Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming cemented ground support columns is disclosed. Namely, driving mandrels are provided for the efficient construction of incrementally enlarged diameter support columns. For example, the driving mandrel includes a feed tube that has a top portion and an expansion head portion. The expansion head portion further includes an expansion (or compaction) chamber and a flexible tubular egress port. Further, construction methods are provided of using the driving mandrels for the efficient construction of incrementally enlarged diameter support columns.

Abstract: The rapid consolidation and compaction method comprises (i) first driving a hollow pipe, (ii) driving a pipe with a removable end plate after filling and compacting the sandy material in it, through the hollow pipe, to required depth, creating high excess pore-water pressures in the range of 50 to 300 KPa in clayey soils, (iv) pulling out the pipe section leaving behind the removable end plate and thereby installing porous displacement piles which allows dissipation of the excess pore-water pressures horizontally to the porous displacement pile, in which the excess water flows out vertically to the ground surface, and (v) the length of the drainage path is reduced to half the spacing between adjoining porous displacement piles, allowing rapid consolidation resulting in increase in density. Installing the porous displacement piles in the layer of loose to medium dense sand layer results in the instantaneous increase in its density.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for compacting soil and granular materials. The soil compaction apparatuses include an arrangement of diametric expansion elements that, in their expanded state, form a larger compaction surface. In another embodiment, a compaction chamber can be provided with diametric restriction elements and a flow-through passage in the upper portion of the chamber exterior of a drive shaft. The diametric expansion or restriction elements can be fabricated from, for example, individual chains, cables, or wire rope, or a lattice of vertically and horizontally connected chains, cables, or wire rope. Embodiments of the soil compaction apparatus include, but are not limited to, closed-ended driving shafts, open-ended driving shafts, flow-through passages, no flow-through passages, removable rings for holding the diametric expansion/restriction elements, and any combinations thereof.

Abstract: Extensible shells and related methods for constructing a support pier are disclosed. An extensible shell can define an interior for holding granular construction material and define a first opening at a first end for receiving the granular construction material into the interior and a second opening at a second end. The extensible shell can be flexible such that the shell expands when granular construction material is compacted in the interior of the shell. A method may include positioning the extensible shell in the ground and filling at least a portion of the interior of the shell with the granular construction material. The granular construction material may be compacted in the interior of the extensible shell to form a support pier.

Abstract: A self-drilling differential grouting combined bolt and method of anchoring the same are described. The bolt consists essentially of a drill (1), a grouting pipe (2), a spindle (3), a bolt head mechanism and a bolt tail mechanism, wherein the bolt head mechanism comprises a fixed ring (4), a slip ring (7), a limiting pipe (6) and several pairs of driven linkages (501) and driving linkages (502); and the bolt tail mechanism comprises a bolt disc (11), a connecting cap (12), a spring (13) and a nut (14). The method of anchoring includes the steps of hole drilling, hole expanding at inner anchor end, differential grouting rock bolt fastening.

Abstract: Performing post-grouting of a drilled shaft includes forming the drilled shaft using a plurality of hollow rebar tubes, where each of at least one pair of hollow rebar tubes has a central longitudinal opening, coupling the at least one pair of hollow rebar tubes to a grout delivery mechanism disposed below the shaft, and providing grout to the grout delivery system through the at least one pair of hollow rebar tubes. Each of the at least one pair of hollow rebar tubes may include threads or ridges that eliminate debonding of the hollow rebar tubes from concrete of the drilled shaft. The hollow rebar tubes may be TITAN 52/26, TITAN 73/53 and/or TITAN 73/56 hollow threaded rebar. Each of the at least one pair of hollow rebar tubes may further provide structural reinforcement of the drilled shaft. The grout delivery mechanism may include a perforated pipe.

