second T-connector of the cross clamp bar through the first I-slot connection formed in the vertical clamp bar and rotating the second T-connector to prevent the second head of the second T-connector from passing through the first T-slot connection.Furthermore, the method comprises coupling the cross clamp bar to the lower clamp bar by inserting a third T-connector of the cross clamp bar through a second I-slot connection formed in the lower clamp bar and rotating the third T-connector to prevent a third head of the third T-connector from passing through the second I-slot connection. In these embodiments, the first configuration comprises the T-slot connection and the second I-slot connection, the second configuration comprises the second I-slot connection and the first T-connector, and the third configuration comprises the second T-connector and the third T-connector. 1958797 of 30 In some embodiments, the method further comprises inserting a vertical clamp bar into the fabric of a vertical fold of the geotextile material by first inserting a first guide tip of the lower vertical bar into the vertical fold. The method also comprises inserting the lower clamp bar into the fabric of the horizontal layer cut of the geotextile material by first inserting the second guide tip of the lower clamp bar into the fabric of the horizontal layer cut. Description of the Figures Figure 1 is a cross-section showing a geosynthetic-reinforced earth structure using internally tied layers of woven geotextile fabric. Figure 2 is a side view of a conventional clamp assembly. Figure 3 is a close-up of cut A of the conventional clamp assembly in Figure 2. Figure 4 is a side view of a clamp assembly according to the disclosed embodiments. 1958797 of 30 Figure 5 is an isometric view of a vertical clamp bar of the clamp assembly of Figure 4 according to the disclosed embodiment. Figure 6 is a front view of a vertical clamp bar of the clamp assembly of Figure 4 according to the disclosed embodiments. Figure 7 is a side view of a vertical clamp bar of the clamp assembly of Figure 4 according to the disclosed embodiments. Figure 8 is a front view of a cut B of the vertical clamp bar of Figure 6 according to the disclosed embodiments. Figure 9 is a cross-section of the vertical clamp bar of Figure 6 along line CC according to the disclosed embodiments. Figure 10 is an isometric view of a lower clamp bar of the clamp assembly of Figure 4 according to the disclosed embodiments. 1958797 of 30 Figure 11 is a front view of a lower clamp bar of the clamp assembly of Figure 4 according to the disclosed embodiments. Figure 12 is a side view of a lower clamp bar of the clamp assembly of Figure 4 according to the disclosed embodiments. Figure 13 is a cross-section of a lower clamp bar connector of Figure 11 along line DD according to the disclosed embodiments. Figure 14 is a front view of section E of the lower clamp bar of Figure 11 according to the disclosed embodiments. Figure 15 is a cross-sectional view of the lower clamp bar of Figure 14 along line FF according to the disclosed embodiments. Figure 16 is a front view of a cross clamp bar of the clamp assembly of Figure 4 according to the disclosed embodiments. 1958797 of 30 Figure 17 is an isometric view of a section G of the transverse clamp bar of Figure 16 according to the disclosed embodiments. Figure 18 is an isometric view of the internally bonded geosynthetic fabric layer according to the disclosed realizations. Detailed description Before explaining in detail any embodiment of the invention, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to its application to the construction details or the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention admits of other embodiments and can be implemented or carried out in various ways. Furthermore, it should be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein are for descriptive purposes and should not be considered exhaustive. The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having” and their variants herein is understood to encompass the elements listed below and their equivalents, as well as other elements. Unless otherwise specified or limited, the terms “assembled,” “connected,” “supported,” and “coupled” and 1958797 of 30, its variants are widely used and include mounts, connections, supports, and direct and indirect couplings. Furthermore, “connected” and “coupled” are not limited to physical or mechanical connections or couplings. The following description is presented to enable a person skilled in the art to make and use embodiments of