Abstract: The invention described herein includes materials and methods for segmental wick drain installation for versatile groundwater management. The invention comprises modified mandrels that may be coupled together for segmental installation wick drain installations to desired depths that are not achievable using currently known methods. Each modified mandrel is configured with a shoe coupler that may be permanently affixed to one end and configured with a means for securing the shoe coupler to a modified end of another mandrel. Each shoe coupler includes transverse bore holes through which set pins may be inserted that engage with an end of another modified mandrel with grooves corresponding to the locations of the bore holes when set pins are inserted. Once the wick drain is installed to the desired depth, the mandrels may be extracted and uncoupled by removing the set pins. The modified mandrels may be prefabricated and reused, ideal for multiple installations.

Abstract: A sediment control device is disclosed. The device includes an elongate fabric and a plurality of sleeves attached to the fabric. The plurality of sleeves extend generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the fabric and are configured to receive a stake for securing the sediment control device to soil. Each sleeve is spaced a distance from an adjacent sleeve. In use, the fabric is laid out along a soil path, a bottom portion of the fabric is trenched into soil, and the stake is inserted into each sleeve such that the sediment control device is secured to soil. The bottom portion can then be backfilled.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a treatment method for oily sludge and a method for soil remediation. The treatment method for oily sludge includes: mixing the oily sludge with target biochar uniformly according to a first preset mass ratio, and conducting catalytic pyrolysis at a first preset temperature to achieve efficient removal of petroleum hydrocarbons, to obtain a pyrolysis residue used for soil remediation. In the present disclosure, the method realizes resource utilization and harmless utilization of the pyrolysis residue.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a soft soil foundation single-hole depth air compression drainage device and working method thereof, comprising an air compression pipe and a water drainage pipe. A water drainage cavity body and an air diffusion cavity body are buried respectively in a soft soil foundation, and the air diffusion cavity body is located below the water drainage cavity body. Connecting to the air diffusion cavity body, the air compression pipe protrudes out of ground surface along a vertical direction of the soft soil foundation and communicates with an inflation pump; connecting to the water drainage cavity body, one end of the water drainage pipe protrudes to the bottom of the water drainage cavity body, and the other end protrudes out of the ground surface, thus achieving deep drainage and a drainage consolidation time of the deep soft soil foundation is shortened.

Abstract: A retrofitted flood irrigation valve apparatus includes a housing; a motor coupled to the housing, the motor to generate mechanical energy; a first wheel operatively coupled to the motor, wherein the first wheel is positioned within the housing and wherein the first wheel is to translate the mechanical energy generated by the motor to rotational motion; a second wheel positioned within the housing, wherein the second wheel is to be coupled to a stim of an existing flood irrigation valve; and a coupling between the first wheel and the second wheel, the coupling to transmit the rotational motion from the first wheel to the second wheel, wherein the rotational motion at the second wheel causes actuation of the existing flood irrigation valve.

Abstract: The systems and methods disclosed herein provide inventive means for repurposing wind turbine blades. In an embodiment, a derivative of a decommissioned wind turbine blade may be positioned and anchored for use in soil retention installations (e.g., slope stabilization, land building, etc.). In another embodiment, a derivative of a decommissioned wind turbine blade may be implemented in infrastructure installations (e.g., bridge decking). In yet another embodiment, a derivative of a decommissioned wind turbine blade may be positioned and anchored to mitigate snow drifts (e.g., as a snow break). Additional uses of wind turbine blades are considered and disclosed herein.

Abstract: A cylinder mounting assembly for a hydraulic boat lift includes a plurality of H-frame components for pivotally connecting a pair of bunks to side beams of the lift. A trailing pair of hydraulic cylinder actuators pivotally interconnect the side beams to respective trailing H-frame components. The cylinders are selectively operated to pivot the trailing H-frame components closed such that a first longitudinal channel of each trailing H-frame component receives a respective actuator and an opposite, second longitudinal channel of the trailing H-frame component receivably interengages a respective side beam, which lowers the bunks of the lift sufficiently to facilitate driving a vessel onto and launching a vessel from the lift in shallow water conditions.

Abstract: A plough for burying a cable has a base frame, an upper frame member and a ploughshare support; a topside of the ploughshare support features a cable trough; and a cable guiding path extends from a front end to a rear end of the plough. The cable guiding path is arranged between the base frame and the upper frame member and along the cable trough. The upper frame member is movably connected relative to the base frame, such that the upper frame member may move between a first position. The upper frame member is arranged above the cable guiding path, and a second position wherein the upper frame member is displaced away from the cable guiding path. The whole extent of the cable guiding path is accessible from above when the upper frame member is in the second position, such that a cable may be lowered onto the cable guiding path.

Abstract: Described and disclosed is a foundation structure of an offshore structure, in particular of a wind turbine, with a floating foundation, including at least one floating body for floating on the surface of the sea, at least one anchor for anchoring the at least one floating body the seafloor and at least one holding element for holding the at least one floating body to the at least one anchor. At least one transmission cable extends from the at least one anchor along the at least one holding element to the at least one floating body and/or back. To enable a reliable monitoring of the anchoring of the offshore structure, provision is made for the transmission cable to be guided in sections through at least one protection element provided between the holding element and the at least one anchor and/or the at least one floating body.