Abstract: The present invention enables easy construction of a foundation pile having a rigid structure even at a site where a pile produced in a factory cannot be brought in. The tube 1 having a forming material filling port 1a at a top end and a closed bottom 1b at a bottom end is set in a suspended state, and foundation pile forming material 4 is filled from the forming material filling port 1a into the tube 1 in the suspended state. A composite foundation pile 5 in which the tube 1 and the filled forming material 4 are integrated is formed, and the composite foundation pile 5 is driven into the ground 13 or inserted into a borehole 12 formed on the ground 13.

Abstract: A pile to be inserted into a beforehand excavated hole, includes a main body being comprised of a hollow pipe, a circular bottom plate fixed at a lower end of the main body coaxially with the main body, a through-hole being formed therethrough outside of the main body, a hollow test pipe having an outer diameter such that the test pipe can be detachably inserted into the through-hole, and a cap being attached to a lower surface of the bottom plate so as to close the through-hole, S1:S2=W1:W2, wherein S1 indicates a surface area of the bottom plate, S2 indicates a surface area of the cap, W1 indicates a weight of a second drop hammer to fall in the main body, and W2 indicates a weight of the first drop hammer.

Abstract: Extensible shells and related methods for constructing a support pier are disclosed. An extensible shell can define an interior for holding granular construction material and define a first opening at a first end for receiving the granular construction material into the interior and a second opening at a second end. The extensible shell can be flexible such that the shell expands when granular construction material is compacted in the interior of the shell. A method may include positioning the extensible shell in the ground and filling at least a portion of the interior of the shell with the granular construction material. The granular construction material may be compacted in the interior of the extensible shell to form a support pier.

Abstract: Provided is a method for burying a precast pile in which a borehole and a buried precast pile are strongly integrated, the end bearing capacity and the circumferential frictional force of the precast pile are increased, and the extraction resistance strength thereof is improved. Provided is a method for burying a precast pile in which a foaming agent having an expanding effect is added to the cement milk or mortar in advance, whereby the soil cement formed around the base of the precast pile in the borehole is caused to expand.

Abstract: A Smart Caisson incorporates an expandable balloon-like body at depth under the base of a vertical piling or foundation member. The self-expanding balloon footing counteracts soil erosion by expanding to fill areas of soil recession. A pipe or through-hole in the vertical piling admits surface rainwater into the balloon footing at the same time the rainwater is contributing to sub-surface erosion. Users can actively pump water downward through the piling through-hole to fill the balloon footing during times of low rainfall or following short-duration erosion events, such as earthquakes. The through-holes are designed to capably admit cement, concrete and other fill materials without clogging or corroding. A metal mesh surrounding the balloon footing expands with the balloon, providing structure and a matrix to trap and hold shifted sub-surface earthen material and concrete previously pumped into the balloon footing. An array of sensors warns the user of sub-surface soil conditions.

Abstract: An in-situ roller compacted concrete testing sampler assembly is provided. The testing sampler assembly includes a first tube and a second tube. The second tube is configured to contain a roller compacted sample. The first tube and the second tube are configured to be placed in a loose roller compacted concrete lift for a construction site, and compacted simultaneously during the compaction of the loose roller compacted concrete lift. The second tube is configure to move with respect to the first tube to compact the roller compacted sample during compaction of the loose roller compacted concrete lift.

Abstract: A knock-out plug having sections held together by a hinge along the top side. The knock-out plug can bend or fold along a crease in the bottom side when force is applied to the top side, or hinge side, of the plug. Conversely, force applied to the bottom side and peripheral wall of the knock-out plug tends to hold the sections together. When placed into the opening in an HSA, the edge of the opening and force of the soil against the bottom side during drilling keeps the plug in place and the sections intact. When desired, the knock-out plug can be hit or pounded on the top side, through the HSA channel which causes the plug to fold or bend and be released easily from the opening.

Abstract: Tip-grouting tools may include at least one inlet, an outlet in communication with the at least one inlet, and a distribution material defining a tortuous path between the at least one inlet and the outlet. The distribution material may be configured to distribute at least one of pressure, mass, and flow of grouting material across the outlet.

