Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a system for reinforcing compressible soil strata. The system comprises at least one helical rigid-inclusion comprising a elongate body, a top member secured to one end of the elongate body, and at least one lower helically-formed member secured to the end of the elongate body opposite to the top member, and a load transfer platform configured to transfer at least a portion of a load from an overlying surface to the helical rigid-inclusion. Embodiments of the present disclosure also relate to methods of installing the system for reinforcing compressible soil.

Abstract: This invention is a device for creating tidal action in a terminal lake. A first aspect involves staggering of input and output from the terminal lake, such that the level of the lake rises and falls on a daily basis to simulate tidal action. A second aspect involves the creation of a berm and islands, with a system of pumps and drains filling and emptying a series of holding ponds, creating an even greater “reach” of the tidal action. This tidal action allows for the growth of mangrove forests, which prevent land-based predators such as coyotes from accessing bird nests on the islands, as well as keeping the “playa” wet enough so that local wind does not pick up playa sediment and create toxic dust storms. The toxic upper 3? of the “playa” is bulldozed to create the berm, islands, and access roads which bisect the newly-created intertidal zone.

Abstract: A floating marine barrier is provided whose main components all have substantially equal elastic characteristics, enabling the barrier to better absorb and arrest an impacting vessel. Embodiments include a floating marine barrier including barrier modules each having a flotation device, a supporting framework attached to the flotation device, and impact net support posts attached to the supporting framework. An impact net is attached to each of the support posts and extends between the barrier modules along a longitudinal axis of the barrier; and a main tension strength element is attached to each of the barrier modules and extends between the barrier modules along the longitudinal axis of the barrier to space the barrier modules from each other. The impact net has a first elasticity, and the first main tension strength element has a second elasticity which is substantially equal to the first elasticity.

Abstract: An erosion control system comprising a plurality of interconnected blocks that each include an upper face, a lower face, multiple sides, and connector recesses disposed on at least some of the sides, with each the connector recesses extending inwardly from an outer surface of the respective side at which it is disposed. Each block is configured to be connected with an adjacent block with one side of each block being disposed adjacent one side of an adjacent block and at least one connector recess of each block being aligned with one of the connector recesses of the adjacent block. The adjacent blocks are connected together at aligned connector recesses by a linkage assembly, with the adjacent blocks being able to pivot relative to each other via the linkage assembly.

Abstract: An improved liquid run-off disposal system is described having an infiltration chamber 72 with first and second sidewalls 74. In cross-sectional view the first and second sidewalls 74 each include an inner surface 76 and outer surface 78, and each sidewall 74 includes a plurality of integrated louvre-shaped apertures 80. In cross-sectional view each louvre-shaped aperture 80 includes an upper surface 82 and a lower surface 84 which are angled upwards from the outer surface 78 and protrude inwards from the inner surface 76 into the interior of the infiltration chamber 72. The upper and lower surfaces 82, 84 comprise a plurality of angled sections, the angled sections being arranged so as to form a substantially vertical flow path through a portion of the aperture 80. The angled sections of the upper and lower surfaces 82, 84 are arranged at an angle and of a length so as to substantially overlap when viewed in a horizontal direction.

Abstract: A support layer for supporting an artificial turf assembly. The support layer being formed of a polymeric foam, preferably having a density of between 20 and 70 grams per liter, such as a polyolefin foam; and having an upper side and a lower side, wherein in use the support layer has been placed with the lower side thereof on a base surface and supports, on the upper side thereof, the artificial turf assembly, the support layer including a plurality of through drainage holes extending from the upper side to the lower side for allowing liquid such as rain water to flow via the plurality of drainage holes from the upper side to the lower side, and also including a plurality of channels at the lower side for allowing liquid such as rain water to flow through the channels along the lower side, wherein each of said plurality of drainage holes debouches into one of the plurality of channels.

