Timber Pole Foundation for Liquefaction Resistance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional shallow timber floor house foundations in New Zealand are costly and environmentally challenging due to soil disposal issues, and they are brittle and prone to damage from liquefaction in earthquake-prone areas, making them difficult to modify or remove.

Innovation Solution

A timber pole foundation structure comprising a grid of parallel poles with intersecting fasteners that distribute load resiliently, allowing for flexible assembly and disassembly, and can be embedded in a pit with a geocloth lining to prevent liquefaction, reducing soil disposal needs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If a concrete slab foundation is used, then the foundation provides strong support, but it becomes brittle and prone to damage from liquefaction in earthquake-prone areas

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefoundation support strengthVSAvoidresistance to liquefaction damage

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the material parameter from concrete to timber poles, transforming the foundation from brittle to resilient. The timber poles can flex and adapt to ground movement during earthquakes, preventing the liquefaction damage that occurs with concrete slabs while maintaining structural support strength.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The foundation uses a composite structure combining timber poles with geocloth lining. The geocloth provides a flexible barrier that prevents soil liquefaction from damaging the timber poles, creating a resilient composite system that withstands earthquake forces better than concrete alone.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Strength

If a concrete slab foundation is used, then the foundation provides structural support, but it becomes very difficult to move or modify and removal involves destruction

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural supportVSAvoidease of modification or relocation

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The foundation is segmented into discrete timber poles rather than a monolithic concrete slab. Each pole can be independently removed, repositioned, or replaced without destroying the entire foundation structure. This modular segmentation enables easy modification and non-destructive relocation while maintaining structural support through the distributed pole arrangement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of manufacture

If a conventional shallow foundation with soil removal is used, then the foundation can be constructed, but soil disposal costs increase and environmental contamination risks arise

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefoundation constructionVSAvoidsoil disposal costs and environmental impact

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the problematic soil removal step from the foundation construction process. By placing timber poles directly into the existing ground without removing surrounding soil, the method eliminates the need for costly soil disposal and reduces environmental contamination risks while still allowing foundation construction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The geocloth acts as an intermediary barrier between the timber poles and the ground soil. It prevents direct contact between the poles and potentially contaminated soil, eliminating the need for extensive soil removal and disposal while maintaining construction feasibility and environmental protection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Ease of manufacture

If multiple steps and different trades are involved in foundation construction, then the foundation can be built with proper materials, but the construction process becomes time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvematerial qualityVSAvoidconstruction time

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple foundation construction steps into a single process. The timber poles are pre-treated and ready-to-install, eliminating the need for separate concrete pouring, reinforcement installation, and curing steps. This consolidation reduces construction time while maintaining material quality through the use of pre-processed timber components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 timber pole foundation provides a cost-effective, resilient, and adaptable solution for supporting structures, reducing soil disposal costs and enhancing stability against liquefaction, while allowing for non-destructive modification or relocation.

Implementation Method 1

embedded in a pit with a geocloth lining to prevent liquefaction

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLiquefaction resistance:

Implementation Method 2

timber pole foundation structure comprising a grid of parallel poles with intersecting fasteners that distribute load resiliently

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS10385532B2Timber pole foundation structure

Publication Date: 2019.08.20 TTT PROD ADVANCED LTD

AI summary

A foundation for supporting a structure above. The foundation comprising a first layer of poles parallel and spaced apart from each other, and a second layer of timber poles parallel and spaced apart from each other, at an angle to the first layer. The first layer on top of, and fastened to, the second layer. Compared to prior art foundations, the foundation is versatile, light weight, easy and quick to install and can be disassembled and re-used.