Abstract: A geotechnical structure that includes a first body of soil having a first unsaturated concentration of moisture. There is also a second body of soil, which includes a second unsaturated concentration of moisture that is different from the first concentration. A moisture barrier is interposed between the first body of soil and the second body of soil. The moisture barrier includes an upper and lower layer that draw water laterally. A medial capillary barrier layer prevents traverse moisture migration between the first and second bodies of soil. Moisture migration both upwardly and downwardly is thus prevented, and water in the first and second bodies of unsaturated soil is drained laterally to reduce pore water pressures in the first and second bodies of soil.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting and monitoring scouring around a structural mer uses time-domain reflectometry (TDR) to measure the level of sediment around a submerged portion of the structural member such as a bridge pier, dock, utility crossing, or similar structure. The apparatus includes a time domain reflectometer which transmits a series of electrical pulses, a sensor which is connected with said time-domain reflectometer, and a signal analyzer which receives and interprets the portion of the electrical pulses reflected back to the source from an interface, such as water/air or water/gravel, to calculate the position of the interface along the sensor. Knowledge of the position of the interfaces before and after a scouring event and of the dielectric constant of the surrounding media allows the user to detect and monitor the level of erosion caused by scouring.

Abstract: A well assembly device comprises an outer tubular sleeve with a first end and second end. An inner tubular member has a first end and a second end, and the inner tubular member is disposed within the outer tubular sleeve. The inner tubular member includes a screened portion at its second end. A tip is frictionally secured to the second end of the outer tubular sleeve, so that the outer tubular sleeve and the tip may selectively disengage.

Abstract: Dry sand is "rained" or pluviated into a receptor container used in the sy of soil mechanics. A supply vessel in the shape of an open-top rectangular box has four vertical side walls, a perforated bottom tray, and a slidable perforated tray in contact therewith, whereby sand flows by gravity from the supply vessel through perforations in the stationary and slidable trays and "rains" or pluviates into the receptor container when the slidable tray is in the "open" position, and sand is blocked from flowing from the supply vessel with the slidable tray in the "closed" position.

Abstract: A roof moisture detection assembly includes an imaging system for obtaining thermal and visible images of a roof surface, an imaging system support ructure for mounting the imaging system in a position elevated relative to the roof surface, a reference target mounted on the roof surface, and an image-processing system adapted to compare current thermal and visible images of the roof surface with previous thermal and visible images of the roof surface and detect shapes and areas of anomalous features, and to compare the current thermal and visible images with each other and detect shapes and areas of anomalous features.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting and monitoring scouring of a bed of sediment bath a body of water uses time-domain reflectometry (TDR) to measure the level of sediment adjacent to underwater sensors. The apparatus includes an electrical pulse generator which produces and intermittently transmits a series of electrical pulses along a permanent transmission line arranged adjacent to the area of concern, a timer to measure the travel time of the pulses within the transmission lines, a transmitter for transmitting a radio signal corresponding to the travel times of the pulses, a receiver for receiving the signal, and a signal analyzer which interprets the signal to determine a measurement of scouring. Knowledge of the position of the interfaces before and after a scouring event and the dielectric constants of the surrounding media allows the user to detect and monitor the level of erosion caused by scouring.

Abstract: A system for monitoring and controlling the level of liquid in a closed cainer includes a block for mounting at an upper end of the container, a lower level electrode for extending from the block vertically into the container, an upper level electrode for extending from the block vertically into the container and shorter than the lower level electrode, a valve for venting gas from the container, and a motor for driving the valve. Electric circuitry is responsive to liquid in the container rising to a free end of the upper level electrode to activate the motor to close the valve to increase gas pressure in the container to force lowering of the level of the liquid, and further electrical circuitry is responsive to the liquid in the container dropping below a free end of the lower level electrode to activate the motor to open the valve to vent the container and reduce gas pressure therein to permit rising of the liquid level.

