Abstract: A system and method to enhance the structural performance of a reinforced concrete pile in a ground hole is provided. The ground hole includes an upper shaft cavity connected to a lower bell-shaped cavity. The concrete pile includes a cage assembly disposed within the hole in the ground surface and includes a plurality of rebars coupled together by a plurality of fixtures. Each fixture has a generally hexagonal sheet with a plurality of fingers connected to the sheet at corner junctions with each having a concave edge. Each rebar is designed to secure within the concave edges of the corner junctions of the plurality of fixtures. Concrete is disposed within the ground hole to secure the cage assembly therein, thereby enhancing the structural performance of the reinforced concrete pile by minimizing shear stress failure and enhancing load-bearing capacity of the pile.

Abstract: A method for changing a metal body, especially an aluminum alloy body, and, in particular, a method for producing a uniform metal body surface for use in achieving desired light reflectance characteristics and/or other useful attributes. The method comprises (a) preparing a metal body in a first solution by producing a first coating on at least a desired portion thereof with the first coating providing a substantially continuous outer surface on the metal body and (b) treating the metal body to achieve substantial uniformity throughout the desired portion of the metal body. In the treating step, substantially all of the first coating is removed in a second solution. The metal body has a substantially uniform roughened surface after the treating step which is sufficient to substantially optimize diffusive reflectance and reduce spectral reflectance of the metal body surface. The preparing step is preferably accomplished by anodizing.