A pile (270) within a bore (110) comprises a column (250). The column (250) comprises a stack of a plurality of pile sections (300) arranged end-to-end within the bore (110). There is a cured material (260) between at least a part of an outside surface of the column (250) and the surface of the bore (110). The cured material, for example grout, may be provided through channels in the pile sections.

Foundation systems and methods using in-situ shaped pile-anchors that are particularly adapted for use in aquatic environments. The shaped pile-anchor of the invented foundation includes a concrete filled tubular metal casing, the bottom end of which is positioned at a predetermined depth in the ground (e.g., aquatic-floor soil) and the top end of which protrudes above the water or soil surface. Concrete fills the inside the metal casing, substantially all the way to the top end of the casing, forming an upper portion of a concrete column. The lower portion of the concrete column extends down below the bottom end of the metal casing and further into the ground. The lower portion is shaped to have a cross-section greater than the cross-section of the upper portion, which equals to the inner diameter of the tubular metal casing. A platform is coupled to one of more of the shaped pile-anchors to support a structure above.

A vessel and a method for installation of a pile adapted to support an offshore wind turbine are described. The method includes a) suspending the pile from a hoisting cable in a substantially vertical orientation; b) providing a lower end of the pile in a pile holding system limiting horizontal motion of a pile portion held by the pile holding system; and c) lowering the pile with the pile being held by the pile holding system. The lowering includes at least lowering the pile through a splash zone of a body of water, and during step c), two tugger lines are directly or indirectly connected to the pile at a location between the pile holding system and the hoisting cable, said tugger lines being operated to damp motion of the pile in two respective horizontal directions.

A vessel and a method for installation of a pile adapted to support an offshore wind turbine are described. The method includes a) suspending the pile from a hoisting cable in a substantially vertical orientation; b) providing a lower end of the pile in a pile holding system limiting horizontal motion of a pile portion held by the pile holding system; and c) lowering the pile with the pile being held by the pile holding system. The lowering includes at least lowering the pile through a splash zone of a body of water, and during step c), two tugger lines are directly or indirectly connected to the pile at a location between the pile holding system and the hoisting cable, said tugger lines being operated to damp motion of the pile in two respective horizontal directions.

A modular dangle support for an articulating boom includes at least two modules a spar module and a dangle head module. The spar module has a first end and a second end. The first end has a coupling. The second end has an articulated boom mounting, whereby the spar module is attached to an articulated boom. The dangle head module is detachably secured by the coupling to the first end of the spar module. It is anticipated that there will be more than one dangle head module, with only one dangle head module being used at any one time. Dangle head modules are changed to accommodate different dangle head configurations and different load capacities.

A collar is provided that can be used to either drive posts into the ground or remove posts from the ground. The collar includes a first portion defining a post opening adapted for coupling about a post, and a second portion coupled to the first portion. The second portion includes a receiver adapted for receiving a tool for use in driving the post into the ground when the first portion is coupled about the post. The first portion defines an obtuse angle with respect to the second portion. The collar is configured to be positioned in a first orientation about a post when used to drive the post into the ground, and a second orientation, rotated approximately 180 degrees relative to the first orientation, when used to remove a post from the ground.

A collar is provided that can be used to either drive posts into the ground or remove posts from the ground. The collar includes a first portion defining a post opening adapted for coupling about a post, and a second portion coupled to the first portion. The second portion includes a receiver adapted for receiving a tool for use in driving the post into the ground when the first portion is coupled about the post. The first portion defines an obtuse angle with respect to the second portion. The collar is configured to be positioned in a first orientation about a post when used to drive the post into the ground, and a second orientation, rotated approximately 180 degrees relative to the first orientation, when used to remove a post from the ground.

Certain exemplary embodiments can provide a system comprising a frame, which comprises an outer mast and an inner mast. The outer mast slides along the inner mast. A motor is coupled to the frame. A hydraulic system is coupled to the motor. A jackhammer head is coupled to the outer mast, which outer mast allows the jackhammer head to float up and down on the inner mast as the jackhammer head reciprocates. Thereby vibrations from jackhammer motion substantially do not get transferred to the frame.

A foundation support apparatus is provided and includes a tubular piling with a rib of material fixed to an exterior or outer surface of the piling. The rib provides improved total resistive force capabilities for the support apparatus, as compared to a bare piling. The rib is positioned and dimensioned as to not impede the installation of the piling. The rib may be circular or helical, continuous or discontinuous, and is disposed coaxial with a longitudinal axis of the piling. The foundation support apparatus may be manufactured on a construction site to readily improve the load capacity of various types of vertical foundational systems, such as driven pilings. The foundation support apparatus may be encased or backfilled with grout materials which harden around the ribs of the apparatus forming an interlocking engagement between the grout and the ribs, thereby increasing load resistance capabilities of the support apparatus.

A foundation support apparatus is provided and includes a tubular piling with a rib of material fixed to an exterior or outer surface of the piling. The rib provides improved total resistive force capabilities for the support apparatus, as compared to a bare piling. The rib is positioned and dimensioned as to not impede the installation of the piling. The rib may be circular or helical, continuous or discontinuous, and is disposed coaxial with a longitudinal axis of the piling. The foundation support apparatus may be manufactured on a construction site to readily improve the load capacity of various types of vertical foundational systems, such as driven pilings. The foundation support apparatus may be encased or backfilled with grout materials which harden around the ribs of the apparatus forming an interlocking engagement between the grout and the ribs, thereby increasing load resistance capabilities of the support apparatus.