Abstract: The apparatus (10) is a weighted body (12). The first regions (20) taper at a first taper angle, such as 5°. Second regions (22) taper at a greater angle, such as 60°. The ground is compacted by dropping the apparatus (10) on the ground, so that the nose (18) penetrates the ground. The relatively low taper angle of the first regions (20) tends to result in deeper penetration. The relatively high taper angle of the regions (22) tends to create some bounce on impact, helping to free any tendency for the first regions (20) to stick. The second regions (22) also create greater downward compaction.

Abstract: A drill head has a domed leading face and carries cutting teeth. A tubular drill string can be used to drive the head into the ground. An off-center aperture communicates with the bore of the string, by means of a connecting passage, which defines an oblique cone. During drilling, a flushing medium can be pumped down the bore and out through the aperture. As the drill string and head are withdrawn, an elongate member can be introduced down the bore, out through the aperture, to be left in the passage drilled by the head. The form of the mouths and connecting passage avoid the elongate member encountering any discontinuities which would prevent it leaving the head. The elongate member could be reinforcing bar for a cast-in-situ pile, or part of a ground loop for a ground heat energy system.

Abstract: An article (10) is used in forming a pile. The article (10) has at least one helical flight (12) and a core (14). The helical pitch p is no less than four times the diameter D of the flight. The driving force on the article (10) to drive the article (10) into the ground (34) can be substantially vertical while the article (10) is free to rotate. Settable material (40) can be introduced through the core (14) of the article (10) as it is removed to form a pile. The article (10) can be used as a pre-formed pile and be left in the ground. Torque can be applied to the article (10) to form an augered region (46) at the surface of the ground (34) as protection against heave.

Abstract: An actuator (20) includes an attachment arrangement (30) for attachment to an item to be driven, such as a pile (12) and a vibrator arrangement using a vibrator (32) and plate (34). A suspension arrangement (38) is provided by which the attachment arrangement (30) can be supported on a carriage (36). The attachment arrangement (30) isolates the carriage (36) from vibration created by the vibrator (32) and the isolation characteristics are tunable.

Abstract: A heat exchanger 10 is for use in a geothermal energy system for a building 12, for heating and/or cooling. The exchanger 10 has a flask member 14 which defines a chamber 16 for heat exchange fluid. A supply conduit 22 supplies heat exchange fluid to a first port of the chamber 16, from ground level. An exhaust conduit 26 removes heat exchange fluid from a second port 28. The flow direction can be reversed. A pipe 30 extends from the inlet port 24 to an intermediate position 32, generally at the bottom of the chamber, whereas the outlet port 28 is generally at the top of the chamber. Accordingly, fluid entering the chamber must pass down to the bottom of the chamber, before leaving the pipe 30 and then flowing back up the chamber to the outlet port 28.

Abstract: A drill head is domed at and carries cutting teeth. A tubular drill string can be used to drive the head into the ground. An off-center aperture communicates with the bore of the string, by means of a connecting passage, which defines an oblique cone. During drilling, a flushing medium can be pumped down the bore and out through the aperture. As the drill string and head are withdrawn, an elongate member can be introduced down the bore, out through the aperture, to be left in the passage drilled by the head. The form of the mouths and connecting passage avoid the elongate member encountering any discontinuities which would prevent it leaving the head, as described. The elongate member could be reinforcing bar for a cast-in-situ pile, or part of a ground loop for a ground heat energy system.

Abstract: A beam member 20 is formed from two channel members 10 and a series of spaced diaphragm members 22. Alternative arrangements include diaphragm members external of the channel members, and the use of continuous diaphragm members. Spaces 33 between diaphragm members 22 may be filled with material such as a foam, an insulator or the like. Services such as pipes or wiring may be provided through apertures 47 formed in the diaphragm members 22.

Abstract: A connector for connecting elongate members, such as pile sections, in an end-to-end relationship. A housing is fitted to each end of a reinforcing bar in the elongate member. The housing has a first attachment socket at one end, the first attachment socket having an internal thread for accommodating helical protrusions formed on an outer surface of a standard reinforcing bar. A second attachment socket having a circular cross section is provided at the other end of the housing. Protrusions having a saw tooth cross section project inwardly from the second socket walls. The connector also includes an initially separate joining member which comprises a hollow cylinder having a short central portion with no protrusions therefrom and serrated sections extending from each end thereof, each having protrusions of a configuration corresponding to the configuration of the protrusions from the second attachment socket.

Abstract: A ground treatment device (10) is weighted to provide ground treatment by dropping the device onto the ground. The device (10) has a relatively narrow nose (12) which provides, in use, the point of first contact with the ground. The device widens away from the nose (12), over a portion (14). A clevis arrangement (16) allows the device (10) to hang from a cable (18), to allow the device (10) to be raised by a crane, before dropping. A shoulder (22) projects outwardly and allows calibrated measurement of the degree of compaction achieved in the ground. Variations of the device (10) are described, together with apparatus for use in lifting and dropping the device, and methods of using the device.

