Building Stabilization via Compaction and Fracture Injection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for stabilizing and lifting buildings, particularly in soft soils, face challenges in controllability and economic feasibility due to undefined stress generation and high technical effort, especially when geometry or geological conditions are unfavorable.

Innovation Solution

A method combining compaction injections and break-up injections, where compaction injections create stabilization elements and break-up injections further uplift using overlapping depth areas, preventing uncontrolled suspension migration and allowing precise control over structure elevation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If compaction injections and fracture injections are performed separately, then each method can be applied independently, but the control over structure lifting becomes imprecise and stress generation remains undefined

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol precisionVSAvoidmethod complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines compaction injections and fracture injections into a single integrated method. Compaction injections create stabilizing elements that form a barrier, while fracture injections create lifting forces. The two methods are merged in sequence, with compaction injections performed first to establish control barriers, followed by fracture injections for controlled lifting. This integration resolves the contradiction by achieving precise control through the combined effect rather than separate applications.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The compaction injections are performed as a preliminary action before fracture injections. The compaction injections create stabilizing elements and barriers in advance, which then control the subsequent fracture injection process. This preliminary action enables precise control over the lifting process by establishing the structural framework before the actual lifting occurs, resolving the issue of undefined stress generation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If fracture injections are performed in soft soils, then lifting can be achieved, but uncontrolled lateral migration of suspension occurs and technical effort becomes excessive

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelifting reliabilityVSAvoidtechnical effort
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The compaction injections create intermediate stabilizing elements that act as mediators between the fracture injections and the surrounding soft soil. These stabilizing elements form barriers that prevent uncontrolled lateral migration of the suspension while still allowing the fracture injections to achieve reliable lifting. The intermediaries (stabilizing elements) control the propagation of fracture injection bodies, reducing technical effort and improving reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The method applies different injection techniques to different spatial zones: compaction injections are performed in specific areas to create stabilizing elements and barriers, while fracture injections are performed in other zones for lifting. This local differentiation of injection quality and timing prevents uncontrolled suspension migration in soft soils while achieving reliable lifting where needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Manufacturing precision

If repeated injection applications are performed to achieve targeted lifting, then lifting precision can be improved, but time consumption and economic feasibility deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelifting precisionVSAvoidinjection time
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The compaction injections are performed as a preliminary action that creates stabilizing elements and barriers before the fracture injections. This preliminary structuring enables more efficient subsequent lifting operations by establishing control frameworks in advance, reducing the need for multiple repeated applications and thereby reducing time consumption while maintaining lifting precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This method enables targeted and controlled stabilization and lifting of buildings, particularly in soft soils, by creating a stable structure that supports both compaction and break-up injection bodies, allowing for precise adjustments and repeated elevations as needed.

Implementation Method 1

injecting an injection medium into the ground to produce a series of individual injection bodies

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure gradient: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 2

injecting an injection medium into the ground to produce a series of individual injection bodies, which together each form a stabilizing element

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSolidification: Freezing

Implementation Method 3

the breaching injections are carried out by injecting a suspension at different depths, such that the breaching injection bodies produced by breaching injections have an overlap of at least one quarter of the longest stabilizing element with the stabilizing elements in the depth direction

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure gradient: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentEP3656926B1Method for stabilizing and lifting building structures
Publication Date: 2023.06.07 KELLER HOLDING GMBH
  • EP3656926B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP3656926B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP3656926B1 patent drawingFigure 1C

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for stabilizing structures, comprising: carrying out compaction injections below the structure (2) by injecting an injection medium into the ground (8, 9) to produce a series of individual, superimposed injection bodies (14, 14', 14"), which together each form a stabilizing element (12, 13);Execution of grouting below the structure (2) by means of at least one grouting injection pipe (15, 16) inserted into the ground (8), which is inserted into the ground to a depth (T15, T16) of at least one quarter of the depth (T12a) of the longest stabilizing element (12, 13), wherein the grouting – viewed in horizontal section – is carried out in soil areas between two or more stabilizing elements (12, 13) and is carried out by injecting a suspension at different depths, such that the grouting is at least partially covered by the stabilizing elements (12, 13).