Abstract: An acoustical barrier wall includes a base; a plurality of acoustical panels sized for vertically stacked co-operating engagement, each panel having a top edge, a bottom edge, a first side edge, and a second side edge; at least one pair of H-beams spaced in a row and extending vertically upward from the base, one H-beam being adapted to supportingly receive the first side edge of each panel and the other H-beam being adapted to supportingly receive the second side edge of each panel; and means for protecting the first and second side edges of at least one panel. In the preferred embodiment, the means for protecting the first and second side edges is at least one protective sleeve mounted on the first or second side edge of at least one panel. The protective sleeve is slidably mounted on the side edge and is made of a plastic material, such as polyethylene.

Abstract: The reinforcing method of the invention comprises the steps of removing asphalt from a concrete slab 2 of a road bridge, placing a reinforcing fiber sheet 20 onto the upper surface of the slab, preparing a fiber-reinforced composite material by impregnation with a resin 13 and causing the resin to set, coating an adhesive 22 onto a reinforcing material 21 comprising the foregoing composite material, sprinkling sand 23 thereover to form irregularities of sand 23 on the upper surface of the reinforcing material 21, hardening the adhesive 22, then coating a solvent-based asphalt primer 24 onto the sand 23, and placing asphalt 7 again, thereby completing the reinforcing operation.