A method for reinforcing soft ground by post-grouting combined with pressurized vacuum preloading is proposed, by pre-burying prefabricated vertical drains and air-boosted pipes in granular material piles, and the air-boosted pipes are used as grouting pipes to reduce the number of times of piling, which not only improves the construction efficiency, but also reduces the structural disturbance of the soil and the influence of smear effect, thus reducing the impact on the radial permeability and the radial consolidation coefficients. The method does not use geotextile bags for granular materials, which can avoid the problem of forming a localized clogging area around the geotextile bags, and the method not only improves the efficiency of vacuum transfer in a pre-consolidation stage, but also improves the grouting effect in the later stage, effectively enhances the strength of soft soil and makes granular material piles and the surrounding soil form composite ground.

Precast collars for screw type anchors that have a body made of a high strength composite or concrete material. The body having an opening to receive an anchor base head portion of an anchor so that a structure to be supported by the anchor is in direct contact with the anchor.

Various methods of making a reinforced structure in the ground using a boring tool are provided. One of the methods includes providing a boring tool having a boring tube that can vibrate. The method also includes making a borehole in the ground using the boring tool while causing the boring tube to vibrate. Additionally, the method includes, when the boring tube has reached a predetermined depth, injecting a sealing grout into the boring tube that embeds the boring tube in the sealing grout. Further, the method includes detaching the boring tube from the boring tool, thereby providing a structure reinforced by the boring tube.

A tubing device is operatively connectable to an excavation machine. The tubing device comprises a base frame, at least one guiding tower operatively connected to the base frame, and a tube operating unit, operatively connected to the guiding tower. The tube operating unit is slidable along the guiding tower and is provided with engaging means capable of both selectively holding a tube segment, and of transmitting a rotary motion and an axial sliding movement to such a tube segment so as to allow the progressive driving in the ground and subsequent extraction from the ground.

Precast collars for screw type anchors that have a body made of a high strength composite or concrete material. The body having an opening to receive an anchor base head portion of an anchor so that a structure to be supported by the anchor is in direct contact with the anchor.

Method and apparatus for enhancing capacity of piles and/or anchors, which can include any type of piles and/or anchors, including but not limited to micropiles and soil nail, by disposing a tube or casing into the earth and then laterally expanding at least a portion of the casing, in plastic deformation, using an expansion member such that an enlarged area is formed in the casing. The casing can then optionally be left in place and filled with a filler material and/or can optionally be forcibly pulled out of the ground, thus compacting and thereby densifying the surrounding soil, and the thusly formed enlarged hole can be filled with a filler material and used as an anchor and/or pile. Optionally, in one embodiment, existing piles and/or anchors can be re-used by lowering an expansion member into them and creating one or more laterally expanded areas.

A system for positioning and anchoring columns. The system includes a positioning template having a first frame configured to support horizontal panels, jacking mechanisms for leveling the horizontal panels, a first opening defined by the horizontally aligned panels configured to guide a sleeve when driven downward below grade level through the first opening, and a tubular sleeve for passing through the first opening and for receiving a second frame. The second frame includes frame members defining a second opening on each end of the second frame and a plurality of elongated bars spanning between the first end and the second end. The second frame is for guiding a pile when driven downward. A pile having a first end and an opposing second end is configured for receiving a connecting tube of a column. A column having a connecting tube is to inserted into the pile's first end.

A system for constructing a support column includes a mandrel with an upper portion and a tamper head. A feed tube extends through the mandrel for feeding flowable material to the head. The tamper head includes a lower enlarged chamber with a reducing surface at an upper portion and includes a plurality of chain links for compacting material and restricting upward flow of aggregate. The tamper head is of a size providing an enclosed region for allowing cementitious materials to be placed therein. A non-moveable sealed top plate and a separate flowable material supply tube is included via a sealed connection. A pressure gauge for monitoring air pressure within the tube portion is included and allows a support column including a cementitious inclusion on top of an expanded base to be built with a known unitary expanded base volume calculated based on pressure drop indications.

The invention relates to a machine (10) for making columns in ground, the machine comprising a carrier (12) having a mast (14) extending along a longitudinal direction; a movable carriage (16) mounted to slide along the mast (14); a ground perforation tool (20) extending along a longitudinal axis parallel to said longitudinal direction and secured to said movable carriage, presenting a top end connected to building material feed means, and a bottom end provided with an orifice (28) for injecting the first building material; a rotary drive system (18) for driving the perforation tool (20) in rotation; and a body (40) extending around the perforation tool (20) so that the perforation tool is suitable for sliding through said body. According to the invention, the machine has a coupling system (60) for coupling together the body (40) and the perforation tool (20) in translation and in rotation.

The invention relates to a construction machine for introducing a displacement tube into the ground, wherein the displacement tube comprises a tube base body and, at its lower end, a closure device which comprises at least one closure flap which is adjustable between a closed position, in which the displacement tube is closed downwards by the at least one closure flap, and an open position, in which filling material is discharged from the displacement tube into the ground for forming a filling material column, wherein the construction machine comprises a feed drive for introducing and retracting the displacement tube into and out of the ground, respectively. According to the invention, it is provided that an actuating unit with at least one pressing-on element is arranged on the construction machine, by means of which the at least one closure flap is adjustable from the open position into its closed position and retainable in said position before contacting the ground at least until the closed closure flap penetrates into the ground. The invention further relates to a method for creating a filling material column.