Wall structural member and method for constructing a wall structure

Abstract

A structural member and method of constructing a wall structure in the ground using the structural member is provided. The structural member includes a shield removably coupled to a structural beam so that a chamber is defined between the shield and the structural beam. The shield member is configured to be removable when the structural member is in the ground. Components disposed in the chamber are protected during construction of the wall structure and are exposed when needed in a specific stage of construction. The components can be pre-attached to the structural beam and may include reinforcing bars to provide reinforcement continuity to the wall structure. The components may also include water stops to inhibit water flow through the wall structure. Methods constructing a wall structure in the ground using the structural member and for constructing an extended wall structure in the ground using the structural member are provided.

1 . A structural member for inserting into the ground for use in a wall structure constructed in the ground comprising: 
 a structural beam elongated in a longitudinal direction;    a shield coupled to said structural beam such that said shield and said structural beam define a chamber extending in said longitudinal direction, wherein said shield is removable from said structural beam when said structural beam is disposed in the ground; and    a component attached to said structural beam and disposed in said chamber.    
   
   
       2 . The structural member of  claim 1  wherein said structural beam is a flanged beam.  
   
   
       3 . The structural member of  claim 2  wherein said flanged beam is an H-beam.  
   
   
       4 . The structural member of  claim 2  wherein said flanged beam is an I-beam.  
   
   
       5 . The structural member of  claim 1  wherein said structural beam is a channel beam.  
   
   
       6 . The structural member of  claim 1  wherein said component is rigidly attached to said structural member.  
   
   
       7 . The structural member of  claim 6  wherein said component is a water stop.  
   
   
       8 . The structural member of  claim 6  wherein said component is a reinforcing bar.  
   
   
       9 . The structural member of  claim 8  wherein said reinforcing bar is a headed reinforcing bar.  
   
   
       10 . The structural member of  claim 1  further comprising a bottom member attached to a bottom end of said structural beam, said bottom member defining a bottom of said chamber.  
   
   
       11 . The structural member of  claim 10  wherein said shield is slidably coupled to said structural beam.  
   
   
       12 . A structural member disposed in the ground for use in a wall structure constructed in the ground, wherein a cavity in the ground adjoins said structural member, said structural member comprising: 
 a structural beam elongated in a longitudinal direction and having a side, said side facing said cavity, and wherein said cavity extends in a lateral direction substantially orthogonal to said longitudinal direction;    one or more components attached to said side of said structural beam, wherein said one or more components include any of reinforcing bars and water stops; and    a removable shielding means for temporarily shielding said one or more component from said cavity.    
   
   
       13 . A section of a wall structure constructed in the ground comprising: 
 a structural member disposed in a hole in the ground, said structural member elongated in a longitudinal direction and having a first internal chamber on a first side, said first internal chamber extending in said longitudinal direction and defined in part by a first removable section of said structural member, said first removable section comprising a first shield;    said first shield on said first side disposed between said first internal chamber and said hole such that said first shield separates said first internal chamber from said hole and substantially seals said first internal chamber;    a first component attached to said structural member and disposed in said first internal chamber.    
   
   
       14 . The section of  claim 13  further comprising: 
 a second component attached to a second side of said structural member;    a wall adjoining said structural member on a second side, said wall extending in a lateral direction substantially orthogonal to said longitudinal direction; and    said second component embedded in said wall.    
   
   
       15 . The section of  claim 14  comprising: 
 said structural member having a second internal chamber on said second side, said second internal chamber extending in said lengthwise direction and defined in part by a second removable section of said structural member, said second removable section comprising a second shield, wherein said second shield is removed from said structural member; and    wherein said second component is disposed in said second chamber.    
   
   
       16 . The section of  claim 13  wherein said first component is a water stop.  
   
   
       17 . The section of  claim 13  wherein said first component is a reinforcing bar.  
   
