Abstract:
The present invention relates to a structure supporting system which helps increase the bearing capacity of the foundation ground. In addition to an upper structure with adequate resistance, structure foundations must also have adequate bearing capacities in order to satisfy the stability requirements. No matter how safe the super structure is built, if the foundation bearing capacity is not adequate then sinking, tilting of the structure and cracks and damages on the super structure is inevitable. In other words, in addition to the safety of the super structure, the performance of the subsoil must also be satisfied, to be able to carry the foundation loads safely.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a structure supporting system which helps increase the bearing capacity of the foundation ground. 
       PRIOR ART 
       [0002]    Pile foundation, mini piles and injection techniques are utilized among the traditional methods used in order to strengthen the ground beneath the present structure foundations. However, in addition to the high cost of said strengthening methods, important adverse effects are encountered such as not being able to use the structure for a long time during the strengthening construction phase and the destruction of the structure in a significant manner. The cement which is used as an injection material does not provide the required penetration on silty clay grounds and cannot penetrate into it; thus, it is ineffective. 
         [0003]    There are patents wherein the improvement of the ground is performed with high expansion chemical injections by means of injection techniques. As an example, EP0851064 numbered patent application can be shown. In the said application, numerous holes are perforated inside the ground wherein chemical substances are injected. After the reaction of the said chemical substance, an expansion five times more than the volume of the liquid is obtained and by means of its chemical pressure the ground is compressed and thus its resistance is increased. 
         [0004]    Another example is disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 4,567,708 numbered United States patent application. In the said application a disclosure is present wherein the foundation is elevated by filling the foundation base and the ground upper surface by means of injecting expandable chemical substance immediately under the foundation slab. 
         [0005]    However, in order to apply the methods described in the aforementioned two patents the grounds must be strengthened by means of compaction. With this method, granular grounds such as sand-pebble grounds can readily be given resistance by means of injection, but this injection method is not effective in soft and high plasticity clays and the bearing capacity of the ground cannot be increased. Thus, even if there is a ground with high carrying capacity or a rock layer very close to the foundation just a few meters below it the chemical injection is ineffective and strengthening cannot be obtained. 
         [0006]    In cases wherein chemical injection is inadequate, there are different patent applications which are developed to increase the carrying capacity of the ground whereon the structure is situated in a cost effective way. One of these is the JP2009035927 numbered Japanese patent application wherein a metal pipe is placed under the footings. The said metal pipes are fitted to the other foundation piles which are drilled inside the ground and they carry the footings. The thread joints between the piles ensure the arrangement of all pipes to be at the same height. 
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    In addition to an upper structure with adequate resistance, structure foundations must also have adequate bearing capacities in order to ensure engineered structures to remain erect. No matter how safe the upper structure is built, if the foundation bearing capacity is not adequate then sinking, slanting of the structure and cracks and damages on the super structure is inevitable. In other words, in addition to the safety of the super structure, ensuring that the ground&#39;s bearing capacity which carries the foundation of a building is at adequate levels is also a mandatory. 
         [0008]    During the design phase of the engineered structures, the foundation system, dimensions and depth is determined by calculating the structure loads active on the foundations. The most important factor here is the foundation ground bearing capacity. As a result, the foundation which delivers the structure loads to the ground must be designed by taking into account the dimension and depth of the footings and the foundation ground bearing resistance parameters. However, most often the site conditions are not concordant with the project data and due to foundation sinking cracks and damages on the super structure are seen. At this stage, in order to restore the structure safety it is necessary to fortify the ground beneath the structure foundations. 
         [0009]    It is necessary for the structure foundations such as the ground whereon the foundation plinth that carries the pillar is situated to carry the structure loads safely. For this reason, in the static design there is a harmony between the structure loads, foundation dimension and ground carrying capacity parameters. However, due to the unforeseen events that may rise sinking may occur in the foundation and cracks may be seen on the super structure and this might lead to a threat on the structure safety. In this case, it is obligatory to increase the bearing capacity of the foundation. 
         [0010]    In order to increase the said bearing capacity, elongated profiles preferably made of metal are used to lower the weight of the structure to the depth of the ground. By means of the said profiles the weight could be carried towards the lower layers of the ground. In addition to this, chemicals with expansion features are utilized in order to increase the density of the ground around the profiles. Chemical around profiles (T, L, square or in similar sections) will be held and the profiles will hold the ground with the expansion and penetration effect caused by the said chemicals beneath the ground. 
         [0011]    In order to facilitate the penetration of the chemicals into the ground, the chemicals are sent through pipes which function as an injector and they can be released by means of perforations situated on the pipes. 
