Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to reinforced syntactic structures and methods of forming the same to encase an underlying structural substrate for remediation and/or improve structural stability. The reinforced syntactic structure includes an underlying structural substrate having an outer surface and at least one reinforcement shell. The reinforcement shell is formed from at least one syntactic foam shell layer encasing at least a portion of the outer surface of the underlying structural substrate and at least one rigid noncorrosive stiffening skin coupled to the syntactic foam shell layer. The syntactic foam shell layer includes at least two opposing subshells wrapped around the underlying structural substrate and the rigid noncorrosive stiffening skin includes at least two opposing skin sections attached to the at least two opposing subshells respectively. The syntactic foam shell layer is formed from syntactic foam which includes hollow microspheres disposed within a resin matrix.

Abstract: A subterranean system including a tunnel network, a plurality of syntactic foam panels, and a wireless communications network is disclosed. The wireless communications network comprises a plurality of wireless transceivers positioned throughout the tunnel network. The wireless communication range defined by communicatively coupled transceivers is a function of signal strength attenuation in a wireless signal traveling between the communicatively coupled transceivers. The tunnel network comprises tunnel support structure that contributes to the signal strength attenuation and a plurality of support apertures formed in the tunnel support structure. The syntactic foam panels are secured to the tunnel support structure to cover at least some of the support apertures and the composition and configuration of the syntactic foam panels are such that the panels do not make a significant contribution to the signal strength attenuation between communicatively coupled transceivers.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to reinforced syntactic structures and methods of forming the same to encase an underlying structural substrate for remediation and/or improve structural stability. The reinforced syntactic structure includes an underlying structural substrate having an outer surface and at least one reinforcement shell. The reinforcement shell is formed from at least one syntactic foam shell layer encasing at least a portion of the outer surface of the underlying structural substrate and at least one rigid noncorrosive stiffening skin coupled to the syntactic foam shell layer. The syntactic foam shell layer includes at least two opposing subshells wrapped around the underlying structural substrate and the rigid noncorrosive stiffening skin includes at least two opposing skin sections attached to the at least two opposing subshells respectively. The syntactic foam shell layer is formed from syntactic foam which includes hollow microspheres disposed within a resin matrix.