Abstract: A support layer for supporting an artificial turf assembly. The support layer being formed of a polymeric foam, preferably having a density of between 20 and 70 grams per liter, such as a polyolefin foam; and having an upper side and a lower side, wherein in use the support layer has been placed with the lower side thereof on a base surface and supports, on the upper side thereof, the artificial turf assembly, the support layer including a plurality of through drainage holes extending from the upper side to the lower side for allowing liquid such as rain water to flow via the plurality of drainage holes from the upper side to the lower side, and also including a plurality of channels at the lower side for allowing liquid such as rain water to flow through the channels along the lower side, wherein each of said plurality of drainage holes debouches into one of the plurality of channels.

Abstract: Disclosed is a multiple friction joint pile connection construction system to construct: shallow and deep foundations for structures, tie beam construction between footings, passive piles to prevent slope failures beam on elastic foundation, pile cap and tie beam in the construction of pile groups, load transfer platforms isolated (not connected) from the upper structure, retaining structure when constructed with vertical and horizontal orientation, vertical and horizontal drain when perforated blocks are used, landing pier, quay wall and platform construction for coastal and harbor structures, by anchoring to the upper section of the existing bored piles, by anchoring to the upper sections of the columns of the upper structure, in railroad tie manufacture, in transportation structures and in all kinds of similar geotechnical applications.

Abstract: A portable cofferdam system for isolating a working area from water such as a culvert. The portable cofferdam system generally includes a first sidewall and a second sidewall each having an interior side, an exterior side, an upper edge, a lower edge and a rear edge. A middle wall is connected to the sidewalls opposite of the rear edges of the sidewalls forming a substantially U-shaped structure. An opening formed between the rear edges of the first sidewall and the second sidewall to allow for positioning about or near the inlet of an object or area to be kept dry such as the inlet of a culvert.

Abstract: A pile shoring wall includes tangent concrete piles that are formed in the ground at an excavation site. The tangent concrete piles include a plurality of a first type of concrete piles in the ground at depths wherein the average depth is d1 and a plurality of a second type of concrete piles. The second type of concrete piles includes 10% and less than 50% of the tangent concrete piles, and each have a shaft of a helical pile secured therewithin. Each helical pile has a bottom portion with helical flights for screwing the helical pile into the ground, and each helical pile is set into the ground to a depth of at least about 2 m below d1. The helical flights of each helical pile are exposed to the surrounding soil and increase resistance below an excavation depth when the site is excavated.

Abstract: A device and a method for testing a compression amount of a pile body of a rock-socketed cast-in-place pile is provided. The testing device includes open flexible pipes which are correspondingly bound with two main reinforcements in the pile body of the rock-socketed cast-in-place pile, and lengths of the open flexible pipes are the same as those of the bound main reinforcements. One end of each of the two open flexible pipes is located at a bottom end of a corresponding main reinforcement and fixedly connected with a first sealing sheet, and other ends of the two open flexible pipes are located at a top portion of the rock-socketed cast-in-place pile and fixedly connected with second sealing sheets. A closed rigid pipe is located in the open flexible pipe, and pipe bodies of the closed rigid pipe and the open flexible pipe are not in contact.

Abstract: The present invention relates in some embodiments to a bottom supported drilling unit having two drilling stations for independently drilling (or otherwise working on) two wells simultaneously from a cantilever.

Abstract: A construction method for a recyclable anchor rod. The recyclable anchor rod includes a reinforcing steel bar body and an unlocking device. The unlocking device includes a housing, a fixed panel, a top limiter, lifting screw limiters, a lifting screw, transmission gears, gear clamping arms, a thread limiter, and a pressure bearing plate. The construction method includes: 1, positioning; 2, drilling; 3, anchoring; 4, performing primary grouting; 5, performing secondary grouting; 6, tensioning and locking; and 7, recycling the reinforcing steel bar body. Shock-absorbing pressure-bearing devices are arranged between the lower end of the housing and the pressure bearing plate.

Abstract: A cellular structure includes a plurality of interconnected cells of fabric material. The cells are at least partially filled with a composite fill material that includes a particulate material and a bonding agent. A cellular unit made up of a plurality of the interconnected cells may have an associated load-bearing frame to enable lifting and/or transportation of the structure. The fill material is preferably resilient.

