Abstract: The present invention relates generally to precast cantilevered retaining walls and methods of using and forming precast cantilevered retaining walls. More specifically, the present invention relates to a cantilevered concrete retaining wall having a base shear key and blockouts for receiving a material that substantially impedes the wing wall from sliding or other inadvertent movement, to a method of retaining a soil embankment with a cantilevered concrete retaining wall, and to a method of manufacturing a precast concrete cantilevered retaining wall.

Abstract: A cellular confinement system for soil, sand or other filler material comprises a number of sub-assemblies each made up of a plurality of interconnected open cells of fabric material. The sub-assemblies are stackable one on top of the other to provide a structure having at least one generally vertical side or end wall. Each sub-assembly comprises a skirt portion which is arranged to overlap between vertically juxtaposed sub-assemblies in use. The skirt portion substantially prevents or minimizes the escape of finer aggregate material from between the stacked sub-assemblies.

Abstract: A novel extendible flexible flood barrier manufactured from textile and membrane materials has been developed which comprises a textile/membrane wall and support posts configured to be movable between a stowed position and a deployed position and wherein, in the deployed position, forms a leak-free barrier against flood water or other fluids. The flexible wall is stored in a container on one side of the opening to be protected and extended to the receiver on the opposite of the opening to deploy the barrier. Structural members, such as posts or a building itself will react to the load from the flood water impinging on the wall. Intermediate posts or bollards can be added to lengthen the wall so larger spans can be closed-off with the flexible wall. The flexible wall can be configured for use in many applications including entire buildings, building entrances, transit system passages, such as ventilation shafts or elevator shafts, stairwells, and other openings that can be threatened by flooding.

Abstract: A lawn grid is provided with pipelines for a heat transfer medium. By using this lawn grid, a turf which can be used for summer operation can be integrated in winter into the structure of an artificial ice rink and/or the turf can be kept free of frost in winter by means of a surface lawn heating. Moreover, the lawn grid can be used for the active and passive recovery of solar heat. The invention further includes methods for the production of an artificial ice rink on a turf and for collection of solar energy in an outdoor facility using such a lawn grid.

Abstract: This invention relates to an offshore supporting structure (1) for wind energy installations with multiple, preferably six, specifically tubular piles (2) that can be anchored in the seabed, and a latticework structure (4) assembled from multiple bars, specifically steel tubes (14). Pursuant to the invention, we propose that the latticework structure (4) be assembled from multiple, prefabricated latticework segments (6, 8, 10, 12), where each latticework segment (6, 8, 10, 12) has six lower corners (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d) and six upper corners (5a, 5b, 5c, 5d), where the upper corners (5a, 5b, 5c) of one latticework segment (6, 8, 10) can be attached to the lower corners (3b, 3c, 3d) of an adjacent latticework segment (8, 10, 12).

Abstract: A facing element for reinforced soil structures and method of using same to build a reinforced soil structure, the facing element including a first facing sub-element with at least one connecting member to connect at least one reinforcement member to said first facing sub-element, a second facing sub-element, and a linking device. Wherein said first and second facing sub-elements are separated by a gap and are linked together by the linking device such that the first and second facing sub-elements have a constant relative position.

Abstract: A transportable wave suppressor and sediment collection system for suppressing wave action along the shore of a body of water, which includes a plurality of interconnected sections, each section including a base, a forward wall, and a rear wall, and having a plurality of flow pipes extending from the forward wall to the rear wall, and further including a plurality of shelves on the forward wall for dispersing wave energy, while redirecting and using the wave energy to allow water and sediment to flow into the flow pipes and for collecting sediment that is not carried into the flow pipes and settles on the shelves for being contacted by a following wave to carry the sediment into the flow pipes. In some deeper water embodiments, the sections may include a base portion, a top portion and one more spacer portions to enable raising or changing the height of the system.

Abstract: Described herein is woven geotextile formed of a plain six-pick weave fabric having an apparent opening size (AOS) of at least 40 as measured in accordance with ASTM International Standard D4751, a water flow rate of at least 35 gpm/ft2 as measured in accordance with ASTM International Standard D4491, a 12% strain at a tensile load of at least 300 lb/in as measured in accordance with ASTM International Standard D4595 in the warp direction, and a 12% strain at a tensile load of at least 270 lb/in in accordance with ASTM International D4595 at 270 lb/in in the fill direction. Also described herein is a reinforced civil structure having a subgrade formed at least partially of soil; a base course; and a woven geotextile disposed between the subgrade and the base course.

Abstract: A cable retention and release mechanism includes a cable gripping device including a cable passage. A cable extends through the cable passage. A cable gripping device collar is movably coupled around the cable gripping device. An outer cable gripping device surface is seated against a cable gripping device receiving inner surface preventing movement of the cable gripping device relative to the cable gripping device collar. The cable gripping device receiving inner surface clamps the cable gripping device on the cable and prevents sliding movement of the cable. A jack is movably coupled with the cable gripping device collar. In a first engaged position the jack is engaged against the cable gripping device proximal end. In a second engaged position the jack unseats the outer cable gripping device surface from the cable gripping device receiving inner surface and releases the clamping of the cable.

Abstract: A modular wave-break includes a wall, a tapered base attached to the wall, and an anchor attached to the base. The wall includes a set of dissipating holes integrally formed in the wall and a set of passage holes integrally formed in the wall. A set of eyebolts are connected to the wall. Reinforcing structural rods are embedded in the wall, the tapered base, and the anchor to provide strength. Mounting holes in the tapered base enable the modular wave-break to be secured to a water bottom surface. Multiple modular wave-breaks may be interconnected to form a single wave-break.