   
       18 . A method for constructing a wall structure in the ground using a first structural member, said first structural member comprising a first structural beam coupled to a removable first shield such that said first structural beam and said first shield define a first chamber, the method including the steps of: 
 attaching at least one first component to said first structural beam, said at least one first component disposed in said first chamber;    inserting said first structural member into the ground;    excavating a cavity in the ground adjoining said first shield;    removing said first shield; and    exposing said first chamber to said cavity.    
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein said at least one first component is at least one first reinforcing bar.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising: 
 aligning a reinforcing cage in said cavity, said reinforcing cage having a plurality of cage reinforcing bars, wherein at least one of said plurality of cage reinforcing bars partially overlaps with said at least one first reinforcing bar.    
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20  wherein said at least one reinforcing bar and said plurality of cage reinforcing bars are headed reinforcing bars.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 18  wherein said at least one first component is at least one first water stop.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising: 
 placing a hardenable material in said cavity, said hardenable material encasing said at least one first component; and    allowing said hardenable material to harden, whereby a wall is formed adjoining said first structural member.    
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 23  further comprising: 
 providing a second structural member, said second structural member comprising a second structural beam, said second structural beam coupled to a removable second shield such that said second structural beam and said second shield define a second chamber;    attaching at least one second component to said second structural beam, said at least one second component disposed in said second chamber;    inserting said second structural member into the ground spaced apart from said first structural member such that said second shield substantially faces said first shield;    wherein said step of excavating said cavity includes excavating said cavity between said first shield and said second shield;    removing said second shield;    exposing said second chamber to said cavity;    wherein said step of placing said hardenable material in said cavity includes said hardenable material encasing said at least one second component; and    wherein said step of allowing said hardenable material to harden includes allowing said hardenable material to harden, whereby said wall is formed between said first structural member and said second structural member.    
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 23  further comprising: 
 maintaining said cavity with a volume of slurry material; and    wherein said step of placing said hardenable material in said cavity includes placing said hardenable material using a tremie system.    
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising: 
 wherein said step of inserting said first structural member into the ground includes inserting said first structural member into a first hole;    aligning said first structural member in said first hole;    placing a weak hardenable material in said first hole; and    wherein said step of excavating said cavity includes excavating at least a portion of said weak hardenable material to expose said first shield.    
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 26  further comprising: 
 maintaining said first hole with a volume of slurry material;    wherein said step of placing said weak hardenable material in said first hole includes placing said weak hardenable material using a tremie system.    
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising a bottom plate attached to a bottom end of said first structural beam.  
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 28  wherein said step of inserting said first structural member into the ground includes driving said bottom end of said first structural beam into the ground.  
   
   
       30 . A method of constructing an extended wall structure in the ground comprising: 
 inserting a plurality of structural members into the ground, each of said structural members comprising: 
 a structural beam;  
 a primary shield removably coupled on one side of said structural beam, whereby a primary chamber is formed between said primary shield and said structural beam;  
 a secondary shield removably coupled on an opposite side of said structural beam, whereby a secondary chamber is formed between said secondary shield and said structural beam;  
   one or more components attached to said structural beam and disposed in any of said primary chamber and said secondary chamber, wherein said one or more components include any of reinforcing bars and water stops;    excavating a primary cavity between a first primary shield of a first structural member and a second primary shield of a first adjacent structural member;    removing said first primary shield and said second primary shield;    exposing to said primary cavity a first primary chamber of said first structural member and a second primary chamber of said first adjacent structural member;    forming a primary wall in said primary cavity, said primary wall embedding any components disposed in said first primary chamber and any components disposed in said second primary chamber;    excavating a secondary cavity between a first secondary shield of said first structural member and a second secondary shield of a second adjacent structural member;    removing said first secondary shield and said second secondary shield;    exposing to said secondary cavity a first secondary chamber of said first structural member and a second secondary chamber of said second adjacent structural member;    forming a secondary wall in said secondary cavity, said secondary wall embedding any components disposed in said first secondary chamber and any components disposed in said second secondary chamber; and    wherein said first adjacent structural member, said primary wall, said first structural member, said secondary wall, and said second adjacent structural member are contiguous and form said extended wall structure.    
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 30  wherein said extended wall structure comprises a plurality of said primary walls and a plurality of said secondary walls.  
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 31  wherein the perimeter of said extended wall structure is substantially rectilinear in shape.  
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 31  wherein the perimeter of said extended wall structure is substantially curvilinear in shape.  
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 31  wherein the perimeter of said extended wall structure defines a hollow cylinder.