the invention. Various modifications to the illustrated embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles herein may be applied to other embodiments and applications without departing from the embodiments of the invention. Therefore, embodiments of the invention are not to be limited to the embodiments shown, but should be in accordance with the broader scope consistent with the principles and features disclosed herein. The following detailed description should be interpreted with reference to the figures, in which identical elements in different figures have the same reference numbers. The figures, which are not necessarily to scale, illustrate selected embodiments and are not to limit the scope of embodiments of the invention.Those skilled in the art will recognize that the examples given herein have useful alternatives and are within the scope of the realizations of the invention. 1958797 of 30 Figure 4 is a side view of a clamp assembly 20 according to the disclosed embodiments. As shown in Figure 4, the clamp assembly 20 may include a vertical clamp bar 22 having a first configuration, a lower clamp bar 24 having a second configuration, and a transverse clamp bar 26 having a third configuration. As described in more detail below, the first, second, and third configurations are all different from each other to facilitate simple and error-free assembly of the clamp assembly 20. Figure 5 is an isometric view of the vertical clamp bar 22 according to the disclosed embodiments. Figure 6 is a front view of the vertical clamp bar 22, and Figure 7 is a side view of the clamp bar 22 according to the disclosed embodiments. As shown in Figures 5-7, the vertical clamp bar 22 may include a first guide tip 28, a first groove region 30, a body 32, and a second groove region 34. The first groove region 30 may be disposed between the body 32 and the first guide tip 28 and may have a first groove connection 36 formed therein. In some embodiments, the first groove connection 36 may include the groove connection. 1958797 of 30 in T as described in detail herein. Body 32 may be disposed between the first slot region 30 and the second slot region 34 and may include a raised support section 40 with a maximum height greater than the maximum height of the first and second slot regions 30 and 34 (see Figure 7). In some embodiments, the raised support cut 40 may be omitted, and body 32 may have a profile equal to that of the first and second slot regions 30 and 34. In some embodiments, body 32 may include a support cut 38 configured to allow the support clamp bar 22 to bend and flex without breaking when used in a geosynthetic fabric layer for constructing a wall and / or a stabilized earth slope. Furthermore, as shown in Figures 5-7, the second slot region 34 may have a second slot connection 42 formed therein.In some embodiments, the second slot 42 may include an I-slot. Figure 8 is a front view of section B of the vertical clamp bar 22 of Figure 6 according to the disclosed embodiments. As shown in Figure 8, the first groove connection 36 may include the T-slot connection having an upper portion 44 and a lower portion 46. Also, as shown in Figure 8, the first guide tip 1958797 of 30 may have a rounded or arrow-shaped form that contributes to the installation of the vertical clamp bar 22 in a geosynthetic fabric described herein. Figure 9 is a cross-section of the vertical clamp bar 22 along line CC shown in Figure 8, according to the disclosed embodiments. As shown in Figure 9, the body 32 may include transition areas 48 that transition from the maximum height of the raised support cut 40 to the maximum height of the remainder of the vertical clamp bar 22. In some embodiments, the transition areas 48 may be curved or concavely sloped to provide support strength to the vertical clamp bar 22 so that the vertical clamp bar 22 does not break under weight when used in a geosynthetic fabric layer to construct an earth wall and / or slope. Figure 10 illustrates an isometric view of the lower clamp bar according to the disclosed embodiments. Figure 11 is a front view of the lower clamp bar, and Figure 12 is a side view of the lower clamp bar according to the disclosed embodiments. As can be seen in Figures 10-12, the clamp bar The lower clamp 24, part 1958797, may include a second guide point 50 similar to the first guide point 28, a third slot region 52 similar to the second slot region 34, a body 54 similar to the body 32, and a first connector 56. The third slot region 52 may be disposed between the body 54 and the second guide point 50 and