Abstract: A connector for connecting elongate members, such as pile sections, in an end-toend relationship. A housing is fitted to each end of a reinforcing bar in the elongate member. The housing has a first attachment socket at one end, the first attachment socket having an internal thread for accommodating helical protrusions formed on an outer surface of a standard reinforcing bar. A second attachment socket having a circular cross section is provided at the other end of the housing. Protrusions having a saw tooth cross section project inwardly from the second socket walls. The connector also includes an initially separate joining member which comprises a hollow cylinder having a short central portion with no protrusions therefrom and serrated sections extending from each end thereof, each having protrusions of a configuration corresponding to the configuration of the protrusions from the second attachment socket.

Abstract: A pile for driving into the ground to provide support for a structure is elongate and is substantially rectangular in cross-section when viewed along its length. The ratio of the side lengths in cross-section may be 2:1 or greater, or may be 3:1 or greater. The pile is preferably formed of concrete and is preferably formed by extrusion. The pile preferably comprises at least one cavity running lengthwise along and within the pile, and preferably comprises at least one reinforcing bar running lengthwise along and within the pile. The arrangement of the cavities and/or reinforcing bars is preferably symmetrical about the central axis of the pile.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming a pile in the ground has an elongate member (12, 112), at least one helical thread flight (16, 116) on the elongate member (12, 112), and a torque transmission device (24, 124) to transmit torque from a drive structure to the elongate member (12, 112) and the at least one helical thread flight (16, 116) thereon. The outer diameter of the transmission device is greater than the outer diameter of the elongate member so that the apparatus can be inserted into the ground through a frustoconical depression (50) in the ground by rotating the torque transmission device (24, 124) in a first direction, and upon the reversal of the direction of rotation, a hole is left in the ground with a diameter which is the same as that of the transmission device, and with helical grooves of substantially the same shape as the at least one helical thread flight (16, 116).

Abstract: A structural beam has a generally T-shaped cross-sectional profile with a column portion and a capital portion. The capital portion has a top surface and downwardly and inwardly converging sidewalls, while the column portion has downwardly and inwardly converging sidewalls and a bottom surface, with the rate of convergence of the capital portion being greater than the rate of convergence of the column portion. Such beam can be employed as a floor beam in a flooring system for a building structure, wherein the ends of a plurality of such floor beams are supported by the inner flanges on opposed foundation beams having an inverted T-shaped profile. The foundation beams can be positioned end-to-end to form shuttering for an in situ cast concrete slab. A layer of a thermal insulating material can be positioned on top of the floor beams, and a concrete slab can be cast on top of the insulating layer such that the top of the concrete slab is no higher than the top of the foundation beams.

Abstract: A pre-cast reinforced concrete structural beam comprises an upstanding web (136) and at least an inwardly directed flange (138) at the base of the web, the face of the web which is innermost in use and/or the upper face of the flange having surface irregularities (236,140) formed therein into which a cast in situ floor slab can penetrate to form a mechanical lock with the beam.

Abstract: A pile (18) has a preformed disc-like load spreading member (34) fixed to its upper end after the pile (18) has been driven into the ground. A recess (16) is formed around the top of the pile and can be filled with particulate material (22) to position the load spreading member (34) while a bonding agent (23) fixing the load spreading member (34) to the pile (18) sets. A downwardly converging hollow concrete conical member (40), driven into the ground, has a cover (46) placed thereon to distribute the load to the conical member (40). A pile (56) can be driven through the hollow chamber of the conical member (40) and fixed to the conical member (40) by pouring concrete into the chamber after the pile (56) has been driven.

Abstract: A cast in situ pile (12, 112) has a pile cap assembly (14, 114), comprising a plate (16, 116) with fixing bolts (18, 118) extending upwardly therefrom and at least one tube (28, 128) extending downwardly therefrom. The pile cap assembly is fitted to the pile prior to the concrete setting, whereby the pile cap assembly can be moved relative to the unset pile to achieve optimum positional accuracy.

Abstract: A method of driving a sectional hollow concrete pile comprises applying a direct driving force to the upper end of a first pile section and driving it into the ground. Thereafter, a second similar pile section is applied to the top of the first driven pile section and the composite sectional pile is driven to the required depth. Further, similar sections may be applied one on top of the other and the composite pile thereby formed after the application of each further pile section is driven to the required depth.

Abstract: A building method is provided that avoids the use of the traditional excavated foundation. The method comprises placing primary support members (10) into the ground in which the structure is to be built at predetermined intervals, spanning the gap between support members (10) by pre-cast reinforced concrete beams (14) of generally inverted T-shape and predetermined length and building, for example, a double skin wall (42, 44) on the outer flange (22) and top of the beam while the inner flange (22) supports a floor slab of beams (40) blocks (46) and screed (48) and abuts the inner face (31) of the upright of the beam to resist inward lateral movement thereof.

Abstract: A method of forming a pile comprises driving a pile forming member (12, 40, 140) into the ground to a predetermined depth to form a passage of non-circular cross-section, preferably a circular cross-section (42) with fins (56) radiating therefrom, and while withdrawing the member (12, 40, 140) from the passage filling the passage with cementitious material so that then this material sets a pile if formed in the passage.

Abstract: A method of forming a pile and a method for supporting a building structure by utilizing a pile so formed comprises driving a pile casing (19), with an enlargement (24) near its leading end (20) to a desired depth and supplying under pressure a settable mixture through the top of the casing so that it flows through apertures (26) at the enlargement to fill the oversize hole left by the enlargement around the casing. The casing can be driven through a hole formed in the building structure to be supported and the settable mixture may flow up the pile casing to fill a void under the structure.