Abstract: An improved system is provided for preventing erosion of a bluff or hillside having a face extending between a toe at a bottom thereof and a crest at a top surface thereof, a water saturated zone extending rearwardly from the face, and a failure shear plane. The bluff or hillside is subject to excess water accumulation contributing to land mass degradation. The invention is improved by at least one drain member or wicking drain positioned behind the failure shear plane and extending downwardly and forwardly only along a single radius towards the face of the bluff and through the water saturated zone between the top surface of the bluff and the face of the bluff for the purpose of controlling drainage of the excess water accumulation. The drain member or wicking drain is installed from the top surface of the bluff or hillside so as not to impair the structural integrity and cause land mass degradation of the face thereof.

Abstract: A system is provided for preventing erosion of a bluff or hillside having a face extending between a toe at a bottom thereof and a crest at a top surface thereof, and a failure shear plane. The bluff or hillside is subject to excess water accumulation contributing to land mass degradation. The invention is improved by at least one horizontal wick drain positioned behind the failure shear plane in a water saturated zone substantially parallel to the crest of the bluff or hillside for the purpose of controlling drainage of the excess water accumulation. The horizontal wick drain is installed from the top surface of the bluff or hillside so as not to impair the structural integrity and cause land mass degradation of the face thereof.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a pile including an elongate member having a front surface, a back surface and a lower end portion adapted to be driven into the earth. A rigid plate is transversely affixed on the lower end portion of the elongate member. When the elongate member is driven generally upright into the earth, the plate extends through the earth in a direction generally perpendicular to lateral forces acting on the front or back surface of the elongate member. The pile can be used as an upright support member for an earth embankment wall.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of constructing a pile supported pier comprising the steps of sinking a plurality of piles in general alignment, movably locating on each of the piles a cross support, transversely aligning the cross supports with one another, fixing the aligned cross supports to the respective piles in aligned position, and attaching a prefabricated deck assembly to the cross supports.