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US 12,291,830 B2Granted
System and method for mitigation of liquefaction
AssigneeIndependence Materials Group, LLC
InventorsDonald James Moody, Cliff Frazao
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for the reduction of liquefaction potential within soil of a stratum located a distance deep below a foundation of a structure through the injection of a two-part polyurethane liquid forming a polymer foam.
Claims20
A system for reinforcing a soil stratum with increased liquefaction potential, comprising:
- a plurality of injectors, each injector including:
- a proximal portion having a hollow shape and a solid outer wall, the proximal portion having a sufficient length to span from a ground surface to the soil stratum, and
- a distal portion having a hollow shape and a perforated outer wall;
- and
- an injection nozzle configured to couple with each of the plurality of injectors;
- wherein, in use, the plurality of injectors are inserted within the soil stratum and a liquid polymer is pumped from the injection nozzle into the soil stratum through the plurality of injectors, the liquid polymer exits the perforated outer wall of the distal portions of the plurality of injectors, and the liquid polymer hardens to displace water from within the soil stratum;
- wherein the perforated outer wall comprises a plurality of openings, the plurality of openings being covered by a plurality of covers corresponding to the plurality of openings when the plurality of injectors are inserted into the soil, and the plurality of covers being configured to open the plurality of openings in the perforated outer wall when sufficient pressure is applied by the liquid polymer when exiting the perforated outer wall through the plurality of openings.
4 more elements
A method for the reduction of liquefaction potential within soil of a stratum located deep below a foundation of a structure, comprising:
- determining a distance from the foundation to the stratum and a thickness of the stratum;
- determining one or more soil properties of the stratum;
- providing a plurality of injectors, each injector of the plurality of injectors having a hollow shape over a proximal portion and a distal portion, the proximal portion having a solid outer wall and a length generally corresponding to the distance from the foundation, the distal portion having a perforated outer wall and a length generally corresponding to the thickness of the stratum;
- selecting a spacing distance for drilling a plurality of holes through the foundation;
- determining a zone of influence based on at least the selected spacing distance and the one or more soil properties;
- determining a mass of a two-part polyurethane liquid for injecting into the stratum based on at least the zone of influence determined;
- drilling the plurality of holes through the foundation at the selected spacing distance;
- drilling in the plurality of holes and through the soil with the plurality of injectors;
- locating the distal portion of each of the plurality of injectors within the stratum;
- injecting the mass determined of the two-part polyurethane liquid down each of the plurality of injectors and into the stratum via the perforated outer wall of the distal portion;
- permeating the stratum with the two-part polyurethane liquid injected while the two-part polyurethane liquid reacts forming a tacky foam, the tacky foam displacing water and binding to the soil within the stratum;
- and
- curing the tacky foam to form a solid foam matrix comprising particles of the soil within the stratum.
10 more elements
A method for the reduction of liquefaction potential within soil of a stratum having a thickness and being located a distance below a surface, comprising:
- providing a plurality of injectors, each injector of the plurality of injectors having a proximal portion and a distal portion, the distal portion having a perforated outer wall;
- inserting the plurality of injectors within the soil;
- locating the distal portion of each of the plurality of injectors within the stratum;
- and
- injecting a predetermined mass of a two-part polymer liquid down each of the plurality of injectors and into the stratum via the perforated outer wall of the distal portion so that the two-part polymer liquid permeates the stratum forming a tacky foam which cures to a solid foam matrix comprising particles of the soil within the stratum, the predetermined mass of the two-part polymer liquid being determined based on at least one or more soil properties of the stratum.
2 more elements
A method for the reduction of liquefaction potential within soil of a stratum located a distance below a foundation of a structure, the stratum having a thickness, comprising:
- providing a plurality of injectors, each injector of the plurality of injectors having a hollow shape over a proximal portion and a distal portion, the proximal portion having a solid outer wall and a length generally corresponding to the distance below the foundation, the distal portion having a perforated outer wall and a length generally corresponding to the thickness of the stratum, the perforated outer wall comprising a plurality of openings;
- locating the distal portion of each of the plurality of injectors within the stratum;
- determining one or more soil properties of the stratum;
- injecting a predetermined mass of a two-part polyurethane liquid down each of the plurality of injectors and into the stratum via the perforated outer wall of the distal portion, the predetermined mass of the two-part polyurethane liquid being based at last in part on the one or more soil properties;
- permeating the stratum by the two-part polyurethane liquid injected while the two-part polyurethane liquid reacts forming a tacky foam, the tacky foam displacing water and binding to the soil within the stratum;
- and
- curing the tacky foam to form a solid foam matrix surrounding each of the plurality of injectors, each solid foam matrix having a hub structure parallel to the injector and coupled to a plurality of stacked spoke structures, each hub structure being reinforced by at least a portion of the distal portion of the injector respective to each hub structure.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.