Foundation Pipe Installation via Peripheral Soil Loosening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for installing large-diameter foundation pipes, such as those for offshore wind turbines, are inefficient due to the need for large, heavy, and expensive drilling equipment, leading to high energy consumption and environmental pollution from soil cuttings.
Innovation Solution
A method involving pre-drilling smaller diameter holes around the peripheral area of the foundation pipe to loosen the soil, allowing for efficient installation with conventional drilling tools and reduced noise, and using a ramming device like a percussive hammer or oscillating vibrator to drive the pipe into the ground with minimal soil removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If large-diameter foundation pipes are installed using conventional drilling methods, then the foundation can be created, but large, heavy, and expensive drilling equipment is required
Solution Approach 1:
The installation process is divided into two distinct phases: first, pre-drilling smaller-diameter holes (20-80 cm) around the peripheral area of where the foundation pipe will be installed; second, driving the large-diameter foundation pipe into the loosened soil. This segmentation allows using small, conventional drilling equipment instead of requiring large drilling equipment capable of creating the full foundation pipe diameter hole.
Solution Approach 2:
The soil is loosened in advance by pre-drilling holes in the peripheral area before the foundation pipe is driven in. This preliminary loosening action reduces the resistance to driving the foundation pipe, enabling the use of smaller driving equipment and reducing the overall complexity and size of the installation system.
2Ease of manufacture
If large-diameter foundation pipes are installed using drilling methods, then the foundation can be created, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The energy-intensive drilling process is segmented into pre-drilling smaller holes around the periphery rather than drilling one large hole. This reduces the total volume of soil that must be removed and drilled, thereby reducing energy consumption while still achieving the goal of installing the large-diameter foundation pipe.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of drilling the full diameter hole required for the foundation pipe, the method applies partial action by drilling only smaller holes (20-80 cm diameter) in the peripheral area. This partial loosening is sufficient to enable easy driving of the foundation pipe, reducing energy expenditure compared to complete drilling of the full diameter.
3Ease of manufacture
If drilling is used to install foundation pipes, then the foundation can be created, but environmental pollution from drill cuttings occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful drill cuttings are extracted and removed from the installation process by using pre-drilling of small peripheral holes instead of drilling the full diameter hole. This eliminates or minimizes the generation of large amounts of drill cuttings that would pollute the environment, while still achieving the foundation installation objective.
Solution Approach 2:
The method converts the potential harm of soil removal into a benefit by using the pre-drilled holes to loosen the soil in a controlled manner. Instead of creating large amounts of waste cuttings from drilling the full diameter, the small peripheral holes create localized loosening that facilitates pipe installation with minimal waste generation.
4Ease of manufacture
If smaller holes are drilled in the peripheral area, then conventional drilling tools can be used, but the soil loosening must be sufficient to allow pipe installation
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple small peripheral holes (each 20-80 cm in diameter) are drilled around the circumference of where the foundation pipe will be installed. By combining the loosening effect of multiple holes, sufficient overall soil loosening is achieved to facilitate easy driving of the large-diameter foundation pipe, while each individual hole can be drilled with conventional equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of loosening the soil in one dimension by drilling a single large hole, the method distributes the loosening action across multiple dimensions by drilling several smaller holes around the peripheral area. This multi-point approach achieves comparable or superior loosening effectiveness while using smaller, conventional drilling tools.
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 approach reduces the energy required for installation, minimizes environmental impact, and enhances the load-bearing capacity and stability of the foundation pipe by controlling soil friction and material displacement.
Implementation Method 1
at least one hole is made in the ground in the peripheral area of the foundation pipe to be installed using a drilling tool whose drilling diameter is significantly smaller than the diameter of the foundation pipe
Implementation Method 2
a working platform with a ramming device for driving the foundation pipe into the ground
Implementation Method 3
enhances the load-bearing capacity and stability of the foundation pipe by controlling soil friction
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a method and a device for creating a foundation in which a foundation pipe (1) is driven into the ground. According to the invention, prior to driving the pipe, at least one borehole (5) is created in the ground in the circumferential area of the foundation pipe (1) to be installed, using a drilling tool (22) whose borehole diameter is significantly smaller than the diameter of the foundation pipe (1). The soil material removed during drilling remains essentially in the borehole (5). The invention further comprises a foundation with a foundation pipe (1) which is manufactured accordingly.