     
    
     
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
         [0012]    In order to attain the objects of the invention the structure supporting system is illustrated in the attached figures, wherein; 
           [0013]    FIG.  1 —is the schematic view showing the interaction of the first application of the inventive structure supporting system with the ground. 
           [0014]    FIG.  2 —is the schematic view showing the state wherein the first application of the inventive structure supporting system is superimposed on the rock layer. 
           [0015]    FIG.  3 —is the schematic view of the second application belonging to the inventive structure supporting system. 
           [0016]    FIG.  4 —is a sectional view of the perforated pipe included in the second application of the inventive structure supporting system. 
           [0017]    FIG.  5 —is a sectional view of the imperforated pipe Included in the second application of the inventive structure supporting system. 
       
    
    
       [0018]    The components in the figures have each been numbered and they correspond as shown below. 
         [0019]      1 . Footing 
         [0020]      2 . Rod 
         [0021]      3 . Chemical 
         [0022]      4 . Injector 
         [0023]      5 . Perforated Pipe 
         [0024]      6 . Perforation 
         [0025]      7 . Screw 
         [0026]      8 . Channel 
         [0027]      9 . Soft ground 
         [0028]      10 . Compressed ground 
         [0029]      11 . Hard ground 
         [0030]      12 . Gap (loose ground) 
         [0031]    The inventive structure supporting system comprises, fundamentally, footings ( 1 ) which carry or which are to carry the structure, at least one rod ( 2 ) placed under each footing ( 1 ) and a chemical ( 3 ) which enwrap around the rod and fill the gap between the rod ( 2 ) and the footings ( 1 ). The structures exert pressure to the ground on multiple footings ( 1 ). In order to evenly distribute the weight of the structure on the ground, the number and the dimension of the footing ( 1 ) as well as the number of the rods ( 2 ) which are to be used together with the footing ( 1 ) can be changed. 
         [0032]    As mentioned above the rods ( 2 ) are placed under the footings. The rods according to the ground conditions or to the static and dynamic conditions of the elevated structure can be placed at right angles as well as in angular fashion. However, in both cases, when one end of the rods ( 2 ) are close to the footings ( 1 ) the other end will be moved towards the depth of the ground. The basic function of the rods ( 2 ) is to deliver the weight exerted on the footings to a hard rock layer or to support the structures by making use of the inner ground soil layer features. 
         [0033]    For this purpose, the rods ( 2 ) are used in two different ways in the structure supporting system. The rods ( 2 ) in the first application model of the invention are placed under the footings and then subjected to chemical injection by being delivered to their surroundings by means of injectors ( 4 ). After the injectors ( 4 ) inject the chemical ( 3 ), the chemical can be left under the soil and they could also be removed if they do not provide structural support. 
         [0034]    The chemical ( 3 ) used within the scope of the said first application of the invention enwraps the circumference of the rods ( 2 ) and due to its feature expands at least twice as much as the liquid volume and then solidifies. The soft ground ( 9 ) turns into a ground ( 10 ) with a compressed layer owing to the pressure caused by expansion. And when the circumference of the rods ( 2 ) are enwrapped, the chemical ( 3 ), which helps increase the effective section area of the rods ( 2 ) and at the same time compresses the soft ground layer, will ensure that the footings will be fitted inside a ground which is substantially harder than before because the broad base of the footings ( 1 ) not only presses on both the rod ( 2 ) and the chemical ( 3 ) solidified after expanding but also presses against the ground which is compressed in all directions. By this means, structure loads or sinking of the structure for any reason is prevented. 
         [0035]    In addition to this, the rods might not be capable enough to help soft soil layers to carry the upper structures despite the advantages provided by the chemical. In these situations, it is possible to add multiple rods ( 2 ) one after the other by means of screws ( 7 ) so that they are carried towards the hard ground ( 11 ) located at the depth of the soil. By socketing the rods ( 2 ) inside the hard ground ( 11 ) the weight of the structure will be delivered directly to the hard ground. Furthermore, making the rods ( 2 ) rest on the hard ground ( 11 ) without using socketing can be adequate in most cases for bearing the structure weight. 
         [0036]    In addition to this, the circumference of the rods ( 2 ) will be filled with the chemical ( 3 ) administered by means of injectors ( 4 ) as stated above in order to prevent them from buckling due to the exerted weight. In this way, the weight of the structure will be transferred to the hard ground ( 11 ) via rods ( 2 ) and also the chemical ( 3 ). 
