Ground Foundation with Expellable Steel Wires for Pull-Out Resistance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing ground dowels, such as screw-in and hammer-in types, fail to provide sufficient pull-out resistance, especially in softer soils, and egg-hammer dowels yield excessively under vertical load, making them unsuitable for anchoring buildings or structures.

Innovation Solution

A method involving a ground foundation with a ground dowel and axially arranged steel wires that form a concrete base by displacing soft concrete mortar into the soil, creating a rigid connection and increasing extraction force without slippage, using a process that involves drilling, filling with concrete, and driving in the dowel with expellable steel wires.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If conventional ground dowels (screw-in or hammer-in) are used, then installation is simple, but pull-out resistance is insufficient in softer soils

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinstallation simplicityVSAvoidpull-out resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The ground foundation combines multiple materials and components: a metal ground dowel, expellable steel wires, and injected mortar to form a composite anchoring system. The steel wires embed into the surrounding soil while the mortar fills gaps and bonds the components, creating a composite structure that achieves high pull-out resistance without complicating installation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Strength

If egg-hammer dowels with steel wires are used, then pull-out resistance is improved, but the wires stretch under vertical load causing the dowel to lift out by several centimeters

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepull-out resistanceVSAvoidanchoring stability
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The steel wires are pre-loaded in a compressed state within the ground anchor before installation. When the ground dowel is driven into the ground, the wires are forced outward against the soil in advance, creating immediate anchoring resistance. This preliminary action prevents the wires from stretching under subsequent vertical loads, eliminating the lifting problem.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the stress state parameter of the steel wires from a relaxed state to a pre-compressed state. By forcing the wires outward against the soil during installation, the wires are held in a compressed condition that prevents stretching under load, thereby maintaining anchoring stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Strength

If the hole is filled completely with concrete mortar before inserting the dowel, then anchoring is improved, but the dowel cannot be driven in sufficiently deep

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveanchoring strengthVSAvoiddowel insertion depth
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of filling the hole completely with mortar, the invention uses partial filling (approximately 1/2 to 3/4 of the hole depth). This partial action provides sufficient mortar for wire embedding and anchoring strength while leaving enough space for the dowel to be driven to the required depth without excessive resistance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The mortar is placed in the hole before the dowel installation as a preliminary preparation. This allows the mortar to be positioned optimally for anchoring purposes while not interfering with the subsequent driving-in process, as the dowel is inserted and driven into the partially filled hole.

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 achieves a simple and secure ground foundation with enhanced anchoring and increased pull-out resistance, requiring minimal additional work and tools, ensuring a stable connection without slippage.

Implementation Method 1

the steel wires are expelled, emerge from the ground anchor tip, penetrate helically into the concrete mortar soil mass

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHelical penetration: Archimedes Screw

Implementation Method 2

The concrete mass in the hole is displaced by the dowel tube and pressed laterally and downwards into the ground at the bottom of the hole, with the concrete mass in turn displacing and/or penetrating the ground and forming a balloon-shaped extension

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDisplacement: Displacement

Implementation Method 3

After the concrete base has solidified or completely dried out, the ground foundation can be loaded to prevent it from being pulled out

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSolidification: Crystallisation

Data Source

PatentEP3042998B1Method for introducing a soil foundation and soil foundation which is produced by said method
Publication Date: 2018.12.19 GEBR STRAB GMBH & CO KG
  • EP3042998B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3042998B1 patent drawingFigure 4~7

AI summary

In a method for installing a ground foundation into the ground, consisting of a ground anchor (5) and an axially arranged and underside-projecting ground anchor (11) with extrudable steel wires (14), a hole (18) with a slightly smaller cross-section but greater depth than that of the ground anchor of the ground foundation is drilled into the ground. The hole is then preferably filled to a height of 2/3 with soft concrete mortar (20), and the ground foundation (1) is inserted and driven in to the specified depth. The displaced concrete mass penetrates the ground and forms a balloon-shaped extension (28) at the end of the anchor, forming a concrete base (15). A drive mandrel (23) is then inserted into the ground anchor and driven in, causing its steel wires to be driven out in a spiral pattern and engage in the soft concrete mass of the base.The resulting ground foundation (1) has, in its state when inserted into the ground, a ground anchor (5) with a balloon-shaped concrete base (15) at its lower part, in which steel wires (14) driven out of its tip are anchored.