Abstract: A bullet comprises a lead sheet and a zinc foil fixed to the lead sheet, the sheet and foil being rolled and pressure formed into a bullet having generally helical layers of the lead sheet and zinc foil. The bullet exhibits an improved environmental impact on soil, relative to all-lead bullets.

Abstract: A scour probe assembly comprises an elongated rigid tubular member of eleically insulative material, an anchoring structure fixed to a distal end of the tubular member, and a signal transmission device mounted on the tubular member. A pair of substantially parallel electrically conductive sensor lines are fixed to an external wall of the tubular member and extend along at least a portion of an axial length of the tubular member from a closed proximal end toward the distal end and extend through the closed proximal end to an interior of the tubular member. Electronic components are disposed in the interior of the tubular member and are interposed between ends of the sensor lines in the interior of the tubular member and the signal transmission device mounted in the tubular member.

Abstract: A device for measuring the concentration changes of a vapor at various moisture contents ranging from saturation to dry and under different confining stress as it diffuses through a porous media which includes a porous central housing having a central space and a fluid conveying line extending into the central space of the central housing and an outer housing which encompasses for containment of the central housing and is positioned in an outward spaced relation from the central housing to form a medial space, between the external housing and the internal housing and having a second fluid conveying line extending into the medial space.

Abstract: A method for rigorously reshaping a pair of overlapping digital images using a Digital Photogrammetric Workstation (DPW) is disclosed. The overlapping images are imported into the DPW as a pair of originally distorted images having an associated sensor model. The original images are triangulated to adjust sensor parameters. Orthophotos are created with a flat digital terrain matrix (DTM) to leave terrain displacements within themselves, and according to a sensor model and formula for exact projective computations. The orthophotos are aligned by rotation, and interior orientation coordinates of the equivalent vertical frame images are determined. The orthophotos are imported as a pair of overlapping equivalent vertical frame images according to the interior orientation coordinates. A digital terrain model is generated in the DPW using the overlapping equivalent vertical frame images. Another orthophoto is produced using the digital terrain model to remove the measured terrain displacements.

Abstract: The invention relates to a passive snow removal system which deliberately rms vortices from a passing airflow and directs the vortices into scouring contact with snow accumulation on a target surface. The apparatus includes a base and a vortex producing plate rotatably mounted at an inclined angle relative to an upper portion of the base near the plate's center of mass. The geometry of the plate, which is preferably triangular, is used to aerodynamically form vortices from a passing airflow and direct the vortices onto a target surface. Once the vortices are in scouring contact with the target surface, they act upon the surface to dislodge and carry away any accumulated snow in the direction of the airflow and redeposit it downwind, thus removing the snow from the target surface.

Abstract: An assembly for extracting discrete soil samples from subsurface soil at a lurality of selected depths includes an elongated outer tubular housing, and a soil sample tube for disposal in the outer tubular housing. The soil sample tube is movable axially in the outer tubular housing and provided with a feature thereon for locking the soil sample tube in the outer tubular housing in a fully inserted position in the outer tubular housing. The replaceable soil sample tube defines a sample chamber proximate a distal end thereof. The assembly further includes a cone tip assembly including a cone tip member and a cone tip rod, the cone tip member being fixed to a distal end of the cone tip rod. The cone tip rod is movable axially in the soil sample tube, the cone tip member having a locking feature thereon for locking the cone tip member at the distal end of the soil sample tube with a cone portion of the cone tip member extending distally beyond a distal end of the outer tubular housing.

Abstract: A mounting device for pressure transducers comprises a housing with two cbers separated by an acoustic filter/heat sink. A blast shield having at least one opening allows communication between the measured environment and the first chamber and provides protection to the acoustic filter/heat sink film blast particles and flame. The acoustic filter/heat sink comprises a plurality of tortuous paths through a material having a high thermal conductivity and high specific gravity. The pressure transducer is located in the second chamber and is mounted on a thermally insulating mounting plate. The tortuous paths provide attenuation of high frequency, high amplitude pressure transients, cools the medium entering the filter due to the pressure transient and protects the transducer from corrosive particles and aerosols.

