Foundation Toe Fluid Jetting for Low-Noise Soil Stabilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
The installation of larger foundations, such as monopiles for wind turbines, requires higher impact forces and noise, posing environmental and safety hazards, and the load bearing capacity of newly installed foundations is difficult to verify due to uncontrolled soil excavation and resettlement.
Innovation Solution
A method involving fluid jetting from nozzles at the foundation toe, controlled by depth, forms a stabilisation region with reduced fluidisation, allowing easier installation and accurate verification of load bearing capacity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional jetting methods are used to facilitate foundation installation, then installation ease is improved, but soil structural integrity deteriorates due to uncontrolled soil excavation and resettlement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating the treatment of soil at different locations: jetting fluid is directed specifically at the toe region to facilitate installation, while the majority of the foundation body insertion path maintains undisturbed soil structure. This localized application of fluid jetting resolves the contradiction by improving installation ease at the critical toe region without compromising the structural integrity of the broader soil foundation system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs preliminary action by using jetting fluid to pre-excavate and fluidise soil at the toe region before the foundation is driven into place. This preliminary soil modification reduces installation resistance during the driving process, enabling easier installation while the surrounding soil remains structurally intact, thus resolving the contradiction between installation ease and soil structural integrity.
2Force
If larger foundations are installed with higher impact forces, then installation capability is improved, but noise and environmental hazards increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces jetting fluid as an intermediary substance that mediates the interaction between the foundation and soil. The fluid reduces the direct mechanical impact forces required for installation by creating a fluidised soil zone, thereby enabling foundation installation with significantly reduced noise and environmental hazards while maintaining adequate installation capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies hydraulics by using pressurized jetting fluid to cut into and fluidise the soil ahead of the foundation toe. This hydraulic approach replaces high-impact mechanical forcing with controlled fluid pressure, reducing noise generation and environmental hazards while maintaining the ability to install larger foundations effectively.
3Force
If jetting fluid is used to fluidise soil at the toe, then installation resistance is reduced, but load bearing capacity verification becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by fluidising soil only at the toe region before installation, while leaving the majority of the foundation insertion path through undisturbed soil. This selective preliminary treatment reduces installation resistance at the critical toe area without compromising the load bearing capacity of the overall foundation system, as the undisturbed soil provides reliable bearing capacity verification.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local quality by applying jetting fluid specifically at the toe region rather than throughout the entire foundation insertion path. This localized approach reduces installation resistance where needed while preserving the structural integrity and load bearing capacity verification capability of the surrounding soil, thus resolving the contradiction between reduced installation resistance and reliable load bearing capacity verification.
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
Reduces installation resistance and noise while maintaining soil structural integrity, enabling efficient and accurate verification of load bearing capacity.
Implementation Method 1
jetting fluid from a plurality of nozzles provided at the toe for directing fluid distally into the soil ahead of the toe
Implementation Method 2
jet liquid for cutting into and flooding the body of soil around the toe in order to fluidise the soil and excavate space for the foundation
Implementation Method 3
the toe at the distal end of the foundation displaces soil as it is driven down
Implementation Method 4
This compresses the soil in the surrounding region
Implementation Method 5
the foundation is axially supported by the friction applied to the lateral surfaces of the foundation's body
Data Source
AI summary
Method of installing a foundation (1) having a toe (2) which is inserted into a soil (10) until a depth of the toe (2) reaches at least a minimum installation depth threshold (23). During insertion, fluid is jetted from a plurality of nozzles (7) provided at the toe (2) for directing fluid distally into the soil (10) ahead of the toe (2). The jetting of fluid from the plurality of nozzles (7) is controlled based on the depth of the toe (2), wherein the rate of jetting of fluid is reduced when the depth of the toe (2) reaches a stabilisation depth (22) ahead of the minimum installation depth threshold (23).