Patent ID: 8360689

Claim:
A method for ground improvement with hardened inclusions, comprising: (a) providing a device for ground improvement comprised of a top plate having a first surface configured for having a driving device attached thereto to provide impact thereon, and a plurality of vertically extending tines having a length of at least three and a half (3.5) feet attached to a second surface of the top plate opposite the first surface of the top plate, and horizontally spaced from each other at upper lateral edges thereof, for being driven into a ground surface, wherein the tines comprise a length to spacing (L/S) ratio of greater than two (2), wherein length (L) is the length of the tines and spacing (S) is the spacing between the tines on a tine to center-to-center basis, and the tines being shaped, spaced, and oriented relative to each other in a manner to achieve displacement of ground material downward and radially outward, the length and spacing of the tines forming a boundary condition that restricts horizontal soil movement at the midpoints between adjacent tines during insertion and cavity expansion; (b) advancing the device tines into the ground surface to create cavities at the location the tines are advanced; (c) at least partially retracting the tines from the ground surface; and (d) adding hardening cementitious material backfill into the cavities for forming a plurality of hardened inclusions within the cavities.