Abstract: The present invention relates to a hybrid pipe (1) for stay cable, comprising a tubular shaped wall (15), the wall having an internal face (18) and an external face (19). The hybrid pipe (1) further comprises at least one reinforcing element (12, 22), the reinforcing element (12, 22) being provided at the wall (15) to form the hybrid pipe (1) such that the hybrid pipe (1) has a higher mechanical properties/resistance such as higher buckling resistance, higher tensile strength and/or a lower thermal dilatation than the wall (15) itself. The present invention also relates to a cable-stayed system comprising such a hybrid pipe (1) and a method of manufacturing such a hybrid pipe (1).

Abstract: Present invention relates to a pipe (5) for stay cable and a method for tightening the pipe (5) using stressing means (10). The pipe (5) comprises a tubular shaped wall having an interior and an exterior surface, wherein stressing means (10) are provided to the exterior surface of the tubular shaped wall of the pipe (5), wherein the stressing means (10) are configured in a way to exert a compression force around the tubular shape wall of the pipe (5) longitudinally.

Abstract: A cable anchorage system for anchoring a cable to a support structure in a civil engineering construction comprises an anchorage socket attached to the cable, a support socket attached to the support structure and a longitudinal coupling rod, which couples the anchorage socket to the support socket. The coupling rod comprises a threaded end, which interacts with a counter thread on one of the two parts which are the anchorage socket and the support socket, and a mounting end with a radially extending rod shoulder. The other one of the two parts which are the anchorage socket and the support socket comprises a longitudinal opening for receiving the mounting end of the coupling rod, which opening comprises an inwardly extending abutment shoulder.

Abstract: The invention concerns a cylindrical thermal protection sheath for covering a length of an elongated structural element, comprising a sandwich-like composite insulation system which has a thermal conductivity lower or equal to 0.11 W/m.° C. at 800° C. and a thickness lower than 50 millimeters.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a cable anchorage comprising at least one axial channel for accommodating an elongated element with a sheathed portion and an unsheathed end portion, wherein the channel between a first channel end, proximal to a running part of the elongated element, and a second channel end equipped with immobilising device, a seal element in the channel, a stop element having an end facing said seal element which defines a shoulder, so that an axial displacement of the of the elongated element with respect to the stop element in said channel is possible up to the abutment of the end of the sheathed portion against the shoulder, creating thereby an abutment position of the elongated element in said channel.

Abstract: A hydromill wheel (5) for excavating a trench in hard rock includes a drum (4) arranged to be rotated about its axis (A, B). The wheel (4) further includes a plurality of single disc cutters (11) mounted on the periphery of the drum (5), the single disc cutter (11) having a rotatable single cutting disc (11) arranged to come in contact with and crush the rock during excavation. The spacing of the projection of at least some of the cutting discs (11) on the drum axis (A, B) is 20% to 70% of the cutting disc diameter.

Abstract: A method and a device for damping relative motion between structural elements (4a, 4b, 5), and in particular for damping oscillations in a stay cable of a building or a civil engineering structure. A damping device is disclosed which provides motion damping by means of frictional engagement (1a, 1b) between friction surfaces composed of low-friction polymeric material (2a, 2b, 3a, 3b). The polymeric material preferably includes a dispersed lubricant. The use of low friction polymers results in a constant damping which is effective over a broad range of displacements and forces.

Abstract: A cable anchorage anchors a cable, for example a stay cable having multiple strands (50), against a longitudinal tension force. The anchor block (11) of the anchorage includes multiple channels, through which the strands (50) are individually threaded. Once in position and tensioned, the space around the strands (50) in the anchor block (11) is injected with a liquid, such as a polyurethane, which subsequently sets to form a tough elastic bedding material (51) within the anchor block (11). The elastic bedding material (51) has a durometer at 23° C. in the range 10 to 70 Shore, so as to form bedding cushion extending substantially around the strand (50) in the strand-channel (6) along a bedding region (54) of strand-channel (6), the bedding cushion reducing the bending stresses in the strand (50) by absorbing bending stresses along the bedding region (54).

Abstract: A cable anchorage is described for anchoring a cable, for example a stay cable comprising multiple strands (50), against an axial tension force. Each strand (50) is individually sealed in an individual channel (6) of the anchorage against moisture ingress, and each strand (50) may be removed and replaced individually. A tight-fitting elastic annular seal (26) is fitted into a recess (27) in the channel. The annular seal (26) is inserted from the anchor block end (1) of the anchorage.

Abstract: Void former assembly for casting facing elements for reinforced earth. Anchoring recesses are cast into its rear face so that earth-reinforcing strips can be looped through. The anchoring recesses are each formed as a loop channel having a convex inner surface and a concave outer surface, at least one of which has a radius of curvature which increases from the deepest part of the recess towards the rear face. A removable void former assembly and method for casting such facing elements are also described. Because of the varying radius of curvature of the surfaces of the channel, and the rotational and translational withdrawal path of the void formers, the channel can be cast deeper, and with openings which are closer together, than has hitherto been possible using removable void formers.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method of installing a reinforcement strip in a compacted fill retained by facing element together with the reinforcement strip extending between an anchorage zone and the wall. The anchorage zone is located away from the facing element and separated from the facing element. The method comprises: a) installing the reinforcement strip in the fill by feeding the strip from a first location in the anchorage zone to the wall and looping the strip through a wall connection point back to a second location in the anchorage zone; b) tensioning the strip by pulling the strip to a predetermined tension at the first location and at the second location; and c) anchoring the strip to the fill at the first location and at the second location while keeping the strip under tension.

