MEASURING UNDERGROUND PRESSURE

Abstract

The present invention relates to in-place soil stabilization. Specifically, the present invention relates a method and device for measuring the increase in subsurface earth pressure or soil displacement during the injection of a stabilizing agent into the soil and prior to surface movement. The rise in sensor pressure or displacement of soil indicates an increase in soil strength and bearing capacity. Therefore, real-time monitoring of these pressures or movements may serve as a guide during the injection process.

Claims

1. A displacement monitoring apparatus, comprising: a rod having a first portion, the first portion configured to be placed into soil at a transverse location below or near a structural component on a surface of the soil, the rod further configured to be displaced as a result of the soil being displaced; and a sensor coupled to the rod and configured to measure displacement of the rod before the surface is displaced.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an end cap on the end of the first portion of the rod, the end cap configured to distribute the weight of the rod substantially evenly across the bottom of a hole.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, where the rod comprises a rigid material.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, where the rigid material comprises metal, ceramic, plastic, wood, or a composite.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, where movement of the rod is configured to be constrained to only vertical movement.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, where the first portion of the rod is placed substantially at the vertical interface of the structural component and the soil or the interface of soil layers at a deeper location.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, where the displacement sensor displays above the surface the displacement of the rod.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, where the displacement sensor is an electronic sensor or a mechanical sensor.

9. A method of monitoring soil stabilization comprising: positioning at least a portion of a rod at a transverse location below or near a structural component, where the structural component is on a surface of soil to be displaced, the location of the rod is in the soil, and the rod is configured to be displaced as a result of the soil being displaced; connecting a displacement sensor to the rod, the displacement sensor configured to measure displacement of the rod; stabilizing the surface by displacing the soil; measuring displacement of the rod by the displacement sensor; and determining whether to stop displacing the soil based on the measured displacement of the rod before the surface is displaced.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising injecting stabilizing agents into the soil to displace the soil.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising automatically altering the injection of stabilizing agents based on the measured displacement of the portion of the rod.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprises coupling an end cap to the end of the portion of the rod positioned at the location, the end cap configured to distribute the weight of the rod substantially evenly across the bottom of a hole.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprises constraining all movement of the portion of the rod except vertical movement.

14. A method of monitoring soil stabilization comprising: stabilizing a surface by displacing soil, the soil comprising at least a portion of a rod; measuring displacement of the soil by measuring displacement of the portion of the rod; determining whether to stop displacing the soil based on the measured displacement of the rod before the surface is displaced.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising coupling a displacement sensor to the rod, the displacement sensor configured to measure displacement of the portion of the rod.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising injecting stabilizing agents into the soil to displace the soil.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising automatically altering the injection of stabilizing agents based on the measured displacement of the portion of the rod.

18. A system, comprising: an injection system configured to inject stabilizing agents into soil; a displacement measurement system configured to measure displacement of the soil; and an interface configured to receive a measurement from the displacement measurement system and control the injection system based on the received measurement.

19. The control system of claim 18, where the interface is further configured to automatically control the injection system based on the received measurement.

20. The control system of claim 18, where the interface is further configured to stop the injection system from injecting stabilizing agents into the soil prior to movement of a surface of the soil.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] For a more complete understanding of the present invention, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

[0029] FIG. 1 is a profile view depicting holes drilled into soil according to one aspect of the present invention;

[0030] FIG. 2 is a is a profile view illustrating a pressure sensor tube and device lowered into a hole according to one aspect of the present invention;

[0031] FIG. 3 is a profile view depicting an advancer rod being used to push the pressure sensor device into the soil according to one aspect of the present invention;

[0032] FIG. 4 is a profile view illustrating a pressure sensor device in the soil and expanding polymer injected nearby, and includes an enlarged view of the device, according to one aspect of the present invention;

[0033] FIG. 5 is a schematic of a control box that can be used according to one aspect of the present invention;

[0034] FIG. 6 is a schematic of a pressure sensor device according to one aspect of the present invention;

[0035] FIG. 7 is a schematic of a soil density improvement system according to one aspect of the present invention;

[0036] FIG. 8 is a profile view illustrating a soil density improvement system according to one aspect of the present invention; and

[0037] FIG. 9 shows the geometrical arrangement of the injection tubes with respect to the tube containing the pressure and temperature sensor.

[0038] FIG. 10 is a profile view depicting a soil spike positioned within a hole according to one aspect of the apparatuses and methods disclosed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0039] The present invention can be used with one injection site or multiple injection sites. As an example of multiple injection sites, see U.S. Pat. No. 6,634,831, which has already been incorporated by reference in its entirety.