Abstract: The invention concerns a bend stiffener (10, 32) for locally protecting an elongate flexible member (14) from excessive curvature when the elongate flexible member is deployed in water. The bend stiffener comprises an elongate stiffener body (34) which has a root end, a free end, and a passage (36) extending through the stiffener body from the root end to the free end for receiving and embracing the flexible member. A coupling (16) at or toward the root end of the stiffener body serves to mount the stiffener body. The stiffener body is sufficiently flexible to curve somewhat along with the flexible member when the flexible member suffers a bending load and carries a sensor module which is located proximate the free end of the bend stiffener and is configured to sense inclination and/or orientation and/or movement of the free end of the bend stiffener.

Abstract: A vibration excitation device comprises an input shaft, eccentric blocks and eccentric torque output shafts. The input shaft can drive the eccentric torque output shafts to rotate, and the eccentric blocks sleeve the outer sides of the eccentric torque output shafts. The eccentric blocks on the eccentric torque output shafts synchronously rotate along with rotation of the eccentric torque output shafts and generate a centrifugal force. The centrifugal forces of the eccentric blocks on one pair of exactly opposite eccentric torque output shafts are equal in magnitude and opposite in direction, but each pair of centrifugal forces forms a force couple. The magnitude and direction of the torque of each force couple periodically change based on the sine function rule over time, and under the action of the torques of the two pairs of force couples, the vibration excitation device generates an arc vibration in a horizontal direction.

Abstract: The invention relates to a pile joint, which comprises a first concrete pile, a second concrete pile, and a coupling system therebetween for connecting and locking the concrete piles relative to each other. The coupling system includes a lock housing and a lock spindle connectible to each other and provided with transverse holes in such a way that the lock housing's transverse holes and the lock spindle's transverse hole settle substantially in line with each other for receiving a locking pin when the lock housing and the lock spindle are connected to each other. In addition, the lock housing is provided with a locking ring for retaining the locking pin in a position locking the lock housing and the lock spindle to each other.

Abstract: A grouting and pile forming device includes a compartment box and a double-spiral-tube structure. The double-spiral-tube structure includes an outer spiral tube and an inner spiral tube, which are nested and fixed together. A top part of the outer spiral tube and a top part of the inner spiral tube are hermetically connected. An inner space of the inner spiral tube forms a grouting cavity. A space between the outer spiral tube and the inner spiral tube forms a drainage and delivery cavity. A plurality of drainage and delivery holes are provided in a tube body of the outer spiral tube. A construction method for strengthening soft soil through the grouting and pile forming device includes the following steps: 1) operation preparation; 2) downward spiral penetration; 3) drainage consolidation; 4) chemical consolidation; 5) upward spiral lifting; and 6) repeated operation until all soil to be strengthened is treated.

Abstract: The present invention provides a low-energy coastal beach restoration method, comprising: constructing a convex beach berm, determining an aspect ratio of the beach berm edge, determining a beach face slope, performing sand replenishment, determining the dredging zone and dredging depth, and determining the steps of building a sediment groin. The present invention utilizes the feature of the convergence effect of the wave energy on the headland, artificially constructs a convex headland shaped beach berm, and determines the required beach face range and slope according to the convex beach berm edge. During beach restoration, dredging around the beach face, while reducing mud sources and increasing the nearshore water depth, it also builds a convex nearshore terrain, which effectively increases the wave energy at the restoration site and improves the coast muddy situation of low-energy coasts.

Abstract: A method of storing hydrogen involves forming an excavation in the earth and constructing a storage tank therein comprised of integrated primary and secondary containment structures. The primary containment structure composed of a plurality of joinable cylindrical segments, or pre-fabricated sections joined to form a cylinder within the excavation. The secondary containment structure formed by pumping a curable, flowable composition into the cylinder, allowing it to flow out the bottom and up the second annulus to the earth's surface, and then hardening; thereby encasing the primary containment structure. The bottom of the cylinder is sealed with the bottom assembly. The top assembly is attached to the cylinder and tubing and packer are run into the cylinder creating a first annulus between the cylinder and tubing. Top assembly is sealed, fluids circulated out, and the tank dried. Thereafter, the tank is capable of safely storing hydrogen gas.