Abstract: Extensible shells and related methods for constructing a support pier are disclosed. A shell can define an interior for holding granular construction material and define an opening for receiving the granular construction material into the interior. The shell can be flexible such that the shell expands when granular construction material is compacted in the interior of the shell. A method may include positioning the shell in the ground and filling at least a portion of the interior of the shell with the granular construction material. The granular construction material may be compacted in the interior of the shell to form a support pier.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for establishing and securing a foundation in a substrate. For example, in one embodiment, a pump conveys a first fluid (e.g., water) through a pile member to produce an elongate opening in a substrate, which allows the pile member to be advanced into the substrate. After the pile member has been advanced into the elongate opening in the substrate, a second fluid (e.g., fluidized concrete) is conveyed out of openings on the side (and the bottom) of the pile member to substantially secure the pile member in the elongate opening defined in the substrate.

Abstract: There is provided a method for drilling a cased hole and installing a geothermal transfer apparatus. A sonic drilling apparatus is positioned at a desired location. The sonic drilling apparatus includes a rotating and vibrating apparatus for rotating and vibrating a drill string into the ground. A retrievable drill bit is operatively connected to the drill string. The cased hole is drilled to a desired depth by rotating and vibrating the drill string into the ground. The retrievable drill bit is retrieved from the cased hole following the drilling of the cased hole to the desired depth. A geothermal transfer apparatus is lowered into the cased hole following the retrieval of the retrievable drill bit. Grouting material may be discharged into the cased hole before or after the drill string is removed from the ground.

Abstract: A temporary casing is disclosed. The casing includes a primary portion capable of being driven into the ground and comprising a hollow portion wherein soil may be removed from within the primary casing portion, a detachable portion, also being capable of being driven into the ground and comprising a hollow portion wherein soil may be removed from within the detachable portion, a connection means for connecting the primary casing to the detachable portion such that the connection means enables the transfer of the driving force applied to the primary casing portion to the detachable portion in order to drive the detachable portion into the ground in association with the primary casing portion, wherein the connection means causes the detachable portion to detach from the primary portion when a threshold force is applied to the connection means and allows retrieval of at least the primary portion.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for establishing and securing a foundation in a substrate. For example, in one embodiment, a pump conveys a first fluid (e.g., water) through a pile member to produce an elongate opening in a substrate, which allows the pile member to be advanced into the substrate. After the pile member has been advanced into the elongate opening in the substrate, a second fluid (e.g., fluidized concrete) is conveyed out of openings on the side (and the bottom) of the pile member to substantially secure the pile member in the elongate opening defined in the substrate.

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: Vertical segmented support and media consolidation plates swingably mounted about pivot points on the vertical segmented support, incorporate media-facing surfaces swingable outwardly from the vertical support means into the surrounding media. Varying segmented lengths form the segmented vertical segmented support. The novel segmented apparatus and installation method further provide for a centering collar 113, an anchor positioning means at level force pivoting plates 194, and pivoting plates 194 positioned 40-50 degrees from vertical. A frusto-cone 197 dx equal to a predetermined distance of one-half inch forms gap 204. The novel method installs an anchor and foundation device in the earth by preparing a hole in the earth, lowering into the hole a segmented anchor or foundation device having swingable media facing plates, and applying force to swing the plates outwardly into the surrounding media.

