Woven geotextile Ringtrac®

polyesterload-bearingfoundation

The seamless, cylindrical reinforcement sleeve made from low-creep, high-tensile polymers. The Geotextile Encased Column (GEC) system was specially developed as a foundation solution for earthwork structures built on weak subsoils. The pile-like load-carrying system is a quick, cost-effective method of providing a foundation for embankments on ground with low bearing capacity. The key component in the innovative foundation system is the Ringtrac geotextile sleeve. This casing is used to enclose non-cohesive material placed in a uniform arrangement of columns, which systematically transmit the structural loads to the bearing stratum. The particularity of the GEC system is that the outwardly directed radial horizontal stresses in the columns are counteracted not only by the inwardly acting pressure of the soft soil, but also by the radial resistance of the geotextile casing. The circumferential tensile forces generated in the casing provide radial support to the columns and safeguard the equilibrium of the system, thereby allowing its use even in very soft soils. Ringtrac columns also act as filtration-stable megadrains, which speed up the settlement and consolidation process. Potential later settlement is thus either prevented or can be offset by means of temporary cover fill, as required by the particular project. Moreover, Ringtrac reinforcement sleeves are finding increasing use as temporary formwork units for bored cast-in-situ piles in soft soils or karst areas. Product/system features •Suitable for soft soils with cu < 15 kN/m² •Almost all settlement takes place within construction period