Abstract: Method for reinforcing a structure (1), comprising the following stages: a) placing in one part (11, 12) of the structure (1) an anchoring element (3) secured to strands of reinforcing wires (41, 42) such that the anchoring element (3) is at least partially incorporated into the part (11, 12) of the structure (1) and in that at least one portion (42) of the strands of reinforcing wires protrudes from a part (12) of the structure (1); b) securing the anchoring element (3) to the part (11, 12) of the structure (1); c) applying at least one layer of fabric (5) onto a surface (15) of the structure (1) such that at least one part of the portion (42) of the protruding strands of reinforcing wires is secured to the surface (15) of the structure (1) by bonding said layer of fabric (5). Structure thus produced. Anchoring element of a structure.

Abstract: A method and device for inserting a drainage wick into the ground wherein the method includes the steps of: threading a drainage wick through an inserting tube; fixing a portion of a tie to the lower end of the drainage wick; fixing an anchorage component to another portion of said tie, where said tie is loose between the drainage wick lower end and the anchorage component when the anchorage component contacts the inserting tube lower end; driving a anchorage component, the drainage wick and the inserting tube downwardly into the ground; pulling up the inserting tube and the drainage wick, whereby said anchorage component is permitted to remain in the ground; and further pulling up the inserting tube whereby the anchorage component and the drainage wick are permitted to remain in the ground.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for reinforcing a metal tubular structure (1) including the following steps: introducing inside the metal tubular structure (1), a plurality of substantially linear elements (4) having a tensile strength higher than a predetermined value; and injecting a curable filling product inside the metal tubular structure, so that the curable filling product contacts an inner surface of the metal tubular structure (1) and coats the substantially linear elements (4) of said plurality of elements.

Abstract: The invention proposes a device for damping the vibrations of a cable used in the structure of a construction work, the cable comprising a bundle of metal strands having ends anchored to the work and being surrounded, in at least one region adjacent to an anchored end of the bundle, by a tube connected to the work, the device comprising a collar placed around the bundle of strands and means of absorbing the vibration energy mounted substantially between the collar and the tube, wherein the absorption means comprise at least two piston-type dampers with substantially linear stroke, placed substantially radially relative to the cable and distributed at angles around the cable, each piston-type damper having a first link articulated with the collar and a second link articulated with a support secured to the tube.

Abstract: The invention concerns a system for detecting a rupture inside a portion (6; 12; 13; 15) at least of one structure, delimited by a first (7; 16) and a second (7; 17) reference points of the structure, said portion having a predetermined stiffness in the absence of rupture and being subjected to a tensile or compressive stress (F). The method includes the following steps: detecting at least one length variation inside the portion of the structure, in response to a variation (?F) of the tensile or compressive stress applied to said portion; deducing from the detected variation length, the existence or not of a rupture inside said portion of the structure.

Abstract: A device for and a method of inserting a drainage wick into the ground comprising the steps of: providing a drainage wick comprising a transversely permeable filter material surrounding a core adapted to longitudinal water circulation, where a portion of said drainage wick is arranged so as to be transversely and/or longitudinally impermeable; threading said drainage wick through an inserting tube; fixing an anchorage component to the lower end of said drainage wick extending out of said inserting tube; driving said anchorage component, said drainage wick and said inserting tube downwardly into the ground; and pulling up said inserting tube whereby said anchorage component and said drainage wick are permitted to remain into said ground.

Abstract: A method and device for inserting a drainage wick into the ground wherein the method includes the steps of: threading a drainage wick through an inserting tube; fixing a portion of a tie to the lower end of the drainage wick; fixing an anchorage component to another portion of said tie, where said tie is loose between the drainage wick lower end and the anchorage component when the anchorage component contacts the inserting tube lower end; driving a anchorage component, the drainage wick and the inserting tube downwardly into the ground; pulling up the inserting tube and the drainage wick, whereby said anchorage component is permitted to remain in the ground; and further pulling up the inserting tube whereby the anchorage component and the drainage wick are permitted to remain in the ground.

Abstract: In order to reinforce a cylindrical pipeline, in particular an underground water supply pipeline, prestressing reinforcements are placed and tensioned around it. In a zone where the pipeline has a radial projection, for example providing a manhole for access to the inside of the pipeline, the prestressing reinforcements are deflected to bypass the radial projection so that the reinforcements, located in the same layer on a side of the pipeline opposite the side having the projection, are distributed in a plurality of layers on this side having the protuberance.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for demounting a cable tensioned between a first and second anchorage points on a structure. The method comprises the following steps: slackening the cable so that a running part of the cable is freed from one of said first and second anchorage points; freeing said running part of the cable from the other said first and second anchorage points; supporting said running part of the cable; and removing said running part of the cable away from at least one of said first and second anchorage points.

