A bridge system uses foundation structures that are formed of the combination of a metal-frame structure and cast-in-place concrete. The metal-frame structure of the foundation is capable of supporting bridge units before pouring of concrete.

A system for holding a tubular sleeve (2) in a receiving structure during setting of a cement or other binder introduced in a fluid state between the sleeve (2) and the receiving structure, comprising:—at least one expandable structure (4) mounted on the sleeve (2), deformable from an inactive configuration allowing insertion of the sleeve (2) in the receiving structure to an active configuration immobilizing the sleeve (2) in the receiving structure,—at least one corresponding tool to be inserted in the sleeve (2), configured for acting on the expandable structure (4) to cause it to pass from the inactive configuration to the active configuration.

A water-buoyant structure formed from concrete is disclosed. The structure comprises an outer wall that surrounds a perimeter of the structure and an inner wall separated from the outer wall by a cavity, such that the cavity extends for the perimeter of the structure. Separating the cavity can provide sufficient buoyancy to the structure to allow 5 the structure to float. The combination of outer and inner walls may also provide increased resistance to catastrophic damage in the event of an impact (e.g. the inner wall may remain intact).

A method for sealing a post-cast strip in a foundation with no gap includes the following steps: mounting steel plates, horizontal pipes and vertical pipes cooperatively layer by layer in a post-cast strip, respectively, such that the upper open end of each vertical pipe protrudes from the ground through the post-cast strip; pouring grout into the post-cast strip from the top of the post-cast strip after the end of the settlement of the foundation, and carrying out high-pressure grouting into the vertical pipe using grouting equipment simultaneously; delivering the sealing grout poured into the vertical pipe to the horizontal pipes, such that the sealing grout overflows from the grout outlets of the horizontal pipes to densely fill up existing gaps; and cutting off the portion of the vertical pipe above the ground after the post-cast strip is completely sealed, and levelling the top of the cut-off vertical pipe with concrete.

In a general aspect, suction anchors are presented for securing structures to an underwater floor. The suction anchors include a tubular body formed at least in part of cementitious materials and having a closed end and an open end. The tubular body includes an edge defining an opening for the open end. The edge is configured to penetrate the underwater floor. The suction anchors also include a port configured to fluidly-couple a cavity within the tubular body to an exterior of the tubular body. The suction anchors additionally include a pad eye extending from an outer surface of the tubular body and configured to couple to a mooring line. In another aspect, methods of manufacturing the suction anchors are also presented.

A foundation for a structure pre-stressed via a plurality of tensioning members includes a foundation slab and a suspension device cast into the foundation slab. The suspension device includes an anchor element, which may be an upper anchor plate, located at least as high as an upper side of the foundation slab, the anchor element for attachment to one of the tensioning members. The suspension device also includes a lower anchor plate located at least as low as within a lower third of the foundation slab. The structure may be a container, a tower or a wind turbine tower. The structure may include a stack of prefabricated concrete parts. The disclosure is also directed to the combined structure and foundation, and to a method of manufacturing a structure having a foundation.

The present application discloses a construction method for pouring concrete in a karst cave. Concrete streaming is pumped into a hollow passage of a drill stem, then opens the one-way openable sealing cover with a pre-tensioned spring on a reaming drill bit and enters the karst cave to complete pouring of the concrete. When the karst cave is relatively low, low-slump plain concrete mixed with quick-setting agents is injected through a drilling rig and the hollow drill stem to form a concrete pier; when the karst cave is relatively high, the hollow drill stem is sleeved into a thin-walled steel shell, and the thin-walled steel shell is synchronously sunk into the drilled hole while drilling, enters the karst cave and is socketed into a stable rock stratum, then concrete is pumped into the thin-walled steel shell from the bottom of the pile, and finally, a reinforcement cage is inserted to form a cast-in-place pile. Compared with the existing karst cave treatment methods, the construction method according to the present application can greatly reduce the consumption of materials, improve the mechanization of construction, simplify the construction process, shorten the construction period and reduce the engineering cost, and the cast-in-place pile with thin-walled steel shell, formed when the karst cave is relatively high, can further improve the bearing capacity of the foundation.

Embodiments described herein relate to construction of subsurface structural elements that are configured to redirect soil forces. For instance, a form may be used to construct a subsurface structural element such that the subsurface structural element redirects soil forces to vertically displace a foundation rather than have the soil forces crack or otherwise damage the foundation.

A cutting tool adapter for creating an underpinning structure and method of creating the underpinning structure are provided. In some examples, the cutting tool adapter may connect a cutting tool to a working machine arm to enable the cutting tool to cut and dislodge soil below an existing foundation or structure. As the soil is cut and dislodged, it is mechanically mixed with an additive, such as a cementitious material, via the cutting tool. The mixed soil and additive may then harden in the area below the existing structure or foundation to create an underpinning structure to provide additional support for the existing structure or foundation.

A method of constructing multiple conduits in building foundations that eliminates the process of core drilling after the foundation has been poured and set. This method creates optional openings for possible future connections. The process uses removable conduit molds installed before the foundation is poured. Once the foundation has set, conduit molds are removed to explose conduits in the foundation as needed.