Abstract: A portal frame 3 made of wide flange sections without braces is fixed to the external surfaces of an existing RC-column 5 extending in the vertical direction and to the external surfaces of existing RC-beam 8 extending in the horizontal direction of a reinforced concrete building. The wide flange section column 4 fixed to the existing RC-column 5 is assigned a bending rigidity roughly equivalent to that of the existing RC-column 5, thereby reducing the stress additionally occurring at the connecting part between the existing RC-column 5 and column 4 by deforming the column 4 similarly to the existing RC-column 5 under the horizontal load transmitted from existing RC-beam 8 and/or wide flange section beam 6 during an earthquake. Using a steel portal frame without braces preserves the building appearance and avoids bracing which may block windows while increasing earthquake resistance.

Abstract: A rectangular shield excavating machine comprises a quadrangularly tubular shield body having a space for receiving an excavated matter at the front end, a rotor disposed in the space so as to be capable of being rotated onward and backward angularly around an axis extending in the direction orthogonal to a pair of facing exterior portions of the body, and excavating means disposed in the body, drive means for rotating onward and backward the rotor angularly around the axis, and for driving the excavating means. Large gravels contained in the excavated matter are crushed by being put between the rotor and a member defining the space with the rotationally reciprocating motion of the rotor.

Abstract: A pair of sliding members mounted on the broadside are vertically and slidably engaged with engagement members disposed in a pair of dolphins. The engagement members can freely move in a horizontal direction. The dolphins are provided with fenders which receive the engagement members by elastic force to absorb the rocking of a ship in forward and backward directions, and in right and left broadside directions.

Abstract: Soft ground is improved by a sand drain method wherein a casing pipe is inserted in the soft ground followed by insertion of a cylindrical bag composed of a water-permeable material into the casing pipe; sand is filled in the cylindrical bag and then only the casing pipe is drawn out from the soft ground whereby a sand drain is constructed in the soft ground; and then, a load is imposed on the sand drain-constructed region to remove water through the sand drain and consolidate the soft ground. The diameter of at least a part of the cylindrical bag is capable of being increased when the consolidation load is imposed on the sand drain-constructed region.