Abstract: A friction damping device (100) for damping relative movements between a first structural element and a second structural element of a construction, comprising: —a first damping system (110) for damping a first relative movement component and having a first friction surface (111) and a second friction surface (112), —a second damping system (120) for damping a second relative movement component and having a third friction element (121) and a fourth friction element (122). The first friction surface and the second friction surface of the first and the second damping system form a frictional engagement. The first damping system (110) and the second damping system (120) are placed in series.

Abstract: The invention relates to a friction damping device (100) for damping relative movements between a first structural element and a second structural element of a construction, comprising: —a first damping system (110) for damping a first relative movement component and having a first friction surface (111) and a second friction surface (112), —a second damping system (120) for damping a second relative movement component and having a third friction element (121) and a fourth friction element (122). The first friction surface and the second friction surface of the first and the second damping system form a frictional engagement. The first damping system (110) and the second damping system (120) are placed in series.

Abstract: A crane apparatus and method are described for lifting a heavy load such as a wind-turbine generator unit 46 on to a wind-turbine tower 1. The crane is designed to climb up cables 3 attached to the top of the tower, carrying with it the cables 45 and lifting gear 31 which will be required for the main lifting operation. The crane comprises a pair of jib-frames 20 with boom arms 26, 27 which can be retracted during lifting and then deployed to a pivotable, loadbearing position once the crane is mounted at the top of the tower 1. Hydraulic strand jacks 31 and heavy-duty strands 45 are preferably used for the heavy lifting. In a preparation step, a load-bearing bracket assembly 13, 14, to which the jib-frames 20 will be secured, is hoisted up and fitted to the top of the tower 1. Once the lifting operations are complete, the crane assembly and the bracket assembly 13, 14 are lowered from the tower 1 and removed from site.

Abstract: An adjustable Formwork climber apparatus is described which may be used for casting walls having an overhanging portion. The climber is used for supporting both vertical and horizontal formwork on the same supporting brackets. Adjustment mechanisms are provided for positioning or tilting the vertical and horizontal formwork. The adjustable formwork climber can be used both for casting continuous vertical structures, and for structures having an overhanging or protruding portion such as a ring-beam.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a tension member feeding device for feeding a tension member into a channel in a construction element. The feeding device comprises: tension member feeder and a resistance or speed detector. The feeding device is arranged to stop feeding of the tension member once the resistance or speed detector detects that the tension member meets a given resistance.

Abstract: A method and system are described for tensioning structural strands 1 of a tendon in a duct. Each strand 1 is fitted with its own load cell 22, so that the individual tension values in each individual strand 1 can be measured during the tensioning of the strands 1. The load cells 22 may be removed after tensioning, or left in situ to enable ongoing monitoring of the tension in the strands 1. The load cells 22 may be calibrated simultaneously by tensioning the strands 1 to an equal tension using individual jacks 10, then normalizing the signals from each load cell 22 to the known equal tension value. A further calibration to a global strand load measurement may also be performed.

Abstract: A method is described for threading a tendon into a duct from an opening at an intermediate point along the length of the duct. Opposite ends of the tendon are threaded from a reel into the two halves of the duct. The tendon is wound on to the reel such that both ends of the tendon can be unwound into the duct simultaneously. A reel and a method for winding the tendon on to the reel are also claimed. The method and reel are particularly suitable for threading coated steel tendons into PT ducts in tall structures such as containment vessels.

Abstract: In a load-bearing construction (1) having at least one load-bearing element (2), the load-bearing element (2) has at least one cavity (5) in which at least one rod (4) is disposed, the total cross-sectional area of all rods (4) each arranged in a cavity (5) being smaller than the cross-sectional area of this cavity (5), and the remaining volume of the cavity (5) being filled with a material (6). The rod (4) is displaceable along its length relative to the load-bearing element (2) when the load-bearing element (2) is deformed, the rod (4) being non-displaceably fixed at only one point relative to the load-bearing element (2) and being designed such that it dissipates energy upon the occurrence of a relative displacement with respect to the load-bearing element (2).

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method of installing a reinforcement strip in a compacted fill retained by facing element together with the reinforcement strip extending between an anchorage zone and the wall. The anchorage zone is located away from the facing element and separated from the facing element. The method comprises: a) installing (503) the reinforcement strip in the fill by feeding the strip from a first location in the anchorage zone to the wall and looping the strip through a wall connection point back to a second location in the anchorage zone; b) tensioning (513) the strip by pulling the strip to a predetermined tension at the first location and at the second location; and c) anchoring (515) the strip to the fill at the first location and at the second location while keeping the strip under tension.