Deformation-compliant rigid inclusions with embedded structural reinforcements

1. A soil inclusion comprising an elongated, cured cementitious columnar body located within the soil and including a tubular perforate structural reinforcement embedded within the body, with portions of the body exuded through perforations of the structural reinforcement, wherein said reinforcement is flexible with a thickness between 0.05 and 0.1 inches.

2. The inclusion of claim 1 , said reinforcement extending substantially the entire length of said body.

3. The inclusion of claim 1 , said reinforcement formed of composite material having glass or carbon fibers incorporated into synthetic resin material.

4. The inclusion of claim 1 , said reinforcement having an ultimate strain of between 0.01-0.015.

5. The inclusion of claim 1 , said body having a length of from about 10-50 feet.

6. The inclusion of claim 1 , said body being vertical or non-vertical in orientation.

7. The inclusion of claim 1 , wherein the perforations of said reinforcement have a size ranging from about 0.5-1 square inches.

8. A method of forming an inclusion, comprising the steps of:

driving a tubular mandrel into the soil, there being a flexible, tubular, perforate reinforcement about the exterior surface of said mandrel, with said reinforcement having a thickness in the range of 0.05-0.1 inches; and

withdrawing said mandrel from the soil, injecting flowable cementitious material into the mandrel during withdrawal thereof, and causing the cementitious material to form a columnar body, with portions of the body exuded through perforations of said reinforcements in order to embed the tubular reinforcement within the body.

9. The method of claim 8 , including the step of attaching a sacrificial shoe to the end of said mandrel prior to said driving step.

10. The method of claim 8 , including the step of securing the lower end of said reinforcement to said mandrel, prior to driving the mandrel into the soil.

11. The method of claim 8 , said reinforcement extending substantially the entire length of said body.

12. The method of claim 8 , said reinforcement formed of composite material having glass or carbon fibers incorporated into synthetic resin material.

13. The method of claim 8 , said reinforcement having an ultimate strain of between 0.01-0.015.

14. The method of claim 8 , said body having a length of from about 10-50 feet.

15. The method of claim 8 , said reinforcement being pre-formed as a tubular sleeve, including the step of applying said tubular sleeve over said mandrel prior to said driving step.

16. The method of claim 15 , including the step of severing said tubular sleeve prior to said driving step.

17. The method of claim 16 , including the step of securing the severed tubular sleeve to the lower end of said mandrel, prior to said driving step.

18. The method of claim 8 , including the step of installing said body in the soil at a vertical or non-vertical in orientation.

19. The method of claim 8 , wherein the perforate reinforcement is placed about the exterior surface of said mandrel by drawing the perforate reinforcement from a roll of the perforate reinforcement.

20. A method of forming an inclusion, comprising the steps of:

driving a tubular mandrel into the soil, there being a flexible, tubular, perforate reinforcement about the exterior surface of said mandrel;

withdrawing said mandrel from the soil, injecting flowable cementitious material into the mandrel during withdrawal thereof, and causing the cementitious material to form a columnar body, with portions of the body exuded through the perforations of said reinforcements in order to embed the tubular reinforcement within the body; and

wrapping said reinforcement about the exterior surface of said mandrel during said driving of the mandrel into the soil.

21. The method of claim 20 , including the step of severing said wrapped reinforcement after said mandrel is fully driven into the soil and said cementitious material has been injected.