Abstract: A construction process for the composite pile foundation which consists of the expanded belled base and the pile shaft, the construction process comprising the steps of: a) Aligning the pile tip at the pile location and place the casing at the top of the pile tip; b) Lifting the heavy hammer to enter the casing, repeatedly lift the heavy hammer to reach the given height and back press the casing, let it fall freely to ram the pile tip and the soil until a hole forms at the pile location; c) Lifting the heavy hammer higher than the feed inlet of the casing and fill solid material from the inlet into the casing; d) Ramming the above-mentioned solid material and repeat the filling and ramming operations; e) Controlling the penetration of the last three blows; f) Filling graded aggregate or stiff consistency concrete and repeatedly ram it to form the expanded belled base; g) pull out the casing; h) Aligning the pile shaft at the pile hole and repeatedly back press and blow slightly with the heavy hammer to drive

Abstract: Apparatus and an associated method for forming a pier in a soil matrix includes a hollow tube with a restricted expansion section connected to and adjacent a soil penetrating bottom head element which is configured to facilitate discharge of pier forming material such as grout. An expansion device in the form of an expandable bladder or expandable mechanical device is positioned along a section of the length of the restricted expansion section. The hollow tube structure is inserted into a soil matrix with the expansion device in the retracted condition. Subsequently, the expansion device is expanded to enlarge the formed cavity in the soil matrix. Then grout or other pier forming material is injected into the cavity as the expansion device is retracted or deflated and as the hollow tube structure is raised incrementally to form a pier with one or more uniquely shaped lifts.

Abstract: The present application relates to a tool having a cutting apparatus for enlarging a portion of an underground pile shaft. The tool is provided with a collecting device which is disposed below the cutting means in order that spoil generated when performing a cutting action on ground material surrounding the pile shaft can be collected. The size of the collecting device is adjustable thereby allowing the volume of spoil which may be accommodated by the collecting means to be varied. A compacting mechanism for compressing the spoil collected in the collecting device may also be provided for reducing the volume of the spoil.

Abstract: A process to make in-situ pilings comprised of soil, cement, lime and water, the pilings being bodies of revolution formed by rotating a mixer-cutter blade whose cutting diameter is selectably adjustable, preferably on a running basis so as to have the capability of producing piling with a diameter that differs from station to station.

Abstract: A screw pier has an elongated shaft with a screw adjacent one end thereof. Soil displacing members are disposed on the shaft. The soil displacing members may be drawn through soil by turning the screw. A soil displacing member closer to the screw may be smaller than one or more soil displacing members farther from the screw. A driving tool may be provided for turning the screw.

Abstract: A screw pier has an elongated shaft with a screw adjacent one end thereof. Soil displacing members are disposed on the shaft. The soil displacing members may be drawn through soil by turning the screw. A soil displacing member closer to the screw may be smaller than one or more soil displacing members farther from the screw. A driving tool may be provided for turning the screw.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for installing a pile or load-bearing element into soft ground, wherein a non-percussive force, rather than a percussive force such as that applied by a hammer or a jack, is applied to the top of a hole-forming tool or pile (1) so as to push the hole-forming tool or pile (1) in a substantially continuous motion to a first depth into the ground, and wherein the hole-forming tool or pile (1) is then pushed in a non-percussive manner to a second depth while being simultaneously rotated. A cast-in-situ pile is formed in soft ground by pushing a hole-forming tool (1) provided with fins (3) at its base into the ground. Once the required level has been reached, the hole-forming tool (1) is rotated and concrete or grout is pumped through the body of the hole-forming tool so as concomitantly to help displace and replace the soil swept away by the fins (3).

Abstract: Methods for augmenting the load bearing characteristics of short aggregate piers include preloading matrix soils, adding chemical additives to matrix soils and using mesh reinforcement in matrix soils and in cooperation with the aggregate lifts associated with pier constructions. Methods for expanding the feasibility of short aggregate piers include the use of gradations of aggregate, reducing friction between the short aggregate pier and adjacent matrix soils using liners or lubricating materials, controlling liquefaction by employing aggregate drains in short aggregate pier constructions, the use of non-impact forces alone or in conjunction with vibratory forces in construction short aggregate pier lifts, and the use of indigenous materials in short aggregate pier constructions.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of monitoring the diameter of columns made in the ground by jet grouting. In the method, a measuring instrument is provided which is constituted by a tubular element of length substantially equal to the length of the column, said tubular element being fitted with a plurality of emission electrodes for creating an electric field, and with a plurality of measurement electrodes for measuring the resulting potential differences; a reference borehole is made in the ground; an axial borehole is made in the column to be tested; said measuring instrument is inserted in the borehole in said column and voltage measurements are performed at different depths; and said measurements are processed.

