Patent ID: 8096732

Claim:
A foundation construction method for constructing a foundation on soil, comprising: installing a plurality of vertical supports in the soil, wherein the vertical supports are adapted to resist movement in response to fluctuation in elevation of the soil; coupling a first horizontal support between a first vertical support and a second vertical support selected from the plurality of vertical supports; coupling a second horizontal support between a third vertical support and a fourth vertical support selected from the plurality of vertical supports, wherein the first horizontal support and the second horizontal support define a gap therebetween; positioning at least one spanning support between the first and second horizontal support, wherein: a first end of the at least one spanning support is coupled to the first horizontal support; a second end of the at least one spanning support is coupled to the second horizontal support; and the at least one spanning support comprises: an upper surface and a lower surface; and a flange extending from the lower surface; positioning a plurality of composite materials on the flange of the at least one spanning support to fill in the gap between the first and second horizontal supports, wherein the composite materials have a density less than about 0.10 lb/in 3 and a maximum compressive strength less than about 2900 psi; and disposing a filler material over and around the plurality of composite materials, wherein the filler material is adapted to: couple the plurality of composite materials together; and couple the plurality of composite materials to the at least one spanning support.