Other

Geotechnics America, Inc.

Nilex Construction, Llc.

R Robert Goughnour

T Richard Morris

C Russell Joiner

The effectiveness of a prefabricated earth drain installed in a generally vertical manner in soil is improved for enhancing the expelling of pore water from the soil to the surface. The soil surrounding the earth drain is hydraulically fractured either while the drain is in place or while the earth drain is being installed. Propping agents may also be supplied to the surrounding soil after hydraulic fracturing for propping fractures in the soil to maintain continuous flow to the drain. Radially extending fissures may also be formed in the surrounding soil either mechanically or through the use of hydraulic jetting and a propping agent is supplied to these fissures either in the form of particulate material or a continuous ribbon of porous filter fabric.

Method and apparatus for enhancement of prefabricated earth drains

A vertical prefabricated composite drain for improving conventional consolidated acceleration of saturated soils. The composite drain is installed in a generally vertical manner in water saturated soil to be treated for expelling pore water from the soil and is provided with an elongated core with at least one channel therealong for conveying fluids and is also provided with filter fabric which surrounds the core. At least one elongated tube is installed in juxtaposition and coextension with the drain core and fluid under pressure is forced through the tube for thereby assisting an expulsion of pore water from the drain.

Method and apparatus for enhancement of prefabricated composite vertical drains

Apparatus for inserting flexible members such as tie-back anchors for slope stabilization or prefabricated vertical drains into underlying earth which includes an articulatable mast to be arranged with a generally upright extent above the underlying earth. An elongated earth penetrating tube or mandrel is carried by the mast for guided movement therealong and for receiving a flexible member for movement with the mandrel to insert the flexible members into the underlying earth. A drive is mounted on the mast and engaged with this mandrel for driving the mandrel into and out of the underlying earth. A vibrator assembly is mounted for imparting vibrations to the mandrel to assist movement of the mandrel in underlying earth when a vibrator is energized. The vibrator assembly includes a circular gear mounted for concentric rotation on an axis and supported for rotation about its axis on a frame carried by the vibrator. This gear is meshed with a gear rack on the mandrel for imparting vibrations to the mandrel through the gear and a flywheel mass is engaged with this gear for simultaneous rotation therewith to impart increased rotational mass momentum to the gear.

Apparatus for inserting flexible members into the earth

A prefabricated vertical earth drain which is provided with an elongated corrugated flexible plastic core sheet with vertical and horizontal dimensions of extension and horizontal corrugations which provide continuous longitudinally extending drain channels that extend in the vertical direction. These drain channels are defined with curved corrugation bends and a series of longitudinally spaced relief protrusions are provided in the channels. In use, the entire structure is surrounded with a filter fabric. The relief protrusions assist in preventing the protrusion of filter fabric into the drain channels.

Prefabricated vertical earth drain with relief protrusions

A vibrator for vibrating an object. The vibrator is provided with a rotary housing mounted on a frame for rotation about an axis. Multiple rotary eccentric masses are mounted at equally spaced intervals in this housing about the housing axis and they are mounted for rotation on their respective axes which are parallel to the housing axis. A rotary drive is connected for simultaneously rotating the eccentric masses in the same direction and in synchronism such that all masses are directed simultaneously to their inner most and their outer most positions of movement relative to the housing axis. This generates a force moment about the housing axis which rotatably oscillates the housing.

Vibrator having a rotating and oscillating housing

A prefabricated composite vertical earth drain which has an elongated corrugated flexible plastic core sheet with horizontal corrugations that provide continuous longitudinally extending drain channels. Desired longitudinally extending surfaces of these drain channels are provided with a series of closely spaced reliefs for inhibiting tendencies of the core to horizontally bend and fold or collapse, thereby pinching off the vertical drain channels.

Prefabricated vertical earth drain and method of making the same

Liquefiable soil is treated for earthquake liquefaction protection prior to erecting a building structure or work. A plurality of substantially vertical prefabricated drains are positioned at spaced intervals in the liquefiable soil and a reservoir is provided and adapted for draining off water which is expelled from the drains during an earthquake. The drains are generally comprised of an elongated plastic core material providing channels for channeling water off or therealong and this core is sometimes or selectively surrounded by a filter fabric as required to provide a composite drain.

Apparatus and method for liquefaction remediation of liquefiable soils

Apparatus for inserting prefabricated drain members downwardly into underlying earth which includes a vertically extending mast that supports an elongated earth penetrating mandrel. The mandrel is adapted to receive a prefabricated drain member for movement with the mandrel down into the earth to insert drain members. A drive is mounted on the mast for driving the mandrel into and out of the underlying earth and the drive includes a rotary drive gear that engages the mandrel and a motor for driving the gear. A vibrator is mounted on the upper end of the mandrel for imparting vibrations to assist in its penetration into the earth. A flexible torsion drive coupler couples the motor to the drive gear for driving the drive gear and for also isolating the motor and the mast from vibrations imparted to the mandrel by the vibrator.

Apparatus for inserting prefabricated vertical drains into the earth

Apparatus for inserting an elongated flexible prefabricated vertical (PV) drain downwardly into the earth. The apparatus includes a vertical mast having a lower standard mast base and a lightweight extra long mast extension. A vehicle supports the mast from its mast base in order to raise and lower the mast to and from vertical and to otherwise manipulate and transport the mast in a conventional manner. A longitudinal chamber extends for the entire length of the mast and carries therein an earth penetrating tube for vertical movement. This earth penetrating tube also has a passage therethrough for receiving the elongated flexible PV drain for movement with this insertion tube down into the earth when driven therein. The mast extension includes a series of axially aligned extension tubes constructed of light weight material and removably connected together end to end, and a combination spar and guy mechanism is utilized for supporting this long mast extension from the relatively short mast base. The elongated flexible PV drain is fed up the mast through a feed tube, over the top of the mast and back down through the internal passage of this earth penetrating tube. This entire combined passage way is made substantially air tight so that a feed line may be blown therethrough with compressed air assistance in order to provide a feed line for pulling a new elongated flexible PV drain through the passage.

Compacted granular or stone columns are constructed in soil to increase the load-bearing capacities of the native soil. An elongated hollow tubular member is penetrated down into the soil to a predetermined depth and then the granular material or stone for constructing the column is fed down through this member and out the lower end thereof where it is then driven outwardly in a radial direction by an impeller which is exposed, at least in part, at the lower end of the tubular member, as the hollow tubular member is either penetrating or being withdrawn from the soil at a predetermined rate to thereby forceably compact this granular or stone material in a substantially radial direction to construct a stone column. Sufficient forces may be applied by the impeller to the granular or stone material to fracture the surrounding soil.

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Leesburg, VA, United States of America

R Robert Goughnour