Precast Concrete Panels Used as Surface Lining of Perimeter Surfaces of Excavations

Abstract

A system for lining a perimeter surface of an excavation; the perimeter surface defined by a solid structure; the perimeter surface lined by means of precast concrete panels which are affixed to the solid structure.

1 .- 66 . (canceled) 
     
     
         67 . A lined barrier system for supporting and lining a perimeter surface of an excavation; said system comprising in combination a plurality of support columns and a flexible seal system; the perimeter surface supported by and defined by a solid structure in the form of the support columns; the perimeter surface lined by means of precast concrete panels which are affixed to the support columns; gaps between adjacent concrete panels sealed by the flexible seal system; the flexible seal system including a flexible seal member of a first type and a flexible seal member of a second type in which an overlap component of the flexible seal member of the first type overlaps a portion of a surface component of the flexible seal member of the second type to form an elongated weld zone along edges of juxtaposed concrete panels; the overlap component welded to the portion of the surface component to form a substantially watertight flexible seal between the concrete panels and thereby to form a sealed lining in combination with the support columns. 
     
     
         68 . The system of  claim 67  wherein the precast concrete panels are affixed to a front portion of the columns. 
     
     
         69 . The system of  claim 67  wherein material in the volume between the columns is not excavated. 
     
     
         70 . The system of  claim 67  wherein the precast concrete panels are arranged with their edges in a juxtaposed relationship. 
     
     
         71 . The system of  claim 67  wherein the precast concrete panels adjoin at a location between the columns. 
     
     
         72 . The system of  claim 67  wherein the precast concrete panels adjoin vertically. 
     
     
         73 . The system of  claim 67  where the precast concrete panels adjoin horizontally. 
     
     
         74 . The system of  claim 67  wherein the columns are substantially parallel to each other. 
     
     
         75 . The system of  claim 67  wherein the columns comprise piles. 
     
     
         76 . The system of  claim 75  wherein the piles comprise soldier piles. 
     
     
         77 . The system of  claim 75  wherein the piles comprise of contiguous piles 
     
     
         78 . The system of  claim 75  wherein the piles comprise of secant piles. 
     
     
         79 . The system of  claim 75  wherein the piles are comprised of reinforced concrete. 
     
     
         80 . The system of  claim 75  wherein each pile of the piles is formed by the step of drilling so as to define a tubular cavity followed by the step of inserting reinforcement material into the tubular cavity followed by the step of pouring concrete into the tubular cavity and allowing it to set thereby to construct the pile. 
     
     
         81 . The system of  claim 75  wherein the columns comprise canopy tubes. 
     
     
         82 . A sealed barrier method for creating a substantially watertight lined barrier for a perimeter surface of an excavation; the perimeter surface supported by and defined by a solid structure in the form of support columns in combination with precast concrete panels of a flexible sealing system; the perimeter surface lined by means of precast concrete panels which are affixed to the support columns; gaps between adjacent precast concrete panels sealed by the flexible seal system; the flexible seal system including a flexible seal member of a first type and a flexible seal member of a second type in which an overlap component of the flexible seal member of the first type overlaps a portion of a surface component of the flexible seal member of the second type to form an elongated weld zone along edges of juxtaposed concrete panels; the overlap component welded to the portion of the surface component to form a substantially watertight flexible seal between the precast concrete panels and thereby to form a sealed lining in combination with the support columns. 
     
     
         83 . The method of  claim 82  wherein the precast concrete panels are affixed to a front portion of the columns. 
     
     
         84 . The method of  claim 82  wherein material in the volume between the columns is not excavated. 
     
     
         85 . The method of  claim 82  wherein the precast concrete panels are arranged with their edges in a juxtaposed relationship. 
     
     
         86 . The lined barrier system of  claim 67  constructed according to a top-down method of affixing precast concrete panels to columns or piles; said method including the steps of:
 a) Inserting columns or piles to design depth around the exterior of a design perimeter of an underground structure with a predetermined horizontal column or pile spacing. 
 b) Excavate in increments 
 c) Permanently affix precast concrete panels to the columns or piles 
 d) Install temporary anchors progressively, with the advancement of the excavation and the installation of precast concrete panels. 
 e) Stress the temporary anchors, and 
 
       wherein gaps between adjacent concrete panels are sealed by the flexible seal system; the flexible seal system including the flexible seal member of the first type and the flexible seal member of the second type in which an overlap component of the flexible seal member of the first type overlaps a portion of a surface component of the flexible seal member of the second type to form the elongated weld zone along edges of juxtaposed concrete panels; the overlap component welded to the portion of the surface component to form a substantially watertight flexible seal between the concrete panels.