[0040] One or more holes are created by drilling, pressing, or vibration intrusion into compromised soil strata (less than desirable confined soil strength) subsurface locations. (See FIG. 1). As shown in FIG. 1, polymer injection holes, 101 and 103, and the sensor hole, 102, are drilled into the weak soil zone. In some embodiments, the holes are in diameter. In other embodiments, the holes are spaced three to six feet apart.

[0041] Optionally, a tube may be placed in the one or more holes. Optionally, the lower tip of the tube is closed over with any device suitable for keeping soil from entering the tube. Non-limiting examples of such a device are tape or a small conical insert tip (i.e., made of metal or hard plastic). FIG. 2 shows a conical tip, 201, inserted into the sensor hole, 202. In some embodiments, the tube plus any optional tip is placed directly into the soil without a previous step of drilling a hole (i.e., the tube plus tip makes the hole).

[0042] Optionally, an advancer rod, 301, (at least two inches longer than the tube, 302) is pushed into the tube to puncture or move the tape, 303, or other device at the lower tip of the tube and create additional space in the soil for the sensor (i.e., an additional two inches is cleared beneath the tube). See FIG. 3.

[0043] As shown in FIG. 6, the pressure sensor assembly includes a sensor bulb, 601, connected to a thermocouple wire, 602, and flexible tubing lines, 603. As shown in FIG. 4, the pressure assembly, 402, is inserted down the tube, 406, or hole to position the sensor bulb beneath the bottom of the tube. In other embodiments, the pressure sensor is lowered simultaneously with the tube and optional tip, 405. FIG. 4 also shows the control system, 401, that monitors the expansive force of the polymer being injected through holes 404 and 403. In other embodiments, the pressure sensor is lowered simultaneously with the advancer rod.

[0044] The upper ends of the thermocouple wire, 501, and both tubing lines, 502, are connected to the Pump/Reservoir/Control Box using quick connect insertion connections. The control box comprises a fill shut-off valve, 503, an overfill vent, 504, a vent shut-off valve, 505, a temperature gauge, 506, a pressure gauge, 507, an air pump, 508, and a liquid container, 509.

[0045] In one embodiment, both the fill valve, 702, and vent valve, 703, of the control box, 704, are opened and the air pump, 701, is activated until the overfill vent line, 705, flows with water (or any selected hydraulic fluid). Both the fill valve and vent valve are then closed. See FIG. 5 and FIG. 7. Thus, the pressure sensing bulb, 706, and flexible tubing, 708, are filled with liquid. The thermocouple wire, 707, is connected to the temperature gauge, 709.

[0046] Continuous or timed intermittent injection of expanding polymer is then started at one or more locations, 801 and 802, preferably adjacent tubes on opposite sides of the sensor tube location, 803. Injection of the material continues until the pressure gauge on the control system, 804, indicates the specified soil pressure has been achieved. See FIG. 8.

[0047] In places having multiple injection sites, it may be desirous to arrange the tubes for injecting the expandable polymer in a geometrical configuration. For example, FIG. 9 shows injection tubes 906, 907, 908 and 909 arranged as a square. The injection holes will define the vertices or corners (901, 902, 903 and 904) of the geometrical shape. Tube 911 which contains a pressure sensor is located at the center (905) of the geometrical shape formed by the injection tubes. The geometrical shape may be any geometrical shape with an even number of vertices or any arrangement allowing the formation of one opposing pair. In this arrangement, each injection hole will have an opposing injection hole, forming opposing pairs of injection holes with a pressure hole in the middle. In FIG. 9, injection tubes 906 and 908 form opposing pairs, and injection tubes 907 and 909 form opposing pairs. In some situations, the injection tubes are arranged in a linear formation forming a set of one opposing pair. A square arrangement has two sets of opposing pairs, and a hexagon arrangement has three sets of opposing pairs.

[0048] By placing the pressure sensor at various depths and in the middle of the opposing pairs of injection holes, an injection technician can monitor and adjust the amount of polymer being added to each injection hole to ensure soil stabilization within the entire volume of the geometrical shape. It may not be necessary or desirable to add the same amount of expandable polymer to each injection tube. For example, in FIG. 9, it may be necessary to add more expandable polymer to injection tubes 903 and 902 than injection tubes 901 and 904. The placement of the pressure sensor allows the injection technician to easily monitor and adjust the amount of polymer being added to stabilize an asymmetrical weak zone in the soil. In general, this type of soil stabilization does not produce a visual effect at the surface that indicates complete stabilization of the asymmetric weak zone. Therefore, it is necessary to monitor the soil stabilization in situ.

[0049] Injection of the polymer is stopped and the process is continued at nearby locations following the same procedure outlined above until the targeted soil strata have been sufficiently strengthened.