Abstract: Rotational locking mechanisms for drill string assemblies, bottom hole assemblies, and drilling motors are presented herein. A fluid-driven motor assembly is disclosed for use in a drill string to drill a borehole in an earth formation. The drill string includes a drill pipe and a drill bit. The motor assembly includes a housing that is configured to operatively connect to the drill pipe of the drill string to receive drilling fluid therefrom. A stator, which is disposed within the housing, is configured to rotate at a stator speed. A rotor is disposed within the stator and coupled to the drill bit. The rotor is configured to rotate at a rotor speed. The motor assembly also includes a rotational locking assembly operatively coupled to the rotor and the housing. The rotational locking assembly is configured to prevent the stator speed of the stator from exceeding the rotor speed of the rotor.

Abstract: A method of treating production fluid in a wellbore includes deploying a capillary string into the wellbore. The capillary string has a plurality of injection valves. The method further includes pumping treatment fluid through the capillary string and into the wellbore. The injection valves have a cumulative set pressure greater than or equal to a hydrostatic pressure of the treatment fluid.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for distributed storage and use of mine groundwater. The method comprises the following steps: A. prospecting an area of an underground space to be mined, and acquiring data on the bedrock geology of the strata; B. observing the mine groundwater, and acquiring the conditions of the flow distribution, water quality data and water pressure data for the mine groundwater; C. designating one or more goaf spaces through which mine groundwater cannot permeate as a water storage space of a distributed underground reservoir according to the data on the bedrock geology of the strata acquired in step A and the conditions of the flow distribution, water quality data and water pressure data for the mine groundwater acquired in step B; and D. after the designated water storage space is formed, mine groundwater generated when mining a mining face adjacent thereto naturally seeps into the water storage space.

Abstract: The invention relates to apparatus and methods and kits for constructing walls such as diaphragm walls comprising one or more panels and walls so constructed. In particular the invention relates to apparatus, methods and diaphragm walls having a guideway along a height of a first wall of a pane). More particularly, the invention relates to an apparatus for constructing a diaphragm wall comprising: a guideway tube along a height of a first wall of a first concrete panel; a sacrificial wall element in the guideway tube that extends along the tube and about a portion of a periphery of the tube; a cutting mechanism for cutting along the height of a first wall of the first concrete panel, the cutting mechanism being arranged to cut along the height of the wall of the first concrete panel and along the sacrificial wall element of the guideway tube so as to cut away at least part of the sacrificial wall element of the guideway tube along at least part of the height of the first wall.

Abstract: A floating-type sandy beach growing device includes wave absorbing bodies arranged in parallel at appropriate intervals, each of them including a floating body having an offing side end oriented toward offing side and a land side end having a larger buoyancy and oriented toward land side, rocking following a wave vertical movement, offing side end being pivotally supported, and a stand erected in a relatively shallow shore for pivotally supporting offing side end, floating body being level-adjusted so as to be horizontal during low tide in neap tide, and installed angled with respect to wave progress direction in a horizontal plane.

Abstract: A tunnel design used to convey combined or sanitary sewage during wet weather events is disclosed. The design comprises an over chamber and an under chamber in releasable coordination with each other. The over chamber comprises an open canal and the under chamber comprises a box culvert.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a quick coupling for pipe pile, comprising an upper end plate, a lower end plate and a screw hook made of spring steel for coupling the upper and lower end plate, a plurality of tapped holes are uniformly provided on the upper end plate, a plurality of holes corresponding to the tapped holes are provided on the lower end plate, a lock hole is positioned at the lower portion of the hole, while the cross-section area of the lock hole is bigger than the cross-section area of the hole. One end of the screw hook is provided with a screw end mating with the tapped hole on the upper end plate, while the other end is provided with a hook end mating with the lock hole on the lower end plate, whereby the upper and lower end plate can be coupled firmly.

Abstract: A flow control system for a body of water includes a floating portion that is covered by a shroud and includes a buoyant member. The floating portion has an inlet portion within the shroud and the inlet portion is suspended distal from the floating portion forming a gap. A stationary portion is interfaced to a containment surface of the body of water and is in fluid communication with a drainage system. An extendable member is interfaced to the inlet portion, fluidly interfacing an orifice of the inlet portion to the stationary portion, and therefore to the drainage system. When in use, fluid from below a surface of the body of water flows through the gap, into the orifice, through the extendable member, and out through the drainage system. The flow rate of the fluid is constant through a range of depths of the body of water.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for supporting a riser are disclosed. The apparatus includes an anchoring element (420) for anchoring a riser to a fixed structure, and a supporting portion (412) configured to support a section of flexible pipe (406), the supporting portion having a bearing surface for the section of flexible pipe to bear against to thereby restrain the flexible pipe from upward movement.

Abstract: The invention relates to a protective device for preventing fluids, either gaseous or liquid, from escaping into a body of water in an unforeseen or uncontrolled manner, e.g. from a fault 14 in the bottom 15 of the body of water or from the defective riser 16 of a wellbore. The protective device has a dome-shaped membrane 12 that is impervious to the fluid. Further, it has individually navigable flotation devices 17 that are attached to the membrane 12 for the purpose of positioning and stabilizing the membrane 12. An outlet hose 102 for extracting the fluid is mounted on the membrane. The outlet hose also has individually navigable flotation devices 17 for positioning and stabilizing the outlet hose.