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: Displacement measuring means are fixed onto the structural element. A hole is drilled in the measurement zone and a supply pressure is applied to a flat actuator introduced into the hole. The displacements measured are analyzed as a function of the supply pressure to determine the stress from a supply pressure which roughly compensates for the deformation of the element due to the drilling of the hole. The measuring means comprise two arms that are fixed to the element at two respective anchoring points aligned parallel to a measuring direction, and at least two displacement sensors mounted on the arms on each side of the anchoring points to measure the variations in separation between the anchoring points. The arms leave between them a gap through which the hole is drilled at a central position with respect to the anchoring points.

Abstract: An anchoring device for fixing a structural cable to a building element, the cable comprising a plurality of strands each comprising wires which are themselves enclosed together in a protective sheath, each of the protective sheaths being interrupted at a terminal edge such that the strands have each an exposed end section. The exposed section is inserted in a sealed chamber with a packing box whereof on plate is fixed and the other plate is compressed by threaded rods.

Abstract: The joint is installed between two sections of roadway respectively supported by two contiguous structural elements. A driving surface is formed by a surface covering applied on top of the elements and interrupted above the gap separating them to form a trench. A closure member is placed in the base of the trench covering the gap, after which granulates and a binder which form a flexible material on curing are poured in. Before pouring in the granulates and binder, reinforcements are laid in the trench which are attached to the two structural elements at either end of the closure member. These reinforcements are perforated to allow the granulates to pass through. They therefore provide reinforcement for the joint in areas where there is a risk of tearing due to traction forces which tend to move the elements apart.

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: 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: 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 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: This relates to a bridge stay formed by a cable (1) which itself is surrounded by a discontinuous sheath composed of identical successive tubular sections (4) having ends which fit together (at 9). This stay comprises an inextensible cablet (10) pulled taut along the cable, on the inside of the successive sheath sections, which cablet is fastened by equidistant fasteners (11), the number of fasteners being equal to that of the sheath sections, each fastener being fixed to a sheath section at a point on this section and the distance (D) between any two successive fasteners fastened to the cablet being equal to the distance between two identical points on two successive sheath sections, which distance is slightly less than the minimum distance envisageable for each section.

Abstract: To mount a multiple strand stay of a stayed bridge between a tower and a deck of said bridge, one of the strands (4.sub.1) that is to make up the stay is installed in its final oblique position; a guide cage is suspended from said strand installed in this way, the cage being constituted by a sequence of rigid hoops (5) that are interconnected by strings (6), said cage surrounding said first strand and also surrounding a traction cable (9); said cable is used to pull successive strands (4) up inside the cage; after each strand has been pulled up, it is put under tension so that it bears laterally against the already installed strands, and its ends are anchored respectively to the tower and to the deck; and after all of the strands have been installed, the guide cage is removed from the completed stay.