Abstract: At least one exemplary device includes a tubular mesh enclosure formed from a mesh material having a nominal opening size of less than 0.5 inches, a ratio of a length of the mesh enclosure to a diameter of the mesh enclosure greater than 40, having an opposing pair of ends, at least one of the ends sealed, the enclosure surrounding a filling.

Abstract: A reinforced soil structure including a fill (1), a facing (3) placed along a front face of the structure, at least one main reinforcement member (2, 9, 26) connected to the facing and extending through a first reinforced zone (Z1) of the fill situated behind the front face, and at least one secondary reinforcement member (6) disconnected from the facing and extending from the facing in a second reinforced zone (Z2) of the fill, which has, with said first reinforced zone (Z1), a common part (Z?), wherein the secondary reinforcement member (6) extends into the fill (1) up to a distance substantially shorter than the main reinforcement member (2, 9, 26), with respect to the front face and wherein the stiffness of the secondary reinforcement member (6) is lower or equal to the stiffness of the main reinforcement member (2, 9, 26).

Abstract: In one aspect of the invention, an apparatus and related methods for installation in a borehole formed in a face of a mine passage comprises an elongated bolt including a spiral portion coated with a lubricity agent for positioning in the borehole; preferably, a fixing agent as well; and most preferably, a colored fixing agent. A hardened, stationary resin nut formed in only part of the borehole, preferably spaced from the distal end thereof, my receive the spiral portion of the bolt. Consequently, rotation of the spiral portion within the hardened resin nut serves to move the bolt within the borehole, such as for purposes of tensioning.

Abstract: The invention relates to an ice worthy jack-up rig with a conical piled monopod working together to drill wells and produce hydrocarbons in ice prone locations. The inventive rig would work like a conventional jack-up rig while in open water with the hull jacked up out of the water. However, in the event of ice conditions, the legs are held in place by cans embedded in the sea floor to resist lateral movement of the rig and in sockets attached to the conical piled monopod. Both the hull and conical piled monopod are shaped with ice-bending surfaces to bend and break up ice that comes into contact.

Abstract: In a family of plastic leaching chambers, each having an arch shape cross section and corrugations, there are chambers of different top heights and possibly different widths. Each chamber has a common size of end connector, so chambers within the family, of any size, can be interconnected. Preferably, the height of an end connector is no more than the top height of the smallest chamber in the family. Preferred chambers have one or more hollow pillars extending downwardly within the interior of the chamber; and preferred chambers have peak corrugations which are substantially wider than the intervening valley corrugations.

Abstract: A method for attaching a plate to an interior of an underground excavation, the method comprising: placing a first surface of the plate adjacent to the interior of the excavation, the plate having at least one through a passageway disposed within the plate; forming a mounting hole within the excavation in alignment with the passageway; inserting a bolt from a second surface of the plate opposite the first surface through the passageway and into the mounting hole; the bolt having a dome portion being integrally attached to a washer portion, such that the dome portion extends in a convex manner away from the first side of the washer portion; and a driver connected to the dome portion; driving the bolt into through the passageway and the mounting hole by means of the driver; and securing the bolt to the mounting hole disposed within the excavation via an anchorage device, adhesive or grout.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention comprise berm to increase capacity of an existing landfill. The landfill comprises a waste-receiving recess having a surface and an outer perimeter, an edge surface peripherally adjacent at least a portion of the outer perimeter, and an existing accumulation of waste within the recess. The berm comprises a reinforced portion having opposing inner and outer surfaces and comprising fill material and a plurality of reinforcing members disposed therein, backfill material having an inner surface adjacent the inner surface of the reinforced portion, and an impermeable membrane encapsulating at least a portion of the backfill material, at least a portion of the fill material, and at least a portion of one or more of the reinforcing members.

Abstract: An improved tarp and ballast system that includes a plurality of panels attached to one another along the lengths thereof, wherein the lengths of the panels correspond to the length of the tarp. The tarp also includes chain pockets located at the sides of the tarp which run the length of the tarp and have chains secured therein. The tarp further includes a plurality of cable pockets and associated ballast anchors oriented across the width of the tarp which are adapted to secure a plurality of ballast cables to the tarp.

Abstract: A hydraulic boat lift uses two hydraulic cylinders to pull/release cables attached to a boat cradle. The hydraulic cylinders are operated by attachment to a tandem pump to cause them to operate in a synchronized fashion. Furthermore a switch assembly has a switch associated with each respective hydraulic cylinder, the pair of switches being wired in parallel so that if one side of the boat cradle reaches its fully raised position before the other side, the one side will stop and the other side will continue to move up until it is also disposed in a fully raised position before stopping by turning off the electricity to the tandem pump.