Abstract: A method for making piles and apparatus for practising the method of the invention are disclosed. The invention may be used to support the foundation of a structure, such as a building. The method draws one or more soil displacing members on a shaft down through a body of soil by turning a screw at the lower end of the shaft. The soil displacing members force soil out of a cylindrical region around the shaft. The cylindrical region is filled with grout to encapsulate and strengthen the shaft. The grout may be fed by gravity from a bath of grout around the shaft. The methods of the invention may be used to make stepped piers at much lower cost than existing methods. The invention provides methods for coating the screw portion of a screw pier with grout to protect the screw from the action of corrosive soils and to reinforce helical screws.

Abstract: An intelligent multi-functional hydraulic expanding apparatus includes a hydraulic expanding head, an automatic control hydraulic center, and a depth measuring system. The expanding head includes a hydraulic positioning device, an automatic hydraulic revolving device, a bi-directional cylinder uni-directional pulling type cylinder, and expanding arms that are rigidly connected. As the expanding apparatus adopts steel rope connection, the automatic reviving device performs transfer of torque, multi-arm expanding arms are installed in the same circular cross-section with displacement sensors, computer, and depth measuring system, the present invention provides a solution to the drag problem, increasing efficiency of construction of concrete piles for various foundations of buildings, bridges and obtain pressure angles and depth values so as to improve quality of the construction project.

Abstract: A method of constructing foundation piles provides improved hole stability and bearing characteristics. A boring a hole is initially formed by drilling. A horizontal pressure is then applied to the inner walls of the hole over a vertical portion of predetermined height until a desired degree of compression is attained. Horizontal pressure is then applied over a subsequent vertical portion of an inner circumferential surface of the hole vertically adjacent to a vertical portion pressed in a preceding step of applying horizontal pressure. The steps of compression are continued until a contiguous vertical expanse of the hole is compressed to a desired degree. Alternatively, the depth of the hole may be increased sequentially following a compression operation, and the subsequently formed hole depth then horizontally compressed.

Abstract: An apparatus for consolidating earth and anchor setting device. The apparatus includes a vertical support, a plurality of spaced media consolidation plates swingably mounted to the vertical support, a rib disposed along a lower edge of respective ones of the consolidation plates and a bearing plate secured to the vertical support. The apparatus can be used to install a bearing and moment foundation having an upper surface, a lower surface and a converging side surface. The upper surface is adapted to receive a pushing force for pushing the foundation into the soil and the side surface adapted to contact the soil when a pushing force is applied to the upper surface. The anchoring device can also be used to install a pier foundation having a plug, an installation load bearing member, an installed load bearing member and a cap.

Abstract: A prefabricated form for molding a footing of a settable structural material at the bottom end of a tubular form for a structural pillar is disclosed. The form is preferably constructed from a thermoplastic such as a high density polyethylene or ABS and is molded as a single disposable unit. The form is bell-shaped and has a sidewall which is inclined at an angle of about 45.degree. to about 65.degree. with respect to the bottom edge. A top flange of the form is preferably adapted to accommodate two or more different diameters of the tubular form for the structural pillar. The sidewall may include integral ribs which open inwardly to facilitate evacuation of air as the form is filled and to lend rigidity to the sidewall to ensure that it will not collapse if earth is backfilled around the form before the form is filled with settable material.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for making piles and apparatus for practising the method. The piles may be used to support the foundation of a structure, such as a building. The method draws a soil displacer on a shaft down through a body of soil by turning a screw at the lower end of the shaft. The soil displacer forces soil out of a cylindrical region around the shaft. The cylindrical region is filled with grout to encapsulate and strengthen the shaft. The grout may be fed by gravity from a bath of grout around the shaft. The soil displacer has a diameter smaller than a diameter of the screw and may be a disk extending in a plane generally perpendicular to the shaft.

