Earth support and permanent structural foundation wall

Abstract

The present invention discloses a system and method for the use of structural support members, usually soldier beams, that are placed into the ground for the temporary earth support system as part of the permanent foundation wall of a supported structure. The beams are accurately placed using known SMW technology into a series or plurality of adjacent soilcrete columns also constructed with known technology. The beams are placed in the soilcrete columns as they are being constructed and prior to excavation. As excavation proceeds and the columns have set up, a portion of the interior side of the soil-cement is trimmed to the front of and exposing the front flange of the soldier beam. At this time, connectors, typically shear studs, are welded to the front of the beams. Permanent lateral support members, such as floor slabs, or temporary lateral support members may then be attached to the structural support members directly, thus allowing the earth support wall to function as a temporary and permanent foundation wall. A reinforced concrete wall or facing is attached to the front of the beams to construct a composite structural capable of resisting the permanent lateral pressures, and where required, provide a more aesthetically pleasing finish.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An in-situ earth support and structural foundation system comprising: 
 a plurality of adjacent soulcrete columns having an exterior and interior side and 
 forming a wall, defining an at least partially enclosed area;  
   a structural support member inserted within at least one of said soilcrete columns, 
 said structural support member having a front and a rear surface;  
   a trimmed interior face, wherein a portion of said interior side of said soulcrete 
 columns is removed to expose at least a portion of said front surface of said  
 structural support member;  
   a lateral support member; and    at least one connector installed on said interior surface of said structural support 
 member for attaching said lateral support member to said structural support  
 member.  
   
     
     
         2 . The in-situ earth support and structural foundation system of  claim 1 , further comprising waterproofing and drainage fabric attached to said interior surface to seal penetrations from the installation of said connectors.  
     
     
         3 . The in-situ earth support and structural foundation system of  claim 1 , further comprising a cap beam placed upon said soilcrete columns for transferring a vertical load to said structural support members, said cap beam may extend said wall from said top of said soilcrete columns to an existing grade.  
     
     
         4 . The in-situ earth support and structural foundation system of  claim 1 , further comprising a reinforced facing attached to said trimmed interior face and said front surface of said structural members, said reinforced facing spanning between said structural support members and said lateral support members.  
     
     
         5 . The in-situ earth support and structural foundation system of  claim 4 , wherein said reinforced facing is a one-sided formed cast in place concrete reinforcement wall.  
     
     
         6 . The in-situ earth support and structural foundation system of  claim 4 , wherein said reinforced facing is selected from a shotcrete facing installed in multiple and successive lifts, and a precast concrete facing.  
     
     
         7 . The in-situ earth support and structural foundation system of  claim 6 , wherein a first lift is installed after completion of excavation and lowest level slab-on-grade permanent lateral support member is installed.  
     
     
         8 . The in-situ earth support and structural foundation system of  claim 6 , wherein said multiple and su c cessive lifts are installed after each of said at least one permanent lateral support members are installed.  
     
     
         9 . The in-situ earth support and structural foundation system of  claim 1 , wherein said lateral support member is subgrade.  
     
     
         10 . The in-situ earth support and structural foundation system of  claim 1 , wherein said lateral support member is a subgrade slab-on-grade floor slab.  
     
     
         11 . The in-situ earth support and structural foundation system of  claim 1 , wherein said lateral support member is above grade level.  
     
     
         12 . The in-situ earth support and structural foundation system of  claim 1 , wherein the structural support members are soldier beams having a web and front and rear flange portions.  
     
     
         13 . The in-situ earth support and structural foundation system of  claim 12 , wherein said front flange portion comprises said front surface of said structural support member.  
     
     
         14 . The in-situ earth support and structural foundation system of  claim 1 , wherein said sotcrete columns have over l apping portions, thus forming a continuous wall.  
     
     
         15 . The in-situ earth support and structural foundation system of  claim 1 , wherein said adjacent soilcrete columns are selected from a group consisting of a plurality of dissimilar diameter colunms and a plurality of similar diameter columns.  
     
     
         16 . The in-situ earth support and structural foundation system of  claim 1 , wherein said soilcrete columns are used in conjunction with footing elements to create a structure support foundation.  
     
     
         17 . The in-situ earth support and structural foundation system of  claim 1 , wherein said connector is a shear stud.  
     
     
         18 . A combination retaining and structural foundation wall constructed in-situ, comprising: 
 a plurality of adjacent soilcrete columns designed to support both vertical structure 
 as well as lateral loads, said adjacent soilcrete columns having an exterior  
 and interior surface;  
   a structural support member inserted within at least one said adjacent soilcrete 
 columns, said structural support member having a front and a rear surface;  
 and  
   a trimmed portion of said interior surface of said adjacent soilcrete columns thus 
 exposing a portion of said front surface of said structural members to allow  
 connection with subsequent support structures.  
   
