Vibrating Foundations

Abstract

The subject matter relates to a method and an apparatus for vibrating-in a foundation into a building ground by initiating vibrations generated by means of a vibrating device attached to the foundation, the vibrations causing liquefaction of the building ground so that the foundation penetrates the building ground.

Claims

1-16. (canceled)

17. A method for vibrating-in a foundation into a building ground by initiating vibrations generated by means of a vibrating device attached to the foundation, the vibrations causing liquefaction of the building ground so that the foundation penetrates the building ground, wherein the rate of penetration of the foundation into the building ground is controlled and/or regulated by varying a liquefaction zone of the building ground directly surrounding the foundation, wherein the rate of penetration is varied by varying the size of the liquefaction zone, characterised in that penetration progress detection means are provided, which detect whether the penetration of the foundation is slowed down, so that in this case an effective mass of the foundation is increased and/or the liquefaction zone is enlarged, wherein the penetration progress detection means detect one or more insertion parameters, wherein the effective mass of the foundation is increased and decreased during the penetration into the building ground by means of pumping liquid from the interior or into the interior of the foundation.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the liquefaction zone is varied by means of an injection of air and/or gases at the foundation.

19. The method according to claim 17, wherein the size of the liquefaction zone is varied by means of an injection of air and/or gases with increased or decreased air pressure and/or gas pressure at the foundation.

20. The method according to claim 18, wherein the air and/or the gas is injected inside the foundation, and/or at the outer wall of the foundation.

21. The method according to claim 17, wherein the penetration of the foundation into the building ground is not interrupted during the vibrating-in.

22. The method according to claim 17, wherein the penetration of the foundation into the building ground is accelerated, slowed down or interrupted during the vibrating-in.

23. The method according to claim 18, wherein the rate of penetration of the foundation into the building ground of the foundation is varied by means for varying the rate of penetration, in particular a pump and/or a compressor generating air and/or gas pressure, wherein the means are detachably connected to the foundation.

24. The method according to claim 23, wherein the means for varying the rate of penetration are comprised by a carrier device.

25. The method according to claim 18, wherein the air and/or the gas is applied above the end of the foundation penetrating into the building ground.

26. The method according to claim 25, wherein the air and/or the gas is further applied inside the foundation.

27. The method according to claim 18, wherein the air and/or gas is applied at an air pressure and/or gas pressure greater than the water and/or soil pressure prevailing at the end of the foundation penetrating the building ground.

28. An apparatus for vibrating-in a foundation into a building ground, comprising: a vibrating device for generating vibrations; and means for varying a liquefaction zone which directly surrounds the building ground of the foundation and by which the rate of penetration of the foundation into the building ground is controllable and/or regulatable, characterized by, penetration progress detection means for detecting whether the vibrating-in of the foundation is slowed down so that, in this case, an effective mass of the foundation is increased and/or the liquefaction zone is increased, wherein the penetration progress detection means detect one or more insertion parameters; and means for pumping liquid from the interior or into the interior of the foundation.

29. The apparatus according to claim 28, further comprising one or more of the following means: means for injecting air and/or gases at the foundation; means for detecting pressures at the outer wall and/or inner side of the foundation and/or at the end of the foundation penetrating into the building ground; and means for detecting a friction between the outer wall of the foundation and the building ground.

30. The apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the foundation is a pile, and/or wherein the foundation is for an offshore structure, and/or wherein the building ground is the seabed.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0070] In the drawing shows

[0071] FIG. 1 an illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a foundation according to the subject-matter that is vibrated into a building ground by means of a method according to the subject-matter; and

[0072] FIG. 2 an illustration of a further exemplary embodiment of a foundation according to the subject-matter, which is vibrated into a building ground by means of a method according to the subject-matter.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0073] The present subject matter is described below with reference to exemplary embodiments.

[0074] FIG. 1 shows an illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a foundation according to the subject-matter that is vibrated into a building ground by means of a method according to the subject-matter.

[0075] The foundation is represented in FIG. 1 by a pile 1 which is comprised by the foundation or which is the foundation. The pile is inserted into a building ground, in this case the seabed MB. Accordingly, the foundation in FIG. 1 is for an offshore structure, such as a wind turbine.

[0076] The liquefaction zone 2 is shown surrounding the end 6 of the pile 1 penetrating the seabed MB. By initiating vibrations, which are generated e.g. by means of a vibration device attached to the foundation (not shown in FIG. 1), a liquefaction of the seabed MB occurs immediately around the end 6 of the pile 1 penetrating the seabed MB. This is referred to herein as the liquefaction zone 2, and is shown hatched and outlined with a dashed line.

[0077] Within the liquefaction zone 2, the seabed MB is loosened by softening the structure caused by the generated vibrations transmitted to the seabed MB via the pile 1. The loosening of the seabed MB within the liquefaction zone 2 can be enhanced, for example, by injecting air and/or gases. This enlarges the liquefaction zone 2 so that the pile 1 can penetrate the seabed MB more easily. Furthermore, the rate of penetration of the pile 1 into the seabed MB can be controlled and/or regulated by varying the liquefaction zone 2.