Abstract: The present invention is a cast-in-place foundation resist pile with substantially lateral extensions inexpensively formed before or after the cement has been poured into the pile hole excavation. In addition, the present invention preferably makes those lateral extensions of the foundation pile into at least one of the levels of soft soil where the pile hole excavation has been made in alternating levels or zones of relatively soft and hard soils.

Abstract: A method and apparatus used to increase the stiffness characteristic of soil to improve its ability to support a structures and to provide a tie-back anchoring force. The apparatus includes an anchor having helixes thereon is rotated into the ground. The helical anchor is hollow and includes multiple perforated holes along its length and about its perimeter. Once, the anchor is drilled into the ground, pressurized grout is injected therein. The grout is forced through the helical anchor and out through the perforated holes. The grout fills any voids along the sides of the anchor and stiffens the surrounding soil. Once the grout hardens, it may be used in a tie-back application or to support new and old construction or the like. The grout surrounding the anchor increases its lateral support and prevents deflection thereof.

Abstract: A modified ground for an underground water cut-off wall, landslide protection wall, or a foundation pile, etc., is formed in an earthen foundation by an excavator having at least one rotary shaft in accordance with the following method. The rotary shaft includes a bit on a lower end thereof and at least one nozzle for jetting a consolidating fluid which is disposed upwardly of the bit. The method comprises an excavating step for forming a hole in the earthen foundation and a withdrawing step of the rotary shaft from the hole. That is, in the excavating step, the rotary shaft is advanced into the earthen foundation to form therein the hole while rotating the rotary shaft without jetting the consolidating fluid from the nozzle until the hole is excavated to reach a predetermined depth.

Abstract: A modified ground, for example, an underground water cut-off wall, landslide protection wall, or the like, is formed in an earthen foundation with the use of an excavator having at least one rotary shaft. The rotary shaft comprises a bit provided at a bottom end thereof, a stirrer having an expandable stirring wing disposed upwardly of the bit, and at least one nozzle for jetting a consolidating fluid in a downwardly diagonal direction. The stirring wing is capable of selectively taking an expanded form and a reduced form to vary an outside diameter of the stirrer about the axis of the rotary shaft. The nozzle is disposed upwardly of the stirrer such that the consolidating fluid jetted from the nozzle collides with the stirring wing in the expanded form. In the present method, the rotary shaft is inserted at a predetermined depth in the earthen foundation to form a hole therein while keeping the stirring wing in the reduced form without jetting the consolidating fluid from the nozzle.

Abstract: A tubular piling pipe having a plurality of cantilevered perforations formed in the exterior wall of the pipe defined by individual bendable necks and carrying enlarged-in-cross section tabs at their free extremities to provide foundational support. The bendable necks have elastic limits such that an outward force of sufficient magnitude will permanently force the necks and respective tabs radially outward and into the surrounding soil such that the tabs define anchor fingers.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming a pile produces a predetermined pile diameter in a cast-in-place pile. The apparatus includes an agitating arrangement which includes a pipe extending longitudinally into the ground, a plurality of agitating blades supported by the pipe for agitating a settable mixture, and a plurality of nozzles respectively disposed on and supported by respective ones of the agitating blades. Each of the plurality of nozzles produces a directional jet flow of liquid. Also, an arrangement is provided for supplying liquid under pressure to each of the plurality of nozzles.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A method is provided for forming consolidated earth columns of cement grout or mortar, with reinforcement bars if required, e.g., for use in building foundations or in earth consolidation works in anchoring structures of excavation barriers, which significantly reduces the time taken to form the columns and improves productivity. The method includes the steps of injecting a consolidating grout when drilling into the earth. The drill may be left inside the column if a column with reinforcement bar is required. The plant to put the method into effect has a rotating joint manifold (6) at the upper end of the boring drill (11), equipped with tangentially arranged inlets which may be selectively inclined; and a group distributor body (15) placed at the lower end of the boring drill (11) above the boring tool that is equipped with grout flow devices.

