Ringtrac® is a continuous, round-weave tube fabric for soil reinforcement and containment manufactured from high-strength, low-creep, polymers such as polyvinyalcohol (PVA).

Ringtrac® can be used, for example, for geotextile-encased columns (GEC) offering an economic alternative foundation system for embankments on soft soil with controlled low settlements.

Ringtrac® limits the spread of the sand columns into the surrounding weak soil by providing a certain amount of radial support. This increases the load-carrying capacity of the columns and this also makes the concept possible in extremely weak soil conditions.

Ringtrac® is manufactured to suit the specific requirements of the project. Among other parameters, the required design strengths and design stiffness are calculated from the properties of the weak foundation soils, the spacing and diameter of the sand columns, and the embankment height. Currently Ringtrac® is manufactured with short-term circumferential tensile strengths of up to 400 kN/m. Diameters can very between 0.40 m and 1.00 m.

• Suitable for soft soils with c_u <= 15 kN/m²
• Nearly all settlement takes place within construction period
• No settlement influence on adjacent constructions
• Fully loadable immediately after construction
  (high embankments in a short time with no danger of base failure)
• Highly adaptable to local conditions and loading
• No removal of useless or contaminated excavated soil
  (with soil displacement method)
• No adverse influence on groundwater flow
• Base sealing protects underlying aquifers
• Economic use of space and material
• Reduction of construction cost and time
• The system is not rigid and can absorb dynamic loads e.g. from passing trains without damage