Native Soil Flowable Fill Mixing System
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for hydro excavation result in increased time and costs due to the need to haul away native soil for disposal and then bring back dry fill materials for compaction, as they do not efficiently utilize the excavated soil on-site.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that involves hydro excavating native soil, transferring it to a debris tank, and mixing it with a pozzolan component, cement, and water using a mixing apparatus to create a native soil flowable fill, which can be reused as a self-compacting fill material, comprising 30-90% native soil, 0-50% pozzolan, 0-50% cement, and 10-45% water, suitable for various applications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If native soil is hauled away for disposal and dry fill material is brought back for compaction, then the excavation hole can be properly backfilled, but project time and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent recovers the excavated native soil by processing it through a mixing system that combines the soil with cement and water to create flowable fill. This recovered material is then reused as backfill, eliminating the need to haul away clean fill and bringing in new material. The system transforms waste soil into a useful backfill product, directly addressing the time and cost issues associated with traditional haul-and-replace methods
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a mixing system as an intermediary component between the excavation and backfilling operations. This mixing system processes the excavated soil by combining it with cement and water to create flowable fill, which then serves as the backfill material. The intermediary processing step transforms the soil's properties to make it suitable for backfilling, resolving the contradiction between proper backfilling and reduced project time
2Productivity
If native soil is hauled away and replaced with dry fill material, then the excavation hole can be properly backfilled, but material costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent recovers the excavated native soil by processing it through a mixing system that combines the soil with cement and water to create flowable fill. This recovered material is then reused as backfill, eliminating the need to haul away clean fill and bringing in new material. The system transforms waste soil into a useful backfill product, directly addressing the time and cost issues associated with traditional haul-and-replace methods
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical and chemical parameters of the excavated soil by mixing it with cement and water in specific proportions. This parameter change transforms the soil from an unsuitable excavated material into a flowable fill with controlled setting properties. The parameter changes enable the soil to achieve the necessary strength and stability characteristics for backfilling without requiring expensive imported materials
3Ease of operation
If traditional hydro excavation is used, then the excavation can be completed, but the excavated soil cannot be effectively reused on-site
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the excavated soil multi-functional by processing it into flowable fill that can be used for backfilling. The mixing system combines the soil with cement and water to create a versatile material that can adapt to different backfilling requirements. This universality allows the same excavated material to serve multiple purposes, from structural backfill to general fill, greatly enhancing the soil's reuse capability while maintaining excavation simplicity
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 project time and costs by allowing on-site reuse of excavated soil, providing a self-compacting, controlled-setting fill material compatible with the excavation environment, suitable for trench backfill, erosion control, and other applications, while being non-corrosive to pipes and poles.
Implementation Method 1
mixing the native soil in the debris tank using a mixing apparatus to form the native soil flowable fill
Implementation Method 2
hydro excavation applications use a combination of high pressure water and suction to dig a hole
Implementation Method 3
use a combination of high pressure water and suction to dig a hole and vacuum the soil and water into a tank
Implementation Method 4
adding a pozzolan component, cement and water to the debris tank
Implementation Method 5
The native soil flowable fill comprises 30-90% by weight of native soil, 0-50% by weight of the added pozzolan component, 0-50% by weight of the cement, and 10-45% by weight of the water
Data Source
AI summary
A method to manufacture a native soil flowable fill includes hydro excavating native soil to form a hole at a first excavation, transferring the native soil from the first excavation to a debris tank, and adding a pozzolan component, cement and water to the debris tank. The method also includes mixing the native soil in the debris tank using a mixing apparatus to form the native soil flowable fill, and transferring the native soil flowable fill back to the first excavation into the hole. The native soil flowable fill comprises 30-90% by weight of native soil, 0-50% by weight of the added pozzolan component, 0-50% by weight of the cement, and 10-45% by weight of the water.