Method of installing a foundation and a foundation for a structure

A foundation (1) for a structure comprising:

• a foundation body (2) for insertion into a soil (5) in an insertion direction, where the body (2) has a toe (7) at its distal end which defines an aperture into an internal cavity (12) defined by an inner wall (8);
• a plurality of nozzles (9) provided at a distal end region of the body (2) for jetting fluid distally into the soil (5) ahead of the toe (7) to form a fluid suspension in a fluid communication channel (11) between the inner wall (8) and the soil (5) wherein the fluid communication channel extends between a proximal end of the internal cavity (12) and the toe (7);
• a pump arrangement (13) for varying the quantity of fluid at a proximal end of the internal cavity (12);
• and
• a controller (16) for controlling the pump arrangement (13) to vary the quantity of fluid at the proximal end of the internal cavity (12) such that the fluid suspension pressure adjacent the toe (7) in the fluid communication channel (11) is varied, wherein the controller varies the fluid suspension pressure as the toe (7) inserts deeper into the soil (5) based on a target fluid suspension pressure as a function of toe depth.

A controller (16) for controlling the installation of a foundation (1) for a structure, the foundation comprising a foundation body (2) for insertion into a soil (5) in an insertion direction, where the body (2) has a toe (7) at its distal end which defines an aperture into an internal cavity (12) defined by an inner wall (8), the controller comprising:

• a jetting control for controlling the jetting of fluid from a plurality of nozzles (9) provided at a distal end region of the body (2) for directing fluid distally into the soil (5) ahead of the toe (7) to form a fluid suspension in a fluid communication channel (11) between the inner wall (8) and the soil (5) wherein the fluid communication channel extends between a proximal end of the internal cavity (12) and the toe (7);
• and
• a pump control for controlling a pump arrangement (13) for varying the quantity of fluid at a proximal end of the internal cavity (12),
• wherein the controller (16) is configured to vary the quantity of fluid at the proximal end of the internal cavity (12) such that the fluid suspension pressure adjacent the toe (7) in a fluid communication channel (11) is varied, wherein the controller varies the fluid suspension pressure as the toe (7) inserts deeper into the soil (5) based on a target fluid suspension pressure as a function of toe depth.