Abstract: A reinforcement for a building works structure comprising an assembly of solid wires. The wires are mutually parallel to form a bundle and the reinforcement comprises a sheath made of plastic material enclosing the bundle and providing it with cohesion.

Abstract: A device comprising a rigid housing connected to the structural element and enclosing at least partially the cable, a wedging structure arranged between the cable and the housing, load transmitting device arranged to exert a longitudinal compressive stress, parallel to the cable, on the wedging structure. The wedging structure is pressed against the cable and the housing under the action of the longitudinal compressive stress, so as to provide resistance to the movement of the housing and the structural element parallel to the cable.

Abstract: A connecting system for connecting a cable including at least one wire for a building work structure and an element of the structure. The connecting system comprises a clamping device which is connected to the element of the structure, and a load transmitting device which transmits a clamping load of the clamping device to the cable and which houses the at least one wire of the cable. The at least one wire is bonded into the load transmitting device.

Abstract: The structural cable has a bundle of substantially parallel tendons contained in at least one plastic protective sheath section. The plastic material of the sheath section extends between the tendons to form a coherent matrix for spacing the tendons. The cable may be used as a pre-stressing cable, a stay cable or a carrying cable for suspension bridges.

Abstract: The system for attaching a reinforcing band to a wall (2) of a reinforced supporting structure comprises a winding support (10) for the reinforcing band and two staples (11a, 11b) for fixing the winding support (10) to the wall (2), which are formed from a loop of non-corrodible material. The placement device comprises a template for shaping the loop and forming the two staples (11a, 11b), two pairs of collars, mounted on the template and intended for laterally holding the two staples (11a, 11b) respectively along the template, and two spacers, each extending between the collars of one pair to ensure. a parallel arrangement between the two branches of each staple (11a, 11b).

Abstract: A process of manufacturing concrete construction elements is provided. A first sheath is placed in a first mold, the first sheath connected at an end to a first sleeve applied against a wall of the mold, the sleeve engaging a positioning boss placed on the wall. Concrete is poured into the first mold and set to obtain the first element. The first element is extracted from the first mold and includes a contact face shaped by the wall. A second sheath is placed in a second mold, the second mold having one side formed by the contact face. The second sheath includes an end connected to a second sleeve held in position relative to the first sleeve by a positioning joint. Concrete is poured into the second mold and set to obtain a second element. The second element is extracted from the second mold by disengaging the positioning joint.

Abstract: The device includes a first member surrounding and secured to a section of a cable, a second member connected to an element to which a portion of the cable is attached, and arranged around said first member, a resilient or viscoelastic ring engaging the first member and the second member, and a flexible container housed in a ring-shaped compartment between the two members and filled with a viscous substance.

Abstract: In order to measure in situ the residual tension F1 of a pre-stressed bar braced between two anchorages, the two-way propagation time T1 of an ultra-sonic wave between the two ends of the bar is measured, and F1 is evaluated by the formula F1=F0+kb.(T1−T0). During a preliminary calibration carried out without demounting, the bar is subjected to a variable traction effort F.

Abstract: The device comprises a collar consisting of two shells, designed to provide a link with the load-transmitting element. The cable has an assembly of tensioned strands contained, at the level of the collar, in a matrix filling the interstices between the strands. This matrix is totally or partially made from a plastic material susceptible to creep under the effect of the clamping action of the collar. The clamping action is applied by elongate elements transmitting a clamping force to the shells of the collar. These elongate elements are stressed so as to produce a longitudinal elastic deformation that is much greater than the maximum settlement of the matrix due to creep. This prevents any undesirable loosening of the collar.

Abstract: Method of construction of a vault, in which at least two half-shells (1-8; 60) are brought to bear against one another by means of at least two bearing pieces (30, 50; 70) which are mated and, each half-shell (1-8; 60) comprising an upper edge (21; 61) and a bottom lip (22); each bearing piece (30, 50; 70) is fixed removably to a half-shell (1-8; 60), the two half-shells (1-8; 60) are brought to bear against one another temporarily via their bearing piece (30, 50; 70) without their bottom lips (22) being brought to bear against one another, a keystone-forming material is cast between said upper edges (21; 61), on the bottom (14) constituted by the lips (22), so as to bring about continuous transverse joining together of the half-shells (1-8; 60), and then the bearing pieces (30, 50; 70) are removed so as to effect load transfer from the bearing pieces (30, 50; 70) to the half-shells (1-8; 60). The invention is suitable for the construction of a passage under an embankment.

Abstract: A bunker construction is comprised of precast arch elements which form a semicircular roof of the bunker by engaging cast-in-place footings. A front and back plate cover the front and back of the enclosure defined by the arch elements. A crown element along the apex of the arch and footing blocks at the bottom sides of the arch along the footing facilitate a lightning protection system. Precast concrete panels form lateral sides of the front of the bunker construction and compacted earth coacts with steel stabilizing elements associated with the precast panels and the front plate of the bunker. The entire bunker exterior is covered with compacted earth thereby forming a bunker construction with enhanced structural integrity due to the mechanically stabilized earth in combination with the precast arch elements and front panel members.

