APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONSTRUCTING COMPACTED GRANULAR OR STONE COLUMNS IN SOIL MASSES

摘要

Compacted granular or stone columns are constructed in soil to increasethe load-bearing capacities of the native soil. An elongated hollow tubular memberis penetrated down into the soil to a predetermined depth and then the granularmaterial or stone for constructing the column is fed down through this member andout the lower end thereof where it is then driven outwardly in a radial direction byan impeller which is exposed, at least in part, at the lower end of the tubularmember, as the hollow tubular member is either penetrating or being withdrawn fromthe soil at a predetermined rate to thereby forceably compact this granular or stonematerial in a substantially radial direction to construct a stone column. Sufficientforces may be applied by the impeller to the granular or stone material to fracturethe surrounding soil.