Abstract: A drilling assembly (210) for in-situ cast piles has a drill stem (211) with a helical flyte (212). A drilling head (224), with teeth (225), and a belling tool (226), with retractable cutting tools (227) are mounted on, in driving engagement with, the non-circular shank (218) of a soil stabilization spear (214). The spear (214) drills a pilot hole in advance of the drilling head (224) and grout pumped down through the tubular body (215) of the spear (214) fills the cracks and fissures in the surrounding soil to stabilize the soil as the drilling assembly (210) is advanced. When the desired depth is reached, the rotation of the drilling assembly (210) is reversed and cutting tools (227) are extended to cut a "bell" or annular chamber around the hole. As the drill assembly (210) is withdrawn from the hole, grout pumped down the interior (230) of the stem (211) fills the hole to cast a pile in-situ, the increased diameter of the bottom of the pile, and the stabilized soil around it, increasing its load strength.

Abstract: A method apparatus, and product of forming consolidated earth columns of cement grout or mortar to be used, for instance, in building foundations. The method is designed to drastically reduce the time taken to form consolidation columns and to allow consolidation of earth particularly difficult to bore. The method consists of injecting the consolidating grout during the ascent of the drilling tool from the earth supplying air, at the same time, to the pneumatic percussion tool used to make the preliminary drilling.The plant to put the method into effect comprises a rotating joint manifold (6) at the upper end of the boring drill (11), equipped with tangentially arranged inlets, even inclined; an air manifold (15) to supply compressed air to the pneumatic percussion tool through the external annular chamber (28) of said boring drill (11); a grout distributor (36) equipped with ejection nozzles (38) the axes of which are inclined with respect to the axis of the drill.

Abstract: This invention relates to a reinforced concrete load-bearing pile with multi-branches and enlarged footings for reinforcing foundations, and means and method for forming such a pile. The load-bearing pile of the invention comprises a pile body, and at least one branch and enlarged footing integrated with the pile body. The means for forming the pile comprises a pile cavity drilling/pressing device, a branch cavity pressing device and an enlarged footing cavity pressing device. The method for forming the pile comprises forming a pile cavity, consolidating the base and surroundings of the cavities forming a branch cavity, forming an enlarged footing cavity, and casting the pile.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for improving the ground of a large area. The method comprises the steps of inserting a pipe into a hole previously dug in the ground, injecting a high pressure liquid and a ground improving injection liquid from an injecting apparatus attached to the tip of the pipe, drawing up the pipe, grouting the ground, and injecting the ground improving injection liquid to thereby form an underground columnar consolidation body for improving the ground. The drawing-up operation of the pipe is executed while applying vertical vibration to the pipe. Thus, a consolidation body of a large area for improvement of the ground is obtained without concave and convex portions.

Abstract: This invention relates to a reinforced concrete load-bearing pile with multi-branches and enlarged footings for reinforcing foundations, and means and method for forming such a pile. The load-bearing pile of the invention comprises a pile body, and at least one branch and enlarged footing integrated with the pile body. The means for forming the pile comprises a pile cavity drilling/pressing device, a branch cavity pressing device and an enlarged footing cavity pressing device. The method for forming the pile comprises forming a pile cavity, consolidating the base and surroundings of the cavities forming a branch cavity, forming an enlarged footing cavity, and casting the pile.

Abstract: An expanding deep base foundation system including a pre-manufactured base foot attached to the lower end of a metal shaft. The base being a length of pipe having cuts made along the length thereof. Cams are mounted on the inside of the pipe that expand the wall of the pipe foot outwardly as the metal shaft is forced through the expanding base thereby creating an enlarged base or foot.