Controlled Soil Lifting via Sequential Urethane Injection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for stabilizing soils, such as using quickly expanding chemicals, lack control over the extent of lift, leading to unpredictable and potentially excessive soil expansion.
Innovation Solution
Introducing water-resistant plastics and slow-setting, foaming urethane monomers into soils under high pressure, allowing for controlled aeration and lift through sequential balloon formation and hydraulic pressure manipulation, enabling precise control over the lifting process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If quickly expanding chemicals are inserted into the ground, then large expansion (5 times inserted volume) is achieved, but control over the extent of lift is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by using a two-stage expansion process: first inserting a quickly expanding chemical to create initial volume increase, then introducing a slowly expanding foam that can be controlled and monitored. This dynamic approach allows the system to transition from rapid expansion to controlled expansion, resolving the contradiction between achieving large expansion volume and maintaining control over the lift extent.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic action through sequential injection of different chemicals at different stages. The quickly expanding chemical is injected first to achieve immediate volume increase, followed by periodic injection of the slowly expanding foam in controlled amounts. This staged, periodic approach allows operators to control the total expansion volume while still achieving the desired 5 times inserted volume expansion.
2Force
If chemically induced expansion is used for lifting, then lifting effect is achieved, but monitoring and stopping the process becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies feedback by implementing continuous monitoring of the lifting process through measurement devices that track soil displacement and structure movement. The monitoring system provides real-time feedback to operators, allowing them to detect when the desired lift is achieved and stop the chemical injection accordingly. This feedback mechanism transforms the previously uncontrollable chemical expansion into a measurable and controllable process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary monitoring and control system between the chemical expansion process and the final lifting effect. Sensors and measurement devices act as intermediaries that translate the chemical expansion into measurable physical quantities (displacement, pressure, lift height), enabling operators to monitor and control the lifting process without directly interfering with the chemical reaction.
3Ease of operation
If high pump pressure and slow rate of flow are used, then control over lift is improved, but delivery time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the chemical injection process into multiple stages with different flow rates and pressures. The quickly expanding chemical is injected at high flow rate for rapid initial expansion, followed by the slowly expanding foam injected at controlled low flow rates for precise control. This segmented approach allows the system to achieve both high productivity in the initial stage and high control precision in the final stage, resolving the contradiction between delivery speed and control precision.
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 provides controlled soil stabilization and lift, preventing excessive expansion and allowing for accurate adjustment during the process, ensuring structural stability and preventing further damage.
Implementation Method 1
introducing a slow setting plastics catalysed monomer to beneath the footing with a very high pressure pump. In preference the catalysed monomer is a foaming urethane plastics.
Implementation Method 2
The extent of foaming is chosen to provide some aeration within the resultant material and assist therefore in providing resilience
Implementation Method 3
Once this very active chemical is inserted into the ground any lifting effect is achieved by a continuing chemically induced expansion
Data Source
AI summary
A method of effecting a stabilization and effecting a lifting of a portion of a footing of a building which includes the steps of effecting an introduction of water resistant plastics into soil and openings in the soil in the vicinity of the footing to seal these areas, then introducing a slow setting plastics catalysed monomer to beneath the footing at a very high pressure.