Abstract: Zero-ascend omnispecies (ZAO) attraction system includes a fish passage attraction module that can be deployed in a fishway where water flows downstream. The fish passage attraction module includes a body having a first end and an opposite second end, first adaptor adjacent the first end and second adaptor adjacent the second end. The adaptors are configured to alter water flow fields downstream of the module so as to attract fish to an entrance thereof.

Abstract: A pumped storage hydropower apparatus includes a housing and at least one pump disposed within the housing. The at least one pump is configured to operate in a first mode of operation or a second mode of operation based on an operation condition including at least one of a time or a price of electrical power from a remote electrical power source. In the first mode of operation, the at least one pump receives a first flow of water from a first water storage unit, transports the first flow to a second water storage unit, and generates electrical power for transmission to the remote electrical power source. In the second mode of operation, the at least one pump receives a second flow of water from the second water storage unit, and transports the second flow to the first water storage unit using electrical power from the remote electrical power source.

Abstract: A multilayer armor is provided that includes a first rigid layer, a second rigid layer, and an interlayer securing the first and second rigid layers to one another. At least one of the first and second rigid layers can include a plurality of regions with a physical or material property that varies between the regions. The interlayer can have a force-extension ratio of 5,600 psi/in or less. The interlayer can have a physical or material property that varies within the interlayer.

Abstract: A pumped storage hydropower apparatus includes a housing and at least one pump disposed within the housing. The at least one pump is configured to operate in a first mode of operation or a second mode of operation based on an operation condition including at least one of a time or a price of electrical power from a remote electrical power source. In the first mode of operation, the at least one pump receives a first flow of water from a first water storage unit, transports the first flow to a second water storage unit, and generates electrical power for transmission to the remote electrical power source. In the second mode of operation, the at least one pump receives a second flow of water from the second water storage unit, and transports the second flow to the first water storage unit using electrical power from the remote electrical power source.

Abstract: A portable protection system including a selectively collapsible truss for supporting a protection member. The truss is movable between a collapsed position and an expanded position. The protection member includes at least one layer of ballistic armor material for disrupting a projectile. The truss includes suitable connectors for releasably connecting the protection member to the truss, and also suitable connectors for releasably connecting the truss to an adjoining truss so as to form a protection wall.

Abstract: A multilayer armor is provided that includes a first rigid layer, a second rigid layer, and an interlayer securing the first and second rigid layers to one another. At least one of the first and second rigid layers can include a plurality of regions with a physical or material property that varies between the regions. The interlayer can have a force-extension ratio of 5,600 psi/in or less. The interlayer can have a physical or material property that varies within the interlayer.

Abstract: A transparent armor system includes a hard face fabricated from a substantially transparent glass-ceramic material exhibiting crystalline bodies throughout the mass of the glass-ceramic material and a backing covering a rear surface of the hard face opposite an anticipated incoming projectile. The backing has a refractive index substantially matching that of the hard face such as to allow substantial transparency of the transparent armor system. The hard face serves to disburse energy caused by the impact of an incoming projectile with the transparent armor system, while the backing serves to retain any pieces of the hard face fractured during ballistic impact. In certain embodiments, a plurality of hard faces are held in parallel and spaced apart arrangement.

Abstract: A transparent armor system includes a hard face fabricated from a substantially transparent glass-ceramic material exhibiting crystalline bodies throughout the mass of the glass-ceramic material and a backing covering a rear surface of the hard face opposite an anticipated incoming projectile. The backing has a refractive index substantially matching that of the hard face such as to allow substantial transparency of the transparent armor system. The hard face serves to disburse energy caused by the impact of an incoming projectile with the transparent armor system, while the backing serves to retain any pieces of the hard face fractured during ballistic impact. In certain embodiments, a plurality of hard faces are held in parallel and spaced apart arrangement.

Abstract: A portable protection system including a selectively collapsible truss for supporting a protection member. The truss is movable between a collapsed position and an expanded position. The protection member includes at least one layer of ballistic armor material for disrupting a projectile. The truss includes suitable connectors for releasably connecting the protection member to the truss, and also suitable connectors for releasably connecting the truss to an adjoining truss so as to form a protection wall.

Abstract: A portable protection system including a selectively collapsible truss for supporting a protection member. The truss is movable between a collapsed position and an expanded position. The protection member includes at least one layer of ballistic armor material for disrupting a projectile. The truss includes suitable connectors for releasably connecting the protection member to the truss, and also suitable connectors for releasably connecting the truss to an adjoining truss so as to form a protection wall.

Abstract: An armor panel having an impact face is provided. The armor panel includes at least one rigid absorbing layer and a high-tensile confining layer surrounding the at least one rigid absorbing layer. The at least one rigid absorbing layer can have a plurality of strip-shaped protection elements that are adhered to one another along a plane substantially orthogonal to the impact face. The at least one rigid absorbing layer can be formed of a glass-ceramic material having a coefficient of thermal expansion substantially equal to zero and that, upon impact by a projectile, converts to a dilatant power at least in an area of impact.

Abstract: A portable protection system including a selectively collapsible truss for supporting a protection member. The truss is movable between a collapsed position and an expanded position. The protection member includes at least one layer of ballistic armor material for disrupting a projectile. The truss includes suitable connectors for releasably connecting the protection member to the truss, and also suitable connectors for releasably connecting the truss to an adjoining truss so as to form a protection wall.

Abstract: A portable protection system including a selectively collapsible truss for supporting a protection member. The truss is movable between a collapsed position and an expanded position. The protection member includes at least one layer of ballistic armor material for disrupting a projectile. The truss includes suitable connectors for releasably connecting the protection member to the truss, and also suitable connectors for releasably connecting the truss to an adjoining truss so as to form a protection wall.

Abstract: A portable protection system including a selectively collapsible truss for supporting a protection member. The truss is movable between a collapsed position and an expanded position. The protection member includes at least one layer of ballistic armor material for disrupting a projectile. The truss includes suitable connectors for releasably connecting the protection member to the truss, and also suitable connectors for releasably connecting the truss to an adjoining truss so as to form a protection wall.

Abstract: A portable protection system including a selectively collapsible truss for supporting a protection member. The truss is movable between a collapsed position and an expanded position. The protection member includes at least one layer of ballistic armor material for disrupting a projectile. The truss includes suitable connectors for releasably connecting the protection member to the truss, and also suitable connectors for releasably connecting the truss to an adjoining truss so as to form a protection wall.

Abstract: An encapsulated ballistic structure for limiting the transfer of impact force from a projectile. An encapsulant substantially encases and confines a core material. The core material absorbs a part of the compressive stress of a projectile impact. The encapsulant absorbs a part of the tensile stress of a projectile impact. The encapsulant is fabricated from an organic compound having a greater tensile strength than the tensile strength of the core material.

Abstract: An encapsulated ballistic structure for limiting the transfer of impact force from a projectile. An encapsulant substantially encases and confines a core material. The core material absorbs a part of the compressive stress of a projectile impact. The encapsulant absorbs a part of the tensile stress of a projectile impact. The encapsulant is fabricated from an organic compound having a greater tensile strength than the tensile strength of the core material.

Abstract: A composite material that includes a ceramic with or without a fiber and a metal with the metal being magnesium, wherein the magnesium infiltrates the ceramic to form a continuous matrix, encapsulates the ceramic, or both infiltrates and encapsulates the ceramic or encapsulates the ceramic and fiber.