Abstract: A retaining wall construction includes a first lower mechanically stabilized earthen bulk form with tensile members projecting from the front face of the first bulk form connected to precast wall panels that are spaced from the front face of the first bulk form. The space between the front face of the first bulk from and the panels is filled with concrete. Positioned on top of the concrete and the first bulk form, as well as along the sides thereof, are additional bulk forms which include tensile members connected to precast wall panels.

Abstract: The invention is related to a tie device for use between two structural elements (10, 20) of a civil engineering structure, such as, for example a bridge. The tie device allows the two structural elements to be displaced relative to each other during slow movements, and prevents the two structural elements from being displaced relative to each other during rapid movements. In one embodiment of the invention, the tie device comprises a cylinder (30) which is stationary relative to the first structural element (10), and which defines two chambers (31, 32) that contain a fluid and that are interconnected via an orifice (39). The cylinder (30) includes a wall (33) that separates the two chambers. Each chamber is defined at its end remote from the wall (33) by moving pistons (37, 38) that are secured to the second structural element (20).

Abstract: A damping device is provided for damping relative displacements between first and second structural elements. The device includes a cylinder which is stationary relative to the first structural element and defines two chambers separated by a wall. A fluid is contained within the chambers. A passage is provided to interconnect the two chambers and at least one both-way valve is provided which shuts off the passage. When the pressure in one of the chambers increases due to movement of the structural elements, the passage is opened to enable the fluid to flow from one chamber to the other.

Abstract: A road joint is disclosed formed by two rigid frames (4) joined together by a flexible strip (2) formed by an elastomer body having in cross section the form of an upside-down truncated V with thick legs and reinforced by a central horizontal rigid plate (1). The frames are disposed on opposing sides of the center of the joint and each include a lower horizontal heel (3) on which a corresponding leg of the elastomer body rests and is adhered. Rigid plate (1) includes two lateral members slanted slightly with respect to the horizontal and the heels of the frames (4) have upper surfaces (8) parallel to these lateral members. The slanted heels (3) of the rigid frames (4) orient the legs of the flexible strip (2) such that vertical deformation of the flexible strip (2) is minimized.

Abstract: For placing a multiple strand cable under tension by successive tightening of the different strands by means of an individual jack, procedure is as follows: the first strand of the cable is tightened, called below "control strand" while keeping possible then measurement of the tension of this strand at any moment, then pulling a second strand until its tension is equal to that of the control strand, measured at the same moment, and then anchoring this second strand so stretched, a third strand is then tightened until its tension is equal to that of the control strand measured at the corresponding moment and then this third strand so tightened is anchored, and so on until the anchoring of the last strand, after which the tension then applied to the control strand is noted and, after having relaxed the latter and having freed from it the measuring means, this control strand is anchored while applying to it the tension thus noted.

Abstract: A device is provided for damping the vibrations of a stay cable (1) comprising an annular gutter (6) surrounding a section of the cable and secured to this cable, an annulus (8) mounted in the gutter, with interpositioning of an annular cavity (7), so as to be able to move transversely with respect to this gutter, substantially indeformable seals (10) providing sealing of the annular cavity with respect to the outside, a cushion (9) made from a material capable of flowing without modifying its overall volume and filling the annular cavity, and a rigid structure (11) connecting the annulus to an appropriate foundation (12).

Abstract: A device is provided for the anchorage of a stretched cable (2,4) on a bearing surface through which this cable passes, comprising a U-shaped body (8) adapted to straddle a section of the cable, the arms of which body are extended by flanges (9) directed towards each other, and a peg (12) adapted to be housed in the U-shaped opening of said body so as to bear against the flanges of its arms, the assembly of the body and the peg being designed so as to define a truncated cone shaped housing for a split truncated cone shaped jaw (14), known per se, adapted for clamping said section.

Abstract: An anchoring device for a tensioned cable comprises a split jaw with a striated inner cylindrical surface and with an outer lateral surface of frustoconic shape, which surrounds one end of the cable and cooperates with a complementary housing hollowed in a rigid part. This housing is so dimensioned so that it surrounds continuously the whole of the tapered end of the jaw. The half-angle at the apex of the outer lateral surface, of frustoconic shape, of the tapered end of the jaw is less than 10.degree.. The radial thickness of the annular terminal section of said tapered end is less than or equal to to 1/10 of the inner radius of said end.

Abstract: A tie for connecting together parts of a structure, for example a stay for suspending the deck of a bridge from a tower, is constructed so that its length can be adjusted in a simple manner with the tie in service. The tie is made up from several stressed steel tendons, enclosed in a protective sheath filled with hardened material. At its ends the sheath incorporates anchoring devices for the transfer of the pull from the tie to the structure. The sheath forms a conduit whose ends are fixed securely to the anchoring devices. The conduit is isolated, throughout its length, from the structure so as to be capable of sliding longitudinally with respect thereto. At least one of the anchoring devices includes connection means for the active part of a tensioning apparatus and also includes means for bearing against the structure. This bearing means is adjustable on the anchoring device in the longitudinal direction of the tie. .Iadd.