Foundation Excavation Tool With Fluid Jetting for Easier Pile Driving
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Solution Overview
Problem
The installation of large foundations such as monopiles is challenging due to increased impact forces, noise, and environmental hazards, and existing jetting methods require specialized foundations with integrated jetting systems, increasing cost and complexity.
Innovation Solution
An excavation tool with a body and nozzles for jetting fluid is used separately from the foundation, allowing for easier installation by excavating soil ahead of the foundation's toe, reducing installation resistance and costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional jetting methods are used to aid foundation driving, then installation ease is improved, but bearing load capacity deteriorates due to soil structure disturbance
Solution Approach 1:
A separate excavation tool acts as an intermediary device between the foundation and the jetting system. This tool couples to the foundation's toe and directs fluid jets to excavate soil ahead of the foundation without requiring the foundation itself to have integrated jetting nozzles, thereby maintaining soil structure integrity while facilitating installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The jetting function is segmented from the foundation structure and placed in a separate excavation tool. This allows the foundation to remain a simple, strong structural element while the excavation tool handles the soil modification function, preventing disturbance to the surrounding soil structure that would compromise bearing capacity.
2Ease of operation
If specialised foundations with integrated jetting systems are used, then installation ease is improved, but device complexity and cost worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The excavation tool serves as a mediator that provides jetting functionality without being part of the foundation structure. This allows standard foundations to be used while still benefiting from jetting-assisted installation, reducing both complexity and cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The excavation tool is designed as a universal attachment that can couple to various foundation types through the engagement surface. This multi-functional tool provides jetting capabilities across different foundation applications without requiring specialized foundations for each case.
3Strength
If larger foundations are installed using traditional methods, then load bearing capacity is improved, but impact forces and noise increase
Solution Approach 1:
The excavation tool performs preliminary soil excavation ahead of the foundation toe using fluid jets before the foundation is driven into the ground. This pre-excitation of the soil reduces the impact forces and noise generated during the actual driving of larger foundations to greater depths.
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
The tool facilitates easier installation of various foundations in different soil conditions with reduced costs and noise, while maintaining load-bearing capacity, by using a separate jetting system that can be attached to standard foundations.
Implementation Method 1
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 and excavate space for the foundation
Implementation Method 2
the foundation is axially supported by the friction applied to the lateral surfaces of the foundation's body and the resistance to further penetration at the foundation's toe
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 2C
AI summary
Excavation tool (10) for use during installation of a foundation (100) into soil (200) in an insertion direction (11). The excavation tool comprises a body (12), an engagement surface (18) provided on the body (12) for releasable engagement with the foundation (100) for driving the body (12) into the soil (200) in the insertion direction (11); and a plurality of nozzles (38) provided on the body for jetting a fluid.