Foundation Toe Fluid Jetting with Depth-Based 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 generates significant noise, posing environmental and safety hazards, while conventional jetting methods disrupt soil structure and make it difficult to verify load bearing capacity.
Innovation Solution
A method involving controlled fluid jetting from nozzles at the foundation toe, reducing fluid jetting rate when a stabilisation depth is reached, forms a channel for easier installation and maintains soil integrity, allowing 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 and load bearing capacity verification becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The installation process is divided into two distinct phases: a jetting phase for facilitating toe penetration, and a stabilisation phase for maintaining soil integrity. The controller transitions between these phases based on toe depth, allowing the foundation to be installed easily while preserving soil structure for later verification.
Solution Approach 2:
The fluid jetting rate is dynamically adjusted based on the toe depth. The controller reduces the jetting rate when a stabilisation depth is reached, enabling the system to adapt its behavior throughout the installation process to balance ease of installation with soil integrity preservation.
2Productivity
If higher impact forces are applied to drive larger foundations, then installation capability is improved, but noise generation increases causing environmental and safety hazards
Solution Approach 1:
Fluid jetting is used to facilitate foundation installation instead of relying solely on mechanical impact forces. The high pressure nozzles jet fluid to cut into and fluidise the soil ahead of the toe, reducing the need for high impact forces and associated noise generation while maintaining installation capability.
3Speed
If fluid jetting rate is maintained high throughout installation, then installation speed is improved, but soil structure is过度 disrupted compromising load bearing capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The fluid jetting rate is dynamically adjusted based on the toe depth. The controller reduces the jetting rate when a stabilisation depth is reached, allowing the system to maintain high installation speed during the jetting phase while preserving soil structure in the final phase to ensure load bearing capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller is programmed to reduce jetting rate at a predetermined stabilisation depth before the minimum installation depth is reached. This preliminary action ensures that soil structure is preserved in the critical final zone, allowing for subsequent 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
Facilitates easier installation with reduced noise and ballast requirements, while ensuring the structural integrity and verified load bearing capacity of the surrounding soil.
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
high pressure nozzles are used to jet liquid for cutting into and flooding the body of soil around the toe in order to fluidise the soil
Implementation Method 3
During installation, the toe at the distal end of the foundation displaces soil as it is driven down. This compresses the soil in the surrounding region.
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
Implementation Method 6
the resistance to further penetration at the foundation's toe
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4~5
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).