         [0037]    In the second application of the invention, pipes ( 5 ) are used instead of rods ( 2 ) or the rods ( 2 ) and the pipes ( 5 ) are used together. The Injection process is realized by means of the perforations ( 6 ) located on the pipes ( 5 ) which resemble the rods ( 2 ) without having have to use injectors ( 4 ). 
         [0038]    As the pipes ( 5 ) perform also the injection process it is unnecessary to convey the injectors ( 4 ) inside the soil. At the same time, is possible to perform a direct injection to a depth determined during the ground inspections. For example, when an injection is made to a volume which shows less resistance to the expanding chemical ( 3 ) and which is located between two hard soil layers, this injection can be realized by means of the perforations ( 6 ) located on the pipes ( 5 ) and which correspond to the relevant depth. 
         [0039]    In addition to this, this can also be possible by adding rods ( 2 ) to the ends of the pipes ( 5 ) by means of screw connections and socketing the rods to the hard ground ( 11 ). With such an application, the weight of the structure can be carried with a method wherein the soft soil layers are compressed and the weight is delivered on to the hard ground ( 11 ) at deeper depths. 
         [0040]    As with the rods ( 2 ), the pipes ( 5 ) can also be placed at right angles or at angular fashions. Moreover, as the pipes ( 5 ) have a screw ( 7 ) structure enabling them to be added to one another they are not theoretically limited in any way whatsoever regarding their number and depth. The perforation ( 6 ) located on the pipes ( 5 ) can be opened at different numbers and diameters in a single file or all around the pipe ( 5 ) in such a way that they do not disrupt the pipe ( 5 ) endurance. 
         [0041]    In the preferred embodiment of the invention, it is possible to join together two different pipe ( 5 ) components by means of screws ( 7 ) in order to place the perforations ( 6 ) in such a way that they correspond to a predetermined depth. One of these is a pipe ( 5 ) having perforations ( 6 ) and a channel ( 8 ) wherein the liquid chemical ( 3 ) can be conveyed and the other is a pipe ( 5 ) having just single channel ( 8 ). Both pipe ( 5 ) components are joined together as desired and ensure that the chemical ( 3 ) is administered inside the soil. 
         [0042]    In both of the embodiments of the invention described above, basically the rod ( 2 ), the pipe ( 5 ) and the chemicals ( 3 ) ensure the improvement of the ground where on the footings ( 1 ) are to be placed. However, another important object of the invention is to support the footings ( 1 ) at predetermined heights on structures that are to be newly built or to elevate the footings ( 1 ) to a required height on existing structures. For this reason, a gap ( 12 ) needs to be left between the footings ( 1 ) and the rods ( 2 ) due to the unpredictably sensitive and different depth structures of rods ( 2 ) and the pipes ( 5 ) and as a broad pressing surface is obtained on narrow sectioned rods ( 2 ). 
         [0043]    Besides forming a platform in order to support the footings ( 1 ) on desired elevations by using the said gap ( 12 ), it is possible to elevate the structure from its footings ( 1 ). A chemical ( 3 ) injection must be made inside the gap ( 12 ) in order for it to distribute the weight exerted on itself or to elevate the structure. 
         [0044]    The feature and the quantity of the chemical ( 3 ) which is to be injected can be determined by taking into account the variables such as the volume of the gap ( 12 ) situated on the rods ( 2 ) or on the pipes ( 5 ), the pressure produced with expansion coefficient of the chemical ( 3 ) and how high the structure is to be elevated. 
         [0045]    The structure of the said chemical ( 3 ) could resemble to the structure of the chemical used around the rods ( 2 ) and the pipes ( 5 ) or it could have a different composition. 
         [0046]    The said chemicals ( 3 ) are known in the construction sector and they generally have polymer base. Chemical can be provided for different expansion rates, solid densities and different requirements. 
         [0047]    In the aforementioned embodiments of the invention a disclosure is present wherein the structure is supported by means of footings ( 1 ). In spite of this, as known in the current construction sector, it is also possible to support construction elements such as strip foundation and base slab which deliver and/or distribute the structure weight to the ground by means of rods ( 2 ), pipes ( 5 ) and chemicals ( 3 ). 
         [0048]    In addition to this, the diameters of the rod ( 2 ) and the pipe ( 5 ), which are preferably made of metal in accordance with the requirements of the construction, can be different than the volume of the gap ( 12 ). However, fundamentally, the diameters of the rod ( 2 ), the pipe ( 5 ) and the injectors ( 4 ) must have a dimension which will enable them to be inserted inside the soil without needing digging and prevent them from getting damaged during hammering/propelling/removing. 
         [0049]    The inventive structure supporting system cannot be limited with the examples given above to clarify the description. The invention, principally, is as stated in the claims.