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Method and Apparatus for Making an Expanded Base Pier

a technology of base pier and expansion pier, which is applied in the direction of bulkheads/piles, foundation engineering, construction, etc., can solve the problems of not allowing for the additional stability and strength provided

Inactive Publication Date: 2011-03-03
GEOPIER FOUND
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0011]The present invention relates to a system for constructing a support column. A mandrel has an upper portion and a tamper head. A feed tube extends through the mandrel for feeding aggregate, concrete, grout, or other flowable materials to the tamper head. The tamper head include

Problems solved by technology

Each of these references is merely to concrete hardened inclusions and does not allow for the additional stability and strength provided by a pier that has an expanded base.

Method used

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  • Method and Apparatus for Making an Expanded Base Pier
  • Method and Apparatus for Making an Expanded Base Pier
  • Method and Apparatus for Making an Expanded Base Pier

Examples

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example i

[0036]As an example, an embodiment of the system of the present invention was used to install a support column, also described herein as an Expanded Base Pier (“EBP”), at a test site in Iowa. The test site was characterized by 4 feet of sandy lean clay underlain by sand. This testing program was designed to compare the load versus deflection characteristics of this embodiment of the EBP to reference piers constructed in successive lifts, such as a pier constructed by the tamper head driven mandrel method. The reference piers of this example had a nominal diameter of 20 inches and an installed length of 23 feet. One reference pier was constructed of aggregate only to a diameter of 20 inches. Another reference pier was constructed with a grout additive, commonly referred to as grouted pier, to a diameter of 14 inches.

[0037]In this embodiment of the invention, the EBP was formed by filling the extractable mandrel (FIG. 1) with a combination of open graded aggregate and fluid grout. The...

example ii

[0040]As another example, the system of another embodiment of the present invention was used to install five EBP elements at a test site in Virginia. The test site is characterized by hard clay. Prior to installation of the EBP, 30 inch diameter drill holes were excavated to a depth of 8 feet below the ground surface. The voids were then loosely backfilled with sand. The EBP elements of this example were formed within the backfilled holes.

[0041]In this embodiment of the invention, the EBP was formed by filling the mandrel described in FIG. 7 with concrete. The mandrel of this embodiment featured a “closed top” as opposed to the “open hopper” configuration as described with reference to Example I. The full mandrel was then advanced to a depth of 8 feet below the ground surface. The mandrel was then raised 3 feet, and then lowered 2 feet for three repetitions to create the expanded base. A process of raising the mandrel 3 feet, and then lowering 1 foot was then used to complete the fu...

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Abstract

A system for constructing a support column includes a mandrel with an upper portion and a tamper head. A feed tube extends through the mandrel for feeding flowable material to the head. The tamper head includes a lower enlarged chamber with a reducing surface at an upper portion for compacting material and restricting upward flow of aggregate. The tamper head is of a size providing an enclosed region for allowing cementitious materials to be placed therein. The system allows a support column including a cementitious inclusion on top of an expanded base to be built.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is related to and claims the priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61 / 239,649, filed Sep. 3, 2009; the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates to construction of a structural support column. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for building an expanded base pier to bypass weak soils and transfer structural loads to underlying strong soils.BACKGROUND OF INVENTION[0003]Heavy or settlement-sensitive facilities that are located in areas containing soft or weak soils are often supported on deep foundations, consisting of driven piles or drilled concrete columns. The deep foundations are designed to transfer the structure loads through the soft soils to more competent soil strata.[0004]In recent years, aggregate columns have been increasingly used to support structures located in areas cont...

Claims

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Application Information

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IPC IPC(8): E02D5/30
CPCE02D3/08E02D5/44E02D5/385
Inventor WISSMANN, KORD J.PLOTKIN, MARC
Owner GEOPIER FOUND