[0078] The size of the liquefaction zone 2 is made possible by blowing in air, whereby the liquefaction zone 2 or its size is varied by increasing or decreasing the air pressure. Air is injected, for example, by means of a compressor 9, which is connected, for example, via a hose to one or more air lances 3. The compressor is located, for example, on an installation vessel, which is not shown in FIG. 1. The air lances extend into the pile 1, and are arranged on a support frame 8 that is detachably arranged on the pile 1 at least during the vibrating-in of the pile 1 into the seabed MB. After vibrating-in the pile 1 into the seabed MB, the support frame 8 can be removed, for example. The one or more air lances 3 extend up to the pile tip 6 penetrating the seabed MB, or up to about 0.5 m above the pile bottom edge 6.

[0079] The generated air is applied via the one or more air lances 3 above the penetrating end 6 of the pile 1, so that in particular the soil structure inside the pile 4 is deconsolidated as a result of rising air bubbles 7. As a result, a simplified installation of the pile 1 is possible.

[0080] Furthermore, a pump 10 is provided by means of which in particular fluid can be pumped out of the pile interior 4. For this purpose, the support frame 8 comprises, for example, one or more pipes and/or hoses which extend into the pile interior 4 analogously to the one or more air lances 3, so that liquid and/or fluid can be pumped out of the pile interior 4.

[0081] FIG. 2 shows another illustration of a further exemplary embodiment of a foundation according to the subject-matter that is vibrated into a building ground by means of a method according to the subject-matter.

[0082] In contrast to FIG. 1, the support frame 8, which comprises, for example, the one or more air lances 3, is arranged concentrically inside the pile 1. The support frame 8 is designed to be movable, in particular vertically movable, so that it can be moved into and out of the pile interior 4.

[0083] The pile tip 6, which penetrates the seabed MB, is further configured to support the material transfer of soil (e.g., the seabed MB) during the penetration of the pile 1 into the pile interior 4. This is made possible by means of the beveled pile tip 6 relative to an (imaginary) horizontal line.

[0084] A pressure probe 12 is further arranged on the outer wall 5 of the pile 1. It is understood that, in addition to the illustrated pressure probes 12, more or less of such pressure probes 12 may be arranged on the outer wall 5 of the pile. The pressure probes 12 are suitable for detecting pressures and/or friction, such as modified CPTs, which are fixedly connected (or connected with defined stiffness) to the pile 1 to be installed. Furthermore, the pressure probes 12 are connected to means for detecting the rate of penetration, so that the means for detecting the rate of penetration can, for example, evaluate measurement data from the pressure probes 12.

[0085] Alternatively, the pressure probe 12 itself may comprise or represent the means for detecting the rate of penetration. In the event that, for example, the sensed pressure increases, it may be assumed that the rate of penetration of the pile 1 into the seabed decreases. The means for detecting the rate of penetration 11 may further send one or more control signals, for example to the pump 10 or the compressor 9, so that, for example, air with increased air pressure is applied via the one or more air lances 3, for example in the pile interior 4, or alternatively or additionally, to the outer wall 5 of the pile 1. In the latter case, it is understood that the one or more air lances 3 must then be able to apply air to the outer wall 5 of the pile 1. For example, one or more air lances 3 can be arranged on the support frame 8 in such a way that they run externally on the pile 1. However, this is not illustrated in FIG. 2.

[0086] In the event that the means for detecting the rate of penetration 11 send a control signal to the pump 10, for example, fluid may be pumped from within the pile 4. In the event that the liquid or water level inside the pile 1 is lower than the water level W, the effective mass of the pile 1 increases so that the rate of penetration (penetration velocity) of the pile 1 into the seabed MB is increased.

[0087] Air lances are removable after installation of the pile by, for example, removing the support frame on which the one or more air lances are located.

[0088] The embodiments of the present invention described in this specification and the optional features and characteristics indicated in a respective case with respect thereto are also intended to be understood as disclosed in all combinations with each other. In particular, the description of a feature encompassed by an embodiment example—unless explicitly stated to the contrary—is also not to be understood herein as meaning that the feature is indispensable or essential for the function of the embodiment example. The sequence of the method steps described in this specification in the individual flowcharts is not mandatory; alternative sequences of the method steps are conceivable. The method steps can be implemented in various ways, for example, implementation in software (by program instructions), hardware or a combination of both is conceivable for implementing the method steps.

[0089] Terms used in the patent claims such as “comprise”, “have”, “include”, “contain” and the like do not exclude further elements or steps. The phrase “at least in part” includes both the case “in part” and the case “in full”. The phrase “and/or” is intended to be understood to disclose both the alternative and the combination, thus “A and/or B” means “(A) or (B) or (A and B)”. The use of the indefinite article does not preclude a plural. A single apparatus may perform the functions of multiple units or devices recited in the claims. Reference signs indicated in the patent claims are not to be considered as limitations of the means and steps employed.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0090] 1 Pile [0091] 2 Liquefaction zone [0092] 3 Air and/or gas lance [0093] 4 Interior of the pile [0094] 5 External wall of the pile [0095] 6 End of the pile penetrating into the building ground [0096] 7 Air and/or gas bubbles [0097] 8 Support frame [0098] 9 Compressor [0099] 10 Pump [0100] 11 Means for detecting the rate of penetration [0101] 12 Pressure probe [0102] MB Seabed [0103] W Water level [0104] V Movability of the support frame