[0050] In other embodiments, the pressure sensor is not filled with liquid, but instead is filled with gas. In other embodiments, the pressure sensor is an electric contact device with pressure sensitive outer edges. When pressure pushes the edges inward to a pre-determined setting, an electrical circuit is completed that activates a signal on the surface (i.e., a light, bell, etc.).

[0051] The examples disclosed herein are included to demonstrate preferred embodiments of the invention. It should be appreciated by those of skill in the art that the techniques disclosed herein represent techniques discovered by the inventor to function well in the practice of the invention, and thus can be considered to constitute preferred modes for its practice. However, those of skill in the art should, in light of the present disclosure, appreciate that many changes can be made in the specific embodiments which are disclosed and still obtain a like or similar result without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

[0052] For example, a stabilization scenario where the present invention would be beneficial includes the stabilization of pavement on top of a base course made of uniformly-graded granular soil with poor compaction. In a specific embodiment, the pavement is Portland Cement Concrete (PCC) with a minimum slab thickness of six inches. The sub-grade underneath the base course is weak, fine-grained soil. The sub-grade is further divided into two distinct zones with the top zone being the soil that was compacted during construction and the bottom zone having weak, fine-grained soil with little to no compaction. The target zone for stabilization is the base course. Holes are drilled through the pavement and into the base course (the target stabilization zone). Injection tubes are placed in the injection holes with a tube comprising a pressure sensor located between the injection tubes. The stabilization agent is injected through the injection tubes into the base course thereby increasing the compaction of the uniformly-graded granular soil. In some embodiments, the stabilization agent is an injectable, two-component, expandable, high-density polyurethane foam (HDPF). In other embodiments, the HDPF is a free-rise material. In particular embodiments, the temperature of the HDPF coming out of the injection gun is between 100 F. and 130 F., 110 F. and 125 F., or 115 F. and 120 F. The density of the stabilization agent is between 1 and 5 pounds/cubic foot, 1 and 4 pounds/cubic foot, 1 and 3 pounds/cubic foot, 1 and 2 pounds/cubic foot, 2 and 5 pounds/cubic foot, 3and 5 pounds/cubic foot, 4 and 5 pounds/cubic foot, 3 and 5 pounds/cubic foot, or 3 and 4 pounds/cubic foot.

[0053] In some examples, increasing the density of the soil causes movement in the upper strata of the soil and this motion may damage the structural component supported by the soil if this motion is excessive. However, the excessive motion is also used to indicate that the soil has been sufficiently solidified by monitoring movement at the surface. Since this excessive motion at the surface may cause damage to structural components supported by the soil, it is desirous to monitor the movement of the upper strata of the soil at depth before causing any motion at the surface.

[0054] In some alternate and additional examples, the densification of the soil may be monitored using means other than or in addition to the in-situ pressure sensor. For example, the densification of the soil may also be monitored in the upper strata using a vertical scale with a soil spike attached to the bottom of the vertical scale that is capable of penetrating the structural component and entering the soil at a depth of six to twelve inches, substantially at the interface of the structural component and soil, or down to a specific depth where stabilization may be required, such as the interface of soil layers. Alternatively, the soil spike can include an end cap to more evenly distribute the load of the soil spike. In such an embodiment, a hole can be predrilled and the spike placed therein. As the soil is being solidified, the technician can monitor the movement of the vertical scale to determine when the sub-surface soil has been solidified without causing movement of the surface and/or without causing unnecessary damage to structural components. In some examples, the soil spike attached to the vertical scale is made of a rigid material. The rigid material may be ceramic, metal, plastic, wood, a composite, or a combination of any of these. In specific examples, the object attached to the vertical scale is a nail. In particular examples, the nail is between six inches and three feet long or of a sufficient length to penetrate or be placed into the soil via a drilled hole through the built structure. If no structure is present on a soil site, the soil spike or nail attached to the bottom of the vertical scale can simply be inserted or placed into the soil for monitoring at depth.

