A bearing surface of a subsea foundation has a low-resistance coating such as an aerogel, an aero-clay or a polymeric film. When the foundation is installed, the bearing surface is embedded in the seabed soil using the low-resistance coating to reduce resistance movement of the bearing surface relative to the seabed soil. The coating may then dissolve or fragment away from the bearing surface or transform into a higher-resistance state while remaining on the bearing surface. These mechanisms degrade a resistance-reducing property of the coating to increase resistance to movement of the embedded bearing surface relative to the seabed soil. Suction may be applied to the foundation before or after the resistance-reducing property of the coating has substantially degraded.

A bearing surface of a subsea foundation has a low-resistance coating such as an aerogel, an aero-clay or a polymeric film. When the foundation is installed, the bearing surface is embedded in the seabed soil using the low-resistance coating to reduce resistance movement of the bearing surface relative to the seabed soil. The coating may then dissolve or fragment away from the bearing surface or transform into a higher-resistance state while remaining on the bearing surface. These mechanisms degrade a resistance-reducing property of the coating to increase resistance to movement of the embedded bearing surface relative to the seabed soil. Suction may be applied to the foundation before or after the resistance-reducing property of the coating has substantially degraded.

A method of installing an upright elongate hollow subsea foundation that is higher than it is wide, such as a suction pile. The foundation is at least partially embedded in seabed soil. A partition layer is placed within the foundation, for example by injecting a grout, supported by a plug of soil that is surrounded by the foundation. The partition layer is placed on the plug of soil at a level that is spaced from the top of the foundation by at least 20% of the height of the foundation. Above the partition layer, the interior of the foundation may be filled with water and/or a rigid body, such as a solid mass or a hollow liquid-filled tank.

A method of installing an upright elongate hollow subsea foundation that is higher than it is wide, such as a suction pile. The foundation is at least partially embedded in seabed soil. A partition layer is placed within the foundation, for example by injecting a grout, supported by a plug of soil that is surrounded by the foundation. The partition layer is placed on the plug of soil at a level that is spaced from the top of the foundation by at least 20% of the height of the foundation. Above the partition layer, the interior of the foundation may be filled with water and/or a rigid body, such as a solid mass or a hollow liquid-filled tank.

A pile driver configured to drive a pile into an underwater bed includes a floatable body with a pile guide configured to guide the pile in a downward direction, and an actuator that is fixed to the floatable body and that is configured to drive the pile from the floatable body into the underwater bed. A method of driving a pile into an underwater bed includes the steps of: positioning a floatable body; arranging a pile in a pile guide configured to guide said pile in a downward direction; and driving the pile from the floatable body into the underwater bed by an actuator that is fixed to the floatable body.

A pile driver configured to drive a pile into an underwater bed includes a floatable body with a pile guide configured to guide the pile in a downward direction, and an actuator that is fixed to the floatable body and that is configured to drive the pile from the floatable body into the underwater bed. A method of driving a pile into an underwater bed includes the steps of: positioning a floatable body; arranging a pile in a pile guide configured to guide said pile in a downward direction; and driving the pile from the floatable body into the underwater bed by an actuator that is fixed to the floatable body.

A method for lifting and supporting above ground a concrete slab foundation employing hydraulic jacks includes installing piers in the ground, each with a pier extension protruding above ground. A lifting assembly is placed over each pier extension, the lifting assembly having a lift sleeve and upward extending lifting members. Then the slab foundation is poured, bonding a portion of the lifting assembly in concrete. After the slab foundation hardens, a jack is positioned on top of the pier extension, and lifting arms of the jack engage the lifting members. The jack is actuated to exert an upward force on the lifting assembly to lift the slab foundation above the ground. Then, the lift sleeve is rigidly secured to the pier extension, allowing the jack and lifting arms to be removed.

A multifunctional wall clamping device includes a wall-clamping platform, a main body, and a wall-pressing device, wherein the main body has a center hole. The wall-pressing device includes a wall-pressing hydraulic cylinder disposed on an upper support, and a jacking cylinder disposed on a lower support. The wall-clamping platform includes two U-shape pincer boxes with a same geometry and a U-shaped horizontal cross section. The U-shape pincer boxes are arranged with openings facing each other on the same axis to form a combination with a rectangular cross section. A piston rod of the wall-pressing hydraulic cylinder is connected to a top of the wall-clamping platform such that the wall-clamping platform is vertically suspended in the center hole. Outside walls of the wall-clamping platform include roller wheels, which can roll on inner walls of the center hole and inner walls of rectangular columns of the upper support and the lower support.

A multifunctional wall clamping device includes a wall-clamping platform, a main body, and a wall-pressing device, wherein the main body has a center hole. The wall-pressing device includes a wall-pressing hydraulic cylinder disposed on an upper support, and a jacking cylinder disposed on a lower support. The wall-clamping platform includes two U-shape pincer boxes with a same geometry and a U-shaped horizontal cross section. The U-shape pincer boxes are arranged with openings facing each other on the same axis to form a combination with a rectangular cross section. A piston rod of the wall-pressing hydraulic cylinder is connected to a top of the wall-clamping platform such that the wall-clamping platform is vertically suspended in the center hole. Outside walls of the wall-clamping platform include roller wheels, which can roll on inner walls of the center hole and inner walls of rectangular columns of the upper support and the lower support.

A pile press-in machine that receives reaction force from an existing pile to press in a new pile, includes: a reaction force block that grips the existing pile by a clamp to receive the reaction force; a platform that is horizontally movable relative to the reaction force block; and a press-in block that is coupled to the platform, supported to be freely lifted up and down with respect to the platform at a front of the clamp, and grips and presses in the new pile, wherein a plurality of kinds of the reaction force blocks each according to a kind and size of the existing pile are freely attachable to and detachable from one platform.