Abstract: A fluid-cushion supporting arrangement for horizontal conveyance comprises a supporting platform having a center and a distal portion; a flexible angular sealing element arranged under the platform in the region of the distal portion and forming a sealing piston. The sealing piston has a substantially horizontal leg which extends toward the center and forms together with the supporting platform a fluid chamber, and a substantially vertical leg which forms together with the supporting platform a control pressure chamber. The vertical leg is vertically and adjustably inserted in the control pressure chamber. Inlet means are provided for supplying fluid into the fluid chamber. A pressure-regulating arrangement in fluid communication with the fluid chamber and the control pressure chamber regulates the fluid pressure. The vertical leg comprises a plurality of reinforcement elements including at least one metallic strip.

Abstract: A composite structural reinforcement is realized within the pipe through in situ stratification of at least one band of reinforcement fibers and a resin matrix. The band is arranged according to a helicoidal path along the internal side of the pipe.

Abstract: The anchoring device, for anchoring at least two reinforcements for prestressing a civil engineering works structure, has a block through which there pass at least two pairs of anchoring orifices arranged symmetrically on each side of a mid-plane of the block. The two orifices of each pair have axes substantially parallel to the mid-plane and are directed toward two opposite sides of the block to take, respectively, two ends of a taut reinforcement surrounding the structure. The block has a bearing zone pressed against the structure in response to the tension in the reinforcements.

Abstract: Device for damping the vibrations of a sheet of stays of a work of construction, the sheet of stays comprising at least one first stay (4a) and one second stay (4b). The device comprises at least one damper (6) with substantially linear stroke, which has a first connection (7) articulated on the first stay (4a) and a second connection (8) articulated on the second stay (4b), and the axis of the damper (6) is substantially perpendicular to first and second stays (4a,4b).

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for repairing a pressurized fluid supply pipeline (1) comprising a series of buried prestressed concrete pipe segments (2, 3, 4) which consists in: providing excavations in the trench, beneath suitably set portions (6, 7) of the pipe (1), cleaning up said pipe portions, installing and tensioning the prestressed reinforcements (12) around said portions of the pipe and filling up the excavations with earth material by compacting said material.

Abstract: The cable, in particular of the stay cable type, comprises a set of traction reinforcements, two devices for anchoring the reinforcements in two respective zones of the construction, the reinforcements being spaced apart from one another at the anchoring devices, means for deviating the reinforcements in order to cause the reinforcements to converge toward a running part of the cable into a substantially parallel bundle which is more compact than at the anchoring devices, and a guide member which is in closely set contact around the set of reinforcements. This member has an inner surface, the cross section of which is adapted to the peripheral shape of the parallel bundle and the longitudinal section of which has a convex curvature which, over the length of the guide member, allows angular deflections of the reinforcements which are substantially greater than the maximum angle of convergence of the reinforcements between the anchoring device and the running part of the cable.

Abstract: The stabilized earth or reinforced soil structure comprises a fill, a facing placed along a front face of the structure, main reinforcements disconnected from the facing and extending in a reinforced zone of the fill situated behind the front face, and secondary elements connected to the facing and extending in a zone of the fill which exhibits, with the reinforced zone, a common part where loads are transmitted between the main reinforcements and the secondary elements by the material of the fill.

Abstract: The construction work erected in front of a pre-existing wall comprises a facing standing along a front face of the work, a fill occupying a gap between the facing and the pre-existing wall, and a retention system extending into the fill for keeping the facing in place relative to the pre-existing wall. The retention system comprises first stabilizing elements attached to the pre-existing wall and extending into a first region of the fill, and second stabilizing elements connected to the facing and extending into a second region of the fill. The first and second regions have a common part in which forces are transmitted between the first and second stabilizing elements by the fill material.

Abstract: The facing element for a stabilized soil structure comprises a body of cast material inside which a path is formed for a reinforcement strip between two points of emergence situated on a rear face of the element. This path includes two rectilinear portions which are respectively adjacent to the two points of emergence and are each arranged so as to position the strip in the same plane of emergence perpendicular to the rear face, two curved portions which respectively continue the two rectilinear portions and are arranged so as to deviate the strip from the plane of emergence, and a connection portion which joins the two curved portions to one another and has at least one loop situated outside the plane of emergence.