[0055] An example of using a soil spike is shown in FIG. 10, which depicts soil stabilization system 1000. In soil stabilization system 1000, a stabilizing agent, such as expansion polymer, may be injected into soil 1008 below or near a structure 1004, according to any of the techniques discussed above or otherwise known, such as through injection system 1040. Structure 1004 can be damaged or negatively affected by surface movement. To monitor stabilization of soil 1008 without surface movement, soil spike 1012 can be inserted into hole 1036 drilled through or transversely near structure 1004. If desired, more than one soil spike can be used in either the same or different holes. For example, multiple soil spikes can be used when multiple injection operations and/or locations are desired. Hole 1036 can be drilled to a depth past the bottom of structure 1004, e.g., to a vertical interface of structure 1004 and soil 1008, which may be below the surface of the ground, or to deeper depths, such as the interface of soil layers that may require stabilization. Soil spike 1012 can be made of any material through which physical forces can be substantially accurately transmitted. For example, soil spike 1012 can be rigid enough that it will be displaced substantially the same amount and at substantially the same rate as the displacement of soil along path 1032 caused by, e.g., expanding polymer. In some embodiments, soil spike 1012 can have a rigid body made of ceramic,metal, plastic, wood, a composite, or a combination of any of these. Soil spike 1012 can be coupled to end cap 1016, which can be made of a material similar to soil spike 1012, that is, a material capable of substantially accurately transmitting physical forces. End cap 1016 can have a flat bottom or plate such that the weight of soil spike 1012 and/or the weight of soil spike 1012 and components attached to it, such as sensors, are substantially evenly distributed in hole 1036. Soil spike 1012 can be centered in hole 1036 and confined such that movement of soil spike 1012 is restricted in all directions except for vertical movement. Restricting movement of soil spike 1012 in all directions except vertical movement can result in a more accurate determination of when soil stabilization occurs. To determine soil stabilization, soil spike 1012 can be coupled directly or indirectly, including wirelessly, to a displacement measurement system 1020. Displacement measurement system 1020 can be coupled to soil spike 1012 at, above, or below the surface, or at another location. Displacement measurement system 1020 can be, for example, an electronic system, such as electronic system 1024, or a mechanical system, such as mechanical system 1028, and can comprise a linear displacement sensor capable of reading movement of soil spike 1012.

[0056] Electronic system 1024 can comprise any type of position or linear displacement sensor including a Linear Variable Differential Transformer (LVDT), its equivalent, or less precise instruments. A position displacement sensor can be capable of measuring displacement, e.g., displacement of soil spike 1012, that can be readout onto a digital or other display. Optionally, the position displacement sensor can be capable of measuring displacement by determining a change in voltage across its system as the tip of the sensor is displaced and converting that measurement into a length. The readout can be displayed in any unit of measure, including as millimeters or inches. Mechanical system 1028 can comprise any system capable of mechanically measuring displacement, e.g., displacement of soil spike 1012, including a mechanical gauge that is configured to convert the mechanical measurement into a displayed result, such as by moving a dial. The result can be displayed in any unit of measure, including as millimeters or inches.

[0057] In such systems, an operator can determine the stabilization of the soil based on the measurement displayed and cease injection operations once the soil has been stabilized and before surface movement. In some embodiments, measurement of soil displacement can be communicated from displacement measurement system 1020 to interface 1044. Interface 1044 can control injection of a stabilizing agent through, e.g., injection system 1040 based on the communications received from displacement measurement system 1020. Interface 1044 can receive occasional, periodic, or continuous communications from displacement sensor 1020 and alter the rate and/or amount of stabilizing agent injected into soil 1008 through injection system 1040. Interface 1044 can cause injection system 1040 to cease injecting stabilizing agents into soil 1008 before movement of a surface of soil 1008, such as the surface upon which structure 1004 rests. Communications from displacement measurement system 1020 to interface 1044 and from interface 1044 to injection system 1040 can occur automatically, such that injection of stabilizing agents ceases before surface movement without requiring a user, e.g., an operator, to monitor the operation. The interface 1044 may include digital logic circuitry and/or analog control equipment configured by software, firmware, or hardware to perform functions described herein, such as receiving measurements from measurement system 1020, comparing those measurements to a threshold value, and then determining whether to stop the injection of stabilizing agents based on the comparison and/or the received measurement.

[0058] Thus, the invention can relate to any of the following: [0059] A method of monitoring the remediation of weak soils from injection of expansive polymer by using a pressure sensitive bulb device placed at targeted subsurface soil strata to monitor the increase in confined soil strength at the selected location. [0060] A hydraulic pressure sensing device capable of being placed through drilled holes to any selected soil strata and depth, typically 50 feet or less. [0061] A miniature hydraulic pressure sensing device may be used at depths of 100 feet or more, depending on hole drilling and polymer injection systems. In this case, the length of the bulb itself would be increased to accommodate more hydraulic liquid and the flexible tube size would be increased to lower the inherent friction losses within the tubing which increases the accuracy of the pressure gauge to reflect the confined soil pressure at depth. [0062] A soil spike sensing device placed near the interface of a structure and the soil upon which it rests or at a deeper location, such as the interface of soil layers, and that is configured to communicate information indicative of soil stabilization below the structure such as soil displacement so that injection operations can cease before surface movement occurs.

[0063] Although the present invention and its advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Moreover, the scope of the present application is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments of the process, machine, manufacture, composition of matter, means, methods and steps described in the specification. As one of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate from the disclosure of the present invention, processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps, presently existing or later to be developed that perform substantially the same function or achieve substantially the same result as the corresponding embodiments described herein may be utilized according to the present invention. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to include within their scope such processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps.