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.

Abstract: In order to install a reinforcement around a cylindrical underground pipeline, an excavation coffer is laid on the ground above the pipeline, at the same time placing transversely to the pipeline front and rear faces of the coffer, each having along its lower edge an indentation of a shape adapted to the cylindrical shape of the cylindrical pipeline, the coffer is buried in the ground substantially until the indentations are brought up against the pipeline, soil material is removed between the front and rear faces of the coffer in order to give access to an upper part of the wall of the pipeline, a duct in the form of an arc of a circle is engaged under the pipeline, at the same time being pushed along the lower part of the wall of the pipeline, a prestressing reinforcement is threaded into this duct, and the armature is clamped and anchored around the pipeline.

Abstract: At least one cable is attached to a load lying on the ground via a releasable connection mechanism. A traction force is applied to the cable to hoist the load up to a prescribed height. That traction force is then eliminated or reduced to initiate a downward movement of the load followed by the cable. The connection mechanism is then released while the load is moving downwardly.

Abstract: The structural cable (2) to be anchored, such as a main suspension cable or a stay cable, is made of a compact bundle of parallel metallic wires. The cable wires are distributed into seven-wire units (18) in a portion of the cable adjacent to an anchor block (13), and these seven-wire units are individually anchored on the anchor block.

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: 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 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 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: A method for assembly of a stay includes a series of steps that include connecting in the vicinity of an anchoring zone, a new group of N reinforcements to a shuttle located within the sheath of a stay to be installed. The shuttle is driven towards another anchoring zone by means of driving and guiding means. When the shuttle has arrived substantially in the vicinity of the anchoring zone, and as long as entangling is detected between the driving and guiding means in a portion contained substantially between the shuttle and the first anchoring zone, the shuttle is rotated about its main axis in the opposite direction to the said entangling. The group of N reinforcements is then separated from the shuttle. Each reinforcement of the group is tensioned between the anchoring zones. The preceding steps are repeated until the installation of the reinforcements is completed.

Abstract: The invention therefore proposes an anchorage unit for anchoring at least one prestressing member, capable of being tensioned, onto a structural component to be strengthened or repaired by additional prestressing. The anchorage unit includes means of fixing onto the structural component and means of anchoring the prestressing member located adjacent to a first side of the anchorage unit oriented towards a regular section of the prestressing member. The fixing means are located adjacent to a second side, opposite the first side, of the anchorage unit, which is so provided that it may be put into traction when the prestressing member is tensioned.

Abstract: Method of overlooking at least one strand in an anchoring block by means of a frustoconical jaw which surrounds the strand and which is housed in a frustoconical recess made in the block, the process comprising the following steps: an explosive cartridge device comprising an inertia block intended to be propelled by the explosion of the cartridge is used, a force transmission device is arranged between the inertia block of the explosive cartridge device and the frustoconical jaw, and the explosive cartridge is activated to propel the inertia block against the force transmission device.

Abstract: In order to install a reinforcement around a cylindrical underground pipeline, an excavation coffer is laid on the ground above the pipeline, at the same time placing transversely to the pipeline front and rear faces of the coffer, each having along its lower edge an indentation of a shape adapted to the cylindrical shape of the cylindrical pipeline, the coffer is buried in the ground substantially until the indentations are brought up against the pipeline, soil material is removed between the front and rear faces of the coffer in order to give access to an upper part of the wall of the pipeline, a duct in the form of an arc of a circle is engaged under the pipeline, at the same time being pushed along the lower part of the wall of the pipeline, a prestressing reinforcement is threaded into this duct, and the armature is clamped and anchored around the pipeline.

Abstract: Reinforcement of a metal container against seismic or paraseismic stresses, in which the metal container is surrounded over at least part of its height with carbon fibre fabric bonded to the external surface of the metal container, and in which the carbon fibre fabric is placed in bands extending substantially over the entire circumference of the metal container, predominantly in a direction substantially perpendicular to an axis of the metal container.

Abstract: A device having an anchor block having orifices therethrough, each accommodating a tendon of the cable and a means of immobilizing the tendon. The device further includes a bearing piece for the anchor block, and means of guiding the tendons between the anchor block and a running part of the cable. The guide means are connected to the bearing piece and include an individual guide passage for each tendon of the cable, allowing angular deviation thereof. Each guide passages have, in the direction of the anchor block, a transverse layout aligned with that of the orifices in the anchor block.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for assisting an operator in surveying defects on a building site which consists in providing him with a portable terminal displaying images of the works and inputting data concerning his observations, under the control of a software operating with a database of the works, comprising files defining the images displayed on the terminal graphic interface, data structures relating respectively to types of defects liable to occur in the works, and if any, descriptive data of defects previously observed on the works, organized in accordance with the associated data structures. In response to the selection of a type of fault by the operator, said software activates a dialogue, by means of the associated data structure, to input parameters describing said defects, which are used to constitute a representation of the defect on the image displayed on the graphic interface and to update the data describing the defects.

Abstract: A device for fixing together a construction element and a structural cable, the device has a rigid housing connected to the construction element and surrounding the cable, a wedging structure comprising at least one deformable material arranged between the cable and housing, and load transmitting means arranged to exert a longitudinal compressive force, 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 force, so as to offer resistance to movement of the housing and of the construction element parallel to the cable.

Abstract: The invention addresses the problem of demounting a prestressing cable having a sheath, tendon extending in the sheath and tensioned between two anchoring devices, and a hardened material filling the sheath around the tendons. An energy dissipation device is installed between a zone of the structure and an accessible portion of the cable. The energy dissipation device has a first end applied to a bearing zone and a second end. It is suitable for limiting the force to which it is subjected as a function of the speed of relative displacement between its first and second ends. A first member for retaining the cable is arranged adjacent to the aforesaid portion of the cable. This portion is clamped in a second retaining member engaging the sheath and connected to the second end of the energy dissipation device. The cable can then be severed between the first and second retaining members.

Abstract: The strand comprises a group of twisted metal wires, a plastic sheath and a pliant filling compound which fills internal interstices between the twisted wires of the group and a peripheral interstice lying between the periphery of the group and the inner face of the sheath. This peripheral interstice has, in a cross section of the strand, an area of between P×emin and 0.6×S2, where P is the external perimeter of the group of wires, emin=0.05 mm and S2 is the cumulative area of the gaps lying between the periphery of the group and the smallest circle within which the group is inscribed.

Abstract: An adjustable anchor for a cable bearing a civil engineering structure, comprising two anchoring parts designed to be fixed to a cable and to the civil engineering structure. These anchoring parts are coupled by a linking part including two threaded ends with inverted threads which are screwed to the two anchoring parts.