Abstract: The mass of stockpiled materials is determined from detailed measurements of the elevation of the pile surface at many points and the measurement of the gravitational field along several profile lines across the surface of the stockpiled material. The elevation measurements allow the calculation of the pile volume. Measured gravity values are adjusted using standard gravity corrections in such a manner as to imply all gravity data are collected along the same reference datum. Variations in the corrected gravity values are assumed to be caused solely by the pile material. The gravity measurements are interpreted using analytical and statistical methods to determine the volume-average bulk density value of the pile material. The pile volume is multiplied by the volume-average bulk density to obtain the weight of the stockpiled material.

Abstract: A shielded thermocouple assembly includes a mounting pipe having a flange a first end thereof and extending outwardly therefrom, and a mounting plug having a first end connected to a second end of the mounting pipe, the mounting plug having a recess in a second end thereof defined in part by a circular side wall having at least one opening therein. A fine-wire thermocouple is fixed in the mounting plug and extends into the recess. A rigid shield pipe is disposed concentrically around and spaced from the mounting pipe, the shield pipe being closed by a shield plate proximate the mounting plug second end. An inlet extends through a side wall of the shield pipe in alignment with a side wall of the mounting plug recess, and an outlet extends through the side wall of the shield pipe and is in axial alignment with the inlet.

Abstract: A debris separator for a dredge pump includes a body portion having a top ll, a bottom wall, first and second side walls, and an aft end wall, the aft end wall defining a separator outlet for connection to the pump, a funnel portion having an entry end defining a separator inlet and a larger discharge end fixed to a forward inlet end of the body portion. The separator further includes a door hingedly mounted on the body portion first side wall and spring biased to a closed position overlying an opening in the first side wall, and a floor in the body portion slanted toward the bottom wall and toward the first side wall opening. Thus, upon stopping of the pump, back pressure is generated in the body by backflow of water into the separator. Backpressure causes the hinged side door to open. Heavy objects which have fallen to the slanted floor, due to the reduction of flow velocity through the separator, are flushed out of the separator with discharge water.

Abstract: The invention is a processor based analysis system with appropriate interface that includes multiple fish surrogates that each have a plurality of piezoelectric and triaxial accelerometer sensors for emulating sensory organs of a particular fish. The multiple fish surrogate array is immersed in flowing water intakes of a hydraulic structures such as intakes, intake bypasses, and diversion structures, and natural geological formation such as riffles, shoal areas, and pools. The invention is an interface system for data acquisition analysis and perspective display of acoustic and fluid dynamic data in or near these hydraulic structures and/or natural formations. To accomplish this, multiple sensors in each of the fish-shaped surrogate physical enclosures that form the array are deployed at the same time to describe a fish's aquatic environment at the hydraulic structure location.

Abstract: Shock-absorbing blocks for bullet stops at firing ranges and for traffic trol are made by encasing scrap rubber tires in concrete. To ensure firm attachment of the tires to the concrete, reinforcements such as wire loops are fastened to the tire. To prevent the formation of air pockets during the pouring of the concrete mixture into a mold holding the tire, vent holes are punched into the side walls of the tire. To allow the concrete mixture to flow under the tire in the mold, the tire is propped up with support blocks. Wires may be strung across the top of the tire and attached to the side walls of the mold to prevent movement of the tire while the concrete is being poured into the mold. The concrete mixture may contain an aqueous foam additive, a stabilizer, and fiber reinforcements such as steel or organic polymers.

Abstract: A system for automatically delivering an anti-foaming agent to a biological aste treatment system includes a sensor for monitoring the amount of foam present in the system, a pump for pumping a predetermined quantity of anti-foaming agent into the system, and a controller for initiating the pumping sequence when the quantity of foam in the system reaches a preselected level. The controller includes two relays. The first relay controls the length of time the pump is on, thereby controlling the amount of anti-foam injected into the system, and the second relay establishes a period of time following the pumping period when the pump cannot be activated, thereby providing a period of time for the anti-foam to break down the foam before additional anti-foam can be added.