Soil Extraction Grouting Device for Foundation Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing soil extraction and grouting methods face challenges in achieving uniform soil support and stability, particularly in dense soil conditions, which can lead to uneven foundation settlement and structural distress.
Innovation Solution
The development of an extraction/grouting device that uses a pivoting wand with cutting nozzles to soften and remove soil, creating a cavity for grout placement, allowing for efficient lifting, lowering, or support of structures without relying on soil porosity or requiring high grout pressures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If pressure-injected grout is used to densify soils, then soil density is improved, but high pressures are required and process control is compromised under dense soil conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The soil extraction process is segmented into multiple phases: initial cavity formation using high-pressure water jets, followed by controlled grout injection in staged volumes. This segmentation allows the high-pressure phase to be brief and localized, while the grout injection occurs at controlled, lower pressures with improved process monitoring and adjustment capability.
Solution Approach 2:
A cavity is preliminarily formed in the soil using high-pressure water jets before grout injection begins. This preliminary action creates a void space that reduces the resistance to subsequent grout injection, allowing grout to be injected at lower pressures while still achieving effective soil densification and structure lifting.
2Strength
If compaction grouting is used to densify soils, then soil strength is improved, but lateral confinement is required and grout may flow laterally through porous soil
Solution Approach 1:
Excess or loosely bonded soil particles are extracted from the treatment zone using high-pressure water jets before grout injection. This removal of problematic soil material eliminates the pathways through which grout might otherwise flow laterally, while the remaining denser soil matrix provides better confinement for the grout.
Solution Approach 2:
A sacrificial point or plug is introduced into the soil matrix as an intermediary element during the extraction process. This sacrificial element helps to temporarily block lateral pathways and directs the high-pressure water jets and subsequent grout injection vertically, preventing lateral grout migration while maintaining effective soil densification.
3Strength
If piering or piles are used to support structures, then foundation support is improved, but installation is complex and disruption is high
Solution Approach 1:
The extracted soil cavity system serves multiple functions: it provides foundation support analogous to piering, acts as a containment zone for grout injection, and enables structure lifting capability. This multi-functional approach consolidates what would otherwise require separate piering, grouting, and lifting operations into a single integrated system, reducing overall installation complexity and site disruption.
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 enables predictable densification and raising results with minimal disruption and duration, as it directs forces vertically, reducing the risk of lateral damage to surrounding structures or utilities.
Implementation Method 1
The cutting nozzles are directed parallel to the pivoting axis of the pivoting wand, at least one cutting nozzle being directed perpendicular to a direction of at least one other cutting nozzle on the pivoting wand. The cutting nozzles are directed to form a cavity in the soil at least partially beneath the ground coupled member.
Implementation Method 2
allowing for efficient lifting, lowering, or support of structures without relying on soil porosity or requiring high grout pressures
Data Source
AI summary
A method of moving a ground coupled member by driving, deploying, pressurizing, rotating, conducting, positioning and lifting. Driving of a casing into a soil proximate to the ground coupled member. Deploying of a wand from the casing about a pivoting axis, the wand having nozzles that are coupled to a fluid conduit. The nozzles are directed parallel to the pivoting axis. Pressurizing of the fluid conduit to send fluid through the nozzles to soften the soil in a direction in which the wand deploys. Rotating of the pivoting wand. Conducting of the softened soil up through the casing to form a cavity in the soil at least partially beneath the ground coupled member. The cavity in the soil having a shape reflective of the movement of the pivoting wand in the rotating step. Positioning of a grouting system in the cavity. Lifting the ground coupled member using the grouting system.