may have a third slot connection 58 formed therein. In some embodiments, the third slot connection 58 may include an I-slot connection as described in detail herein. The body 54 may be disposed between the third slot region 52 and the first connector 56 and may include a raised support cut 60 similar to the raised support cut 40 with a maximum height greater than the maximum height of the third slot regions 52 and the first connector 56 (see, for example, Figure 12).In some embodiments, the raised support cut 62 can be omitted and the body 54 can have a profile matched to that of the third groove regions 52 and the first connector 56. In some embodiments, the body 54 can include a support cut 60 similar to the support cut 38 that is configured to allow the lower clamp bar 24 to bend and flex without breaking when used in a geosynthetic fabric layer to construct a stabilized earth wall and / or slope. 1958797 of 30 Furthermore, as shown in Figures 10-12, the first connector 56 of the lower clamp bar 24 may be integrally formed or coupled with one end of the body 54. In some embodiments, the first connector 56 may be configured to interconnect with the first groove 36 of the vertical clamp bar 22, such that it couples the lower clamp bar 24 to the vertical clamp bar 22. Also, in some embodiments, the first connector 56 may comprise a T-connector as described herein. For example, Figure 13 is a cross-section of the first connector 56 along line DD of Figure 11, and Figure 14 is a front view of section E of the horizontal clamp bar 24 of Figure 12 according to the disclosed embodiments. As shown in Figures 13 and 14, the first connector 56 may include the T-connector having a head 64 and a neck 66. Figure 15 is a cross-section of the lower clamp bar 24 along line FF shown in Figure 14, according to the disclosed embodiments. As seen in Figure 15, body 54, like body 32, may include transition areas 68 that transition the height of body 54 from the maximum height of the raised support cut 62 to the maximum height of the remainder of the bar. 1958797 of 30 lower clamp 24. In some embodiments, the transition areas 68 may be curved or inclined in a concave shape to provide support strength to the lower clamp bar 24 in such a way that the lower clamp bar 24 does not break under weight when used in a geosynthetic fabric layer to construct a stabilized earth wall and / or slope. Figure 16 is a front view of the cross clamp bar 26 according to the disclosed embodiments. As shown in Figure 16, the cross clamp bar 26 may include a second connector 70 configured to interconnect with the second slot connection 42 of the vertical clamp bar 22 to couple the cross clamp bar 26 to the vertical clamp bar 22. Furthermore, the cross clamp bar 26 may include a third connector 72 configured to interconnect with the third slot connection 58 of the lower clamp bar 24 to couple the cross clamp bar 26 to the lower clamp bar 24. In some embodiments, the second connector 70 and the third connector 72 may be used interchangeably to couple the cross clamp bar 26 to the vertical clamp bar 22 and the lower clamp bar 24 and the third slot connections 42. 1958797 of 30 and 58. As shown in Figure 16, in some embodiments, the cross clamp bar 26 may include a fourth slot region 76 having a fourth slot connection 78 formed inside and a body 74 having a fifth slot connection 80 formed inside. The fourth and fifth slot connections 78 and 80 may include T-slot connections as described herein and may be used to couple the cross clamp bar 26 with the vertical clamp bar 22, the lower clamp bar 24, and / or other clamp bars in configurations other than the clamp assembly 20 shown in Figure 4. In some embodiments, the fourth and fifth slot connections 78 and 80 are omitted to simplify the cross clamp bar 26 and to simplify the construction of the clamp assembly 20. Figure 17 is an isometric view of section G of the transverse clamp bar 26 according to the disclosed embodiments. As shown in Figure 17, the third connector 72 may comprise a T-connector having a head 82 and a neck 84. Although not shown in Figure 17, the second connector 70 may similarly comprise a T-connector having a head and a neck. