Abstract: A method of constructing a voided drilled shaft concrete structure is provided. Drilled shafts are large-diameter cast-in-place concrete structures that can generate extremely high temperatures during the concrete hydration/curing phase. The method includes creating an excavation, inserting a cage or an inner casing into the excavation, and filling with concrete the space between the outer surface of the cage or inner surface and the inner surface of the excavation.

Abstract: Provided is a method for enhancing an adhesive bond between a pile and a resin adhesive by maintaining a constant uniform positive pressure of the entire wrapped region regardless of the shrinkage in the resin adhesive. This invention enhances underwater adhesive bond by ensuring proper contact while curing. In one embodiment, constant inward pressure is created by encapsulating the repair and applying a vacuum. The invention can be used for a variety of underwater applications using different resins and different substrate materials. For instance, the invention could be used to repair damaged critical infrastructure, e.g. Bridges, dams, pipelines and locks. Local, state and federal agencies in US and elsewhere as well as marine and naval contractors would find great utility with the invention. The concept could be extended to all adhesion dependent repairs.

Abstract: A method for increasing stiffness of bearing strata formed of soil, rock or other geomaterial includes the steps of injecting non-hardening pre-compression fluids, in the form of viscous non-hardening slurries that are pressurized beneath a foundation tip for extended periods of time, into the bearing strata to cause pre-compression of the bearing strata. This enhances end bearing capacity in poorly draining soils by providing more time to squeeze water from voids in the poorly draining soils. The bearing strata may also be mechanically pre-compressed. The non-hardening pre-compression fluids may be exchanged with grout to fill a void formed by cavity expansion and previously occupied by the non-hardening, pre-compression fluid. This grout is cured without external additional pressure. Grout may be used in lieu of non hardening pre-compression fluids to affect end bearing enhancement provided that external additional pressure is not applied to the grout while it cures.

Abstract: A method for increasing stiffness of bearing strata formed of soil, rock or other geomaterial includes the steps of injecting non-hardening pre-compression fluids, in the form of viscous non-hardening slurries that are pressurized beneath a foundation tip for extended periods of time, into the bearing strata to cause pre-compression of the bearing strata. This enhances end bearing capacity in poorly draining soils by providing more time to squeeze water from voids in the poorly draining soils. The bearing strata may also be mechanically pre-compressed. The non-hardening pre-compression fluids may be exchanged with grout to fill a void formed by cavity expansion and previously occupied by the non-hardening, pre-compression fluid. This grout is cured without external additional pressure. Grout may be used in lieu of non hardening pre-compression fluids to affect end bearing enhancement provided that external additional pressure is not applied to the grout while it cures.

Abstract: A method of constructing a voided drilled shaft concrete structure is provided. Drilled shafts are large-diameter cast-in-place concrete structures that can generate extremely high temperatures during the concrete hydration/curing phase. When this temperature exceeds safe limits, the concrete does not cure correctly and will ultimately degrade. Minimizing the peak temperature (and the associated defects) can be undertaken by casting the shafts without concrete in the core (forming a void) thereby removing a large amount of energy producing material in a region that is least likely to benefit the structural capacity and that is less able to dissipate the associated core temperatures due to the presence of the more peripheral concrete.

Abstract: Provided is a method for enhancing an adhesive bond between a pile and a resin adhesive by maintaining a constant uniform positive pressure of the entire wrapped region regardless of the shrinkage in the resin adhesive. This invention enhances underwater adhesive bond by ensuring proper contact while curing. In one embodiment, constant inward pressure is created by encapsulating the repair and applying a vacuum. The invention can be used for a variety of underwater applications using different resins and different substrate materials. For instance, the invention could be used to repair damaged critical infrastructure, e.g. Bridges, dams, pipelines and locks. Local, state and federal agencies in US and elsewhere as well as marine and naval contractors would find great utility with the invention. The concept could be extended to all adhesion dependent repairs.