     
     
         19 . The combination retaining and structural foundation wall constructed in-situ, further comprising: 
 at least one lateral support structure attached to said structural support member; and    a reinforcement member attached to said interior surface of said adjacent soilcrete columns and said structural support member.    
     
     
         20 . A method for constructing, in-situ, a combination retaining and structural foundation wall, comprising: 
 constructing a plurality of adjacent soilcrete columns designed to support both 
 vertical structure and lateral loads, said adjacent soilcrete columns having  
 an exterior and interior surface;  
   inserting a structural support member within at least one of said adjacent soilcrete columns, said structural support member having a front and a rear surface; and    trimming said interior surface of said adjacent soilcrete columns to expose a portion 
 of said front surface of said structural member to allow connection with at  
 least one subsequent support structure.  
   
     
     
         21 . The method for constructing, in-situ, a combination retaining and permanent structural foundation wall of  claim 20 , further comprising the step of attaching a plurality of connectors to said front surface of said structural support member, whereon said at least one subsequent support structure may be attached to said structural support member.  
     
     
         22 . The method for constructing, in-situ, a combination retaining and permanent structural foundation wall of  claim 21 , further comprising the step of applying waterproofing and drainage fabric to said interior surface and to seal penetrations around said plurality of connectors.  
     
     
         23 . The method for constructing, in-situ, a combination retaining and permanent structural foundation wall of  claim 20 , wherein said at least one subsequent support structure is a lateral support structure.  
     
     
         24 . The method for constructing, in-situ, a combination retaining and permanent structural foundation wall of  claim 23 , wherein said at least one lateral support structure is a subgrade slab-on-grade floor slab.  
     
     
         25 . The method for constructing, in-situ, a combination retaining and permanent structural foundation wall of  claim 23 , wherein said lateral support structure is above grade level.  
     
     
         26 . The method for constructing, in-situ, a combination retaining and permanent structural foundation wall of  claim 20 , further comprising the step of applying a reinforced facing, wherein said reinforcement member is selected from a group consisting of one-sided formed cast in place concrete reinforcement wall, shotcrete facing, and precast facing installed in successive lifts.  
     
     
         27 . The method for constructing, in-situ, a combination retaining and permanent structural foundation wall of  claim 20 , wherein said step of construct ing a plurality of adjacent soilcrete columns is done prior to excavation.  
     
     
         28 . The method for constructing, in-situ, a combination retaining and permanent structural foundation wall of  claim 20 , wherein said step of trimming said interior surface of said adjacent soilcrete columns may be accomplished during the excavation phase of construction.  
     
     
         29 . The method for constructing, in-situ, a combination retaining and permanent structural foundation wall of  claim 20 , further comprising placing a continuous cap beam upon said soilcrete columns, said continuous cap beam capable of transferring a vertical load to said structural support member.  
     
     
         30 . A method of attaching a reinforcing member to a temporary earth support wall to form a permanent foundation wall, said method comprising: 
 constructing a temporary earth support wall, the temporary earth support wall 
 comprising:  
   a plurality of adjacent soilcrete columns made in-situ and having an exterior and 
 interior surface and a toe embedment and an exposed height defining a  
 predetermined length, said adjacent soilcrete columns defining an at least  
 partially enclosed area;  
   a plurality of structural support members inserted within any number of said 
 adjacent soilcrete columns before said adjacent soilcrete columns have  
 cured, said structural support members having a front and a rear surface and  
 capable of supporting lateral loads from the surrounding soil as well as  
 hydrostatic forces and precalculated vertical loads, wherein said vertical  
 loads are transferred through said structural members to the bearing strata  
 below said soulcrete columns;  
   optional support means inserted within any number of said adjacent soilcrete columns before said adjacent soilcrete columns have cured; allowing said soilcrete columns to cure, thus fixing said structural support members and optional support means in place;    trimming, during the excavation phase of construction, said interior surface of said 
 adjacent soilcrete columns to expose said front surface of said structural  
 members;  
   placing a continuous cap beam along said head of said soulcrete columns, said 
 continuous cap beam transferring said vertical loads to said structural  
 support members;  
   strategically attaching a plurality of connectors, typically shear studs, to said front 
 surface of said structural member, said shear studs providing an attachment  
 means for a permanent lateral support member and a reinforced concrete  
 facing;  
   constructing a plurality of successive said permanent lateral support members and 
 connecting said permanent lateral support members to said foundation wall  
 via said shear studs; and  
   attaching a reinforcing means to said front surface of said structural members and 
 interior surface of said soilcrete columns, said reinforcing means spanning between said structural support members and said permanent lateral support members.