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 17, the body 74, like bodies 32 and 54, may 1958797 of 30 include a raised support cut 90 and transition areas 92 that transition the body height 74 from the maximum height of the raised support cut 90 to the maximum height of the remainder of the cross brace bar 26. In some embodiments, the transition areas 92 may be curved or sloped in a concave shape to provide support strength to the cross brace bar 26 in such a way that the cross brace bar 24 does not break under weight when used in a geosynthetic fabric layer to construct a stabilized earth wall and / or slope. Various embodiments are contemplated for manufacturing the vertical clamp bar 22, the lower clamp bar 24, and the transverse clamp bar 26. These embodiments include, but are not limited to, injection molding or similar methods. In some embodiments, the first groove region 30, the second groove region 34, the body 32, and the first guide tip 28 are formed as a single monolithic structure. Similarly, in some embodiments, the third groove region 52, the body 54, and the second guide tip 50 are formed as a single monolithic structure. Furthermore, the second connector 70, the third connector 72, and the body 74 can be formed as a single monolithic structure. Additionally, the lower clamp bar 24, the vertical clamp bar 22, and the bar 24 1958797 of 30 cross clamp 26 can be made of a rigid or semi-rigid non-metallic material. In some embodiments, the rigid or semi-rigid non-metallic material may include nylon, high-density polypropylene (HDPE), or another suitable polymer. Figure 18 is an isometric view of an internally tied geosynthetic fabric layer 100 according to disclosed embodiments. As shown in Figure 18, the internally tied geosynthetic fabric layer 100 may employ the clamp assembly 20 and may include a three-dimensional woven geotextile fabric 102 having a horizontal layer cut 104 and an outer layer face 106. The outer layer face 106 may be formed by a vertical fold of the geotextile fabric layer 100 along a fold line 108 of the internally tied geosynthetic fabric layer 100. In some embodiments, the three-dimensional woven geotextile fabric 102 may be woven on a loom. Furthermore, the horizontal layer cut 104 may be configured to receive soil backfill from a horizontal reinforcement layer portion of a reinforced earth zone system and facing the slope.Additionally, the outer layer face 106 can be configured to provide a reinforced earth zone system region facing the slope against which the earth fill can be placed and compacted. In some embodiments, the. 1958797 of 30 Three-dimensional woven geotextile fabric 102 may include a three-dimensional pyramidal woven geotextile fabric. However, other non-pyramidal shapes are also contemplated for the three-dimensional woven geotextile fabric 102. To construct the geosynthetic fabric layer 100, the vertical clamp bar 22 and the lower clamp bar 24 can be inserted into a weave of the geotextile fabric 102 using the first guide point 28 and the second guide point 50 in a direction shown by the arrows X such that the lower clamp bar 24 is located in the horizontal layer cut 104, the vertical clamp bar is located on the outer layer face 106, and the first connector 56 is aligned with the first groove connection 36 on the fold line 108. In some embodiments, the vertical clamp bar 22 and the lower clamp bar 24 can be inserted into the weave of the geotextile fabric 102 while the geotextile fabric 102 is on the loom.In addition, or also in some embodiments, the vertical clamp bar 22 and the lower clamp bar 24 can be inserted into the weave of the geotextile fabric 102 while the geotextile fabric 102 is on the loom. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the vertical clamp bar 22 and the lower clamp bar 24, which include the first and second guide points 28 and 50, can have a 26. 1958797 of 30 in a slightly different way, so that an installer can easily identify and differentiate the vertical clamp bar 22 from the lower clamp bar 24, thus facilitating quick and reliable installation during the weaving process of the geotextile fabric 102. Such embodiments greatly reduce the time and labor required to install a system at a work site. For example, the pre-installation and different configurations of the vertical clamp bar 22 and the lower clamp bar 24 can reduce installation time by approximately 4 hours per roll of geosynthetic fabric layer 100. Once the vertical clamp bar 22 and the lower clamp bar 24 are inserted into the weaving of the geotextile fabric 102 and the geotextile fabric 102 has been fully woven, the geotextile fabric 102 can be folded along the fold line 108 such that the vertical fold forming the outer layer face 106 and the vertical clamp bar 22 are in an angled orientation relative to the horizontal layer cut 104. Then, while the vertical fold and the vertical clamp bar 22 are in the angled orientation, the lower clamp bar 24 can