A pile is comprised of a pipe, i.e., a hollow tube or hollow cylinder, with a coextensive internal reinforcement comprised of a plurality of intersecting walls. The pile is comprised of a blend of a thermoplastic and 20 to 50% (pbw) pelletized chopped strand glass fibers. The outer surface includes a co-extruded cap stock that is relatively smooth and exhibits a relatively low coefficient of friction. Internal walls define a central channel useful for water jetting, and peripheral channels useful for electrical, plumbing and mechanical lines. The internal structures exhibit roughness, bumpiness and a relatively high coefficient of friction for an extruded plastic. A groove may be formed in the pile adjacent to an end for resistance to uplift.

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.

The frost heave prevention system is configured for use with a piling. The piling further comprises a stanchion and a frost pad. The stanchion anchors to the frost pad. The frost pad is a concrete pad that is buried below the frost line such that frost will not cause the frost pad and the stanchion to heave or otherwise shift. The frost heave prevention system comprises a skirt structure and the piling. The skirt structure encloses the piling such that the skirt structure inhibits water from flowing towards the anchor joint between the stanchion and the frost pad thereby inhibiting a common source of failure when using a frost pad.

A construction method for reinforcing and repairing a steel pipe pile for offshore wind power includes the following steps. Installing multiple support ribs on an outer wall of a steel pipe pile to be repaired along a circumferential direction. Placing multiple support plate components on the support ribs and performing splicing along the outer wall of the steel pipe pile to form an annular support plate assembly. Installing multiple hoop cylinder components on the support plate assembly, performing splicing along the outer wall of the steel pipe pile to form an annular hoop cylinder assembly, and forming a grouting cavity between the hoop cylinder assembly and the steel pipe pile. Connecting grouting pipelines to grouting ports of the hoop cylinder assembly, and performing a grouting operation. After grouting, forming a reinforcement and repair structure on the outer wall of the steel pipe pile when grouting materials are solidified.

The invention relates to an assembly (1) comprising: a hollow component (2) with a component opening (3), a cover (4), by means of which the component opening (3) is closed, and a fan (5) for ventilating the interior (6) of the component (2), wherein the fan (5) is pivotally secured to the cover (4). The component opening of the component (2) can be closed by the cover (4) so that the interior (6) of the component (2) is protected against external influences. The formation of mold in the interior (6) of the component (2) can be prevented by means of the fan (5). Because the fan (5) is pivotally held on the cover (4), the interior (6) of the component (2) is particularly readily accessible.

Generally, the disclosed technology regards a novel auger annulus adjoinable to a shell useful in encapsulating structural piles to below the earth's surface. The disclosed technology further regards a jacket and auger annulus system useful in encapsulating structural piles. Also provided is a method of positioning a first fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) circular-cylindrical shell at and about the exposed base of a structural pile, thereby encapsulating the pile to below the earth's surface using a jacket and auger annulus.

An example embodiment of the present invention provides a pole cap for covering an end of a pole. The pole cap comprises a sheet that includes a central portion, a first strip, and a flap that has a slit. The central portion is configured to cover a base surface of an end of a pole. The first strip is configured to fold over an edge of the base surface and circumferentially wrap around a portion of a curved surface of the pole. The flap is configured to fold over the edge of the base surface.

Disclosed is a water-permeable pipe pile system capable of accelerating soil consolidation. The system includes a hollow pile, an aerating device, and a drain device. Holes are evenly distributed on the wall of the pile, the bottom of the pile is closed, and a gas-tight gland is provided on the top of the pile. The aerating device includes a gas pipe and a gas pump, the lower end of the gas pipe passing through the gas-tight gland and extending into the cavity of the pile, and the upper end thereof connected to the gas pump. The drain device includes a drain pipe and a water pump, the lower end of the drain pipe passing through the gas-tight gland and extending towards the bottom of the cavity of the pile, and the upper end thereof connected to the water pump. Combining advantages of a water-permeable pipe pile and features of the high-pressure gas splitting technology, the water-permeable pipe pile system can accelerate dissipation of excess pore water pressure in the surrounding soil mass and rapidly increase the skin friction of the pile. Requirements on the bearing capacity of pipe piles and the service life of a construction are thus satisfied and desirable economic effects are achieved. Besides, the method of using the system is simple.

A pile repair apparatus includes a metal clamp having left and right brackets connected by a hinge member. A friction surface is positioned along an inner surface of the metal clamp to improve the connection of the apparatus to a pile to be repaired. A platform is connected to a top surface of the metal clamp, and a means for providing buoyancy to the pile repair apparatus can be secured to the platform. The buoyancy of the apparatus allows a diver to move and to submerse the apparatus easily and to position the apparatus around a pile to be repaired by opening and closing the apparatus about the hinge member. The apparatus is secured to the pile by inserting a bolt through corresponding apertures in the left and right brackets of the apparatus.

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.