Abstract: The present subject matter relates to a steam activated biochar, a method of preparing the steam activated biochar, and a method of removing hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) from soil using the steam activated biochar.

Abstract: A microtrench gravel installer configured to install gravel into a microtrench at a precise gravel layer thickness using a gravel leveler and/or a premeasured gravel box. A hot patch fill wand and box surrounding the wand configured for installing a hot patch fill sealant into a microtrench. A method of filling and sealing a microtrench containing an optical fiber and/or innerduct/microduct using the microtrench gravel installer to precisely fill a microtrench to a desired gravel layer thickness.

Abstract: A pipe joining method includes a moving of a first transport trolley with a loaded first pipe and a second transport trolley with a loaded second pipe forward, a joining of one end of the first pipe to another end of a rearmost pipe of a pipeline, a lifting of another end of the first pipe, a moving of the first transport trolley and the second transport trolley backward, a drawing of the first transport trolley from beneath of the first pipe to the near side, a removing of a coupler to separate the first transport trolley and the second transport trolley, a moving of the first transport trolley backward, a drawing of the first transport trolley below the second pipe loaded on the second transport trolley, and a moving of the second transport trolley forward with the first transport trolley.

Abstract: A retrofitted flood irrigation valve apparatus, including a motor coupled to a stem of an existing flood irrigation valve, the motor to generate mechanical energy to rotate the stem of the existing flood irrigation valve and one or more rails coupled to a frame of the existing flood irrigation valve, wherein each of the one or more rails includes tracks along which the motor is configured to move as the stem of the existing flood irrigation valve opens and closes the valve.

Abstract: Foundation pile assemblies disclosed herein can include a first section positioned at a bottom of a foundation pile assembly and a second section coupled to the first section. The first section can include a shell extending along a length of the foundation pile. The shell can have an interior space and an outside surface. A cap can be positioned at an end of the pile assembly. Some embodiments of the foundation pile can have an impact support element positioned within the interior space of the shell to increase the strength of the foundation pile assembly in the vicinity of the impact support element. The initial or, in some instances, full length assembly can be configured on a horizontal or slightly sloped rack on the ground from which the assembly is lofted vertically and installed into the ground.

Abstract: A method is provided for determining an actual achieved pre-load value by monitoring a leg load characteristic during pre-loading. The method further comprises determining an actual crane or cantilever operations envelope taking into account the actual achieved preload instead. The method further comprises taking into account other data such as environmental loads or crane or cantilever movement.

Abstract: A pneumatic excavator is configured to be pneumatically actuated using a safety mechanism, and includes a primary actuator; a secondary actuator fluidly coupled to the primary actuator; a flow valve fluidly coupled to the primary actuator; a shuttle valve fluidly coupled to the primary actuator, the secondary actuator and the flow valve; and a barrel coupled to an egress of the flow valve, the barrel defining an outlet of the pneumatic excavator. Actuating the primary and secondary actuators causes compressed air to be transmitted from the secondary actuator to the primary actuator and then to the flow valve to open the flow valve such that the compressed air exits through the outlet. Actuating one actuator and not the other causes the compressed air to be transmitted to the exit port of the shuttle valve and then to the flow valve to close the flow valve and prevent air flow therethrough.

Abstract: A shovel includes a lower traveling body, an upper turning body mounted on the lower traveling body, an attachment attached to the upper turning body, and a control device mounted on the upper turning body and configured to assist an excavating motion with the attachment. The control device is configured to derive a target excavation depth based on the hardness of an excavation target.

Abstract: A pile press-in construction method uses a pile press-in device having a saddle, a clamp device grasping a top of an existing pile, a mast, a raising and lowering device, and a chuck device supported by the mast and holding a pile. The pile press-in device generates a reaction force by griping the existing pile with the clamp device, holds the pile by the chuck device, presses the pile into the ground by the raising and lowering device, and successively presses piles in while moving on a pile row including the existing pile to thereby extend the pile row. By turning of the mast and tilting of the chuck device about a chuck tilting axis, the chuck device is laid sideways and projects outward to a side of the pile row, the pile is supplied and inserted into the chuck device, and the chuck device grasps the pile.

Abstract: A removable containment boom anchor includes: an anchor support having a flexible body fabricated of at least one resilient material, and a containment boom connector fastened to the anchor support. The flexible body has a base and a tab extending from the base. The flexible body encapsulates a plurality of permanent magnets.

Abstract: A method of providing a drain pipe passageway through a concrete slab wherein a plastic pipe of predetermined diameter, which is greater than the underlying drain pipe, is positioned in an upright manner within a location of a concrete slab to be poured. Concrete is poured around the pipe to a desired level leaving a portion of the pipe exposed above this level, and the concrete is permitted to solidify. Thereafter the exposed portion of the pipe is cut off leaving an upper opening of the pipe flush with the upper surface of the concrete slab. The upper opening of the pipe is closed off with a plastic cap and a passageway of predetermined diameter, which is smaller than the pipe diameter, is drilled through the cap at a newly calculated position of alignment, and a plastic pipe having an outside diameter which will mate with this smaller diameter of the passageway is inserted through the cap passageway and cemented in position.