Abstract: A monohull vessel for laying a pipeline includes tensioners 13 disposed along a Pipelaying path P. The pipelaying path P includes an upstream portion that is substantially horizontal and at least 10 m above the center of rolling R of the vessel and, towards a stern end of the vessel hull, a downstream portion that is downwardly inclined and, in use, enters the water at a location inboard of the stern end of the vessel hull 1.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described for subsea pipeline servicing, including dewatering and chemical containment. A subsea pipeline service skid has a containment bladder affixed to the skid and in fluid communication with a skid mounted pump dimensioned to pump fluid from the subsea pipeline. A sensor system at the suction side of the pump detects the presence of seawater, water, chemical agent, or gas so the pump can be operated accordingly. The chemical agent used during dewatering operations of the pipeline is selectively pumped to the containment bladder subsea so the subsea vehicle can independently take the chemical agent to the surface.

Abstract: Modules for use in an assembly for managing the flow of water beneath a ground surface and assemblies of such modules are disclosed. The modules include supports and a deck portion and the supports are spaced apart and form channels with a main section of the deck portion. The deck portion also includes at least one section extending from a main section.

Abstract: A telescoping leader system for a construction machine that includes a set of leads having a series of internal nesting segments and an extending means connecting one segment to another segment to allow for the extension of the segments one after the other to an extended position and the retraction of the segments to an internal nesting position. The telescoping leader system further includes a surface engaging member mounted within the set of leads and a pivotable mounting assembly mounted to the set of leads and adapted to adjust the position of the set of leads. A quick connecting means adapted to engage the pivotable mounting assembly is included to allow for the quick engagement and disengagement of the construction machined from the set of leads.

Abstract: A pipe guide adapter for drawing pipes into a channel with the aid of a traction means is provided with ribs which are arranged conically on a base pipe. The ribs ensure guidance of the pipe and, at the same time, a simple construction of the adapter. In addition, the pipe guide adapter can be provided with rollers, which are arranged in the free spaces between the ribs and facilitate the guide function of the pipe guide adapter.

Abstract: A roll of grid material for mine roof support, and a mining machine in combination with such a roll, in which the roll has bands of adhering material injected or otherwise forced into the roll in spaced locations along the roll's width. The adhering material interconnects the overlapped layers within the roll so that the roll is self-resistant to unrolling. Also provided is a method of making such a roll including the steps of winding a length of polymeric mesh material into a roll and applying an adhering material to the mesh material. The adhering material has sufficient strength to hold the roll in a wound configuration and prevent the roll from free-wheeling or unwinding due to the roll's own physical properties.

Abstract: A system and method for installing sheet piles using active gripping along side portions of the sheet piles. A sheet pile profile including first and second locking profiles and a gripping flange enables engagement of the sheet piles onto a mandrel for installation. Double engagement flanges on the locking profiles and an expandable connection between adjacent sheet piles provide improved resistance to fluid passage.

Abstract: A liquid retention system in accordance with an embodiment of the invention comprises a plurality of pipes having a wall defining a pipe conduit, at least some of the pipes having at least one hole through the wall for allowing liquid to enter the conduit. Each of two sets of pipe groups is arranged into a two layers of the pipes. The pipes in one layer are arranged in adjacent proximity along their lengths such that the walls of adjacent pipes define a plurality of gaps while the pipes in the second layer are at least partially seated in the gaps. The cylindrical axes of the pipes in the two pipe groups relative to one another are non-parallel. The pipe groups are arranged in a liquid retention portion, which is at least partially enclosed to retain liquid therein.

Abstract: A wave break structure having a body with a bulkhead and a first pontoon and a second pontoon. The first pontoon is positioned on one side of the bulkhead and the second pontoon is positioned on the opposite side of the bulkhead. The bulkhead extends substantially above the first and second pontoons. The bulkhead and the pontoons are integrally formed together of a metallic material. The bulkhead having a first wall extending at least 45° with respect to a second wall of said bulkhead so as to have an inverted V-shaped configuration. A crushed stone coating is applied to a surface of the bulkhead.

Abstract: A J-lay system constructed to be positioned on board a pipeline-laying vessel, comprising a fixed pipeline support (12) and a movable pipeline support (12) configured for supporting a pipeline (10) which is suspended form the pipeline-laying vessel, —the movable pipeline support (12) comprising: —at least a first movable support member (20A) configured for engaging a first collar (16A) on the pipeline (10), —at least a second movable support member (20B) configured for engaging a second collar (16B) on the pipeline (10), —the fixed pipeline support (12) comprising: —at least a first fixed support member (20A) configured for engaging a third collar on the pipeline (10), —at least a second fixed support member (20B) configured for engaging a fourth collar on the pipeline (10), wherein the first (20A) and second fixed support member (20B) configured for engaging a fourth collar on the pipeline (10).

Abstract: Certain exemplary embodiments can provide a system comprising: a first tubular mesh enclosure having a first opposing pair of ends, at least one of said first opposing pair of ends sealed; a first filling surrounded by said first tubular mesh enclosure; a first geogrid wrapped at least partially around said first tubular mesh enclosure.