Pre-loading of building sites over compressible strata

Abstract

A method and associated apparatus are given for a better approach to the pre-loading technique currently used to improving otherwise unsatisfactory ground conditions so that a site may be used to support an engineered structure or building. The method allows for pre-loading of a site to proceed where there are preexisting buildings on adjoining properties without causing damage to, or interference with, those properties while at the same time allowing full utilization of the building area. This involves using sections of sheet piling to isolate and contain ground movements in the subject site from having any influence on adjacent land, thus preventing damage to neighboring property. Apparatus to effectively support minimal lengths of sheet piling by means of a novel adjustable anchoring system is given. Apparatus for a novel monitoring system to provide comprehensive data on the progress of ground improvement is also given. Both pieces of apparatus are fully recoverable upon completion of pre-loading and are then reusable for similar future work.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C 119(e) to United States Provisional Patent application No. 61 / 124,886 filed Apr. 21, 2008, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND OF INVENTION[0002]1. Field of Invention[0003]The method and apparatus described herein are intended to provide the means to successfully prepare, or precondition, a parcel of land in an area of otherwise unsatisfactory geotechnical ground conditions so that it may be improved for optimal development and use as a building site, without causing damage to, or interference with, adjoining properties. The approach is such that essentially all hardware necessary for the accomplishment of the work is recoverable and may be used again for subsequent similar projects; thus, the hardware is a component which might be obtained for temporary use from one of the equipment rental outlets commonly used by building contractors.[0004]2. Description ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0015]This approach whereby sheet piling is used is illustrated in FIG. 2. The resulting benefits can be seen in comparison with the less economically desirable geometric arrangements shown on FIG. 1.

[0016]The use of the novel monitoring posts makes for more comprehensive, more frequent, and more cost effective data acquisition. Obviously, it is possible to feed these data into a digital recorder, and furthermore, to transmit that data by modem (or similar technology) to a design office, making it possible to have instant and continual information on the behavior of the ground treatment progress. On the basis of this stream of data, apart from informing the engineer when the pre-load had done its work in preconditioning t

Problems solved by technology

In many cases, depending on the nature and thickness of the native ground, this approach, because of deep-seated settlements of the native ground, can lead to serious damage to adjacent preexisting buildings.

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