be coupled with the vertical clamp bar 22 and form a connection 110. In embodiments where the first connection 27 1958797 of 30 slot 36 is the T-slot connection and the first connector 56 is the T-connector, the connection 110 can be formed by inserting the T-connector into the top 44 of the T-slot connection and sliding the T-connector down into the bottom 46 of the T-slot connection to prevent the T-connector head 64 from passing through the top 44 of the T-slot connection. Furthermore, the geosynthetic fabric layer 100 can be constructed by coupling the transverse clamp bar 26 with the vertical clamp bar 22 to form connection 112 and coupling the transverse clamp bar 26 with the lower clamp bar 24 to form connection 114 as shown in Figure 18. In embodiments in which the second slot connection 42 and the third slot connection 58 comprise the I-slot connections, connections 112 and 114 can be formed by inserting the T-connector heads of the second and third connectors 70 and 72 through the I-slot connections and then rotating the T-connector heads to prevent the heads from passing through the I-slot connections again. In some embodiments, the woven geotextile fabric 102 with the inserted vertical clamp bar 22 and the lower clamp bar 24 are joined together in a 28-layer roll 1958797 of 30 geotextile fabrics constructed in a similar manner. The roll can then be unrolled at a work site where the connections 110, 112, and 114 are formed as described above. This procedure can eliminate some assembly of the system at the work site and allow the geotextile fabric 102 to arrive at the site ready to be unrolled where the transverse clamp bar 26 can be added. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that although the invention has been described above in connection with particular embodiments and examples, the invention is not necessarily limited to them, and it is intended that numerous other embodiments, examples, uses, modifications, and departures from the embodiments, examples, and uses are encompassed by the appended claims. The full disclosure of each patent and publication cited herein is incorporated by reference. Various features and advantages of the invention are set forth in the following claims. 1958797 of 30 DANIEL GOYTIA - 20045269656 Digitally signed by PORTALTRAMITES - INPI Date: 2022.09.16 11:43:00 -03:00 Reason: Digitally Signed by the INPI Location: Buenos Aires, Argentina 1958797

Claims

1. A method for constructing an internally bonded geosynthetic fabric layer, the method being characterized in that it comprises: weaving a three-dimensional woven fabric material on a loom; while the geotextile fabric material is on the loom, inserting a lower clamp bar into a horizontal layer cut of the geotextile fabric material and a vertical clamp bar into a vertical fold of the geotextile fabric material; folding the geotextile fabric material such that the vertical fold and the vertical clamp bar are at an angle to the horizontal layer cut; coupling the lower clamp bar with the vertical clamp bar while the vertical fold and the vertical clamp bar are at an angle; inserting a T-connector of the lower clamp bar into the top of a T-slot connection formed in the vertical clamp bar and sliding thefirst T-connector downwards within a lower portion of the T-slot connection to prevent a first head of the first T-connector from passing through the upper portion of the T-slot connection; coupling a cross clamp bar to the vertical clamp bar by inserting a second T-connector of the cross clamp bar through a first I-slot connection in the vertical clamp bar and rotating the second T-connector to prevent a second head of the second T-connector from passing through the first connection; and coupling the cross clamp bar to the lower clamp bar by inserting a third T-connector of the cross clamp bar through a second I-slot connection formed in the lower clamp bar and rotating the third T-connector to prevent a third head of the third T-connector from passing through the second I-connection, wherein the vertical clamp bar hasIn a first configuration, the lower clamp bar has a second configuration distinct from the first configuration, and the cross clamp bar has a third configuration distinct from the first and second configurations, wherein the first configuration comprises the T-slot connection and the first I-slot connection, wherein the second configuration comprises the second I-slot connection and the first T-connector, and wherein the third configuration comprises the second T-connector and the third T-connector. Claim 1 follows