Abstract: An apparatus for gripping smooth and/or deformed cylindrical or multiple stranded tendons (rods) commonly used in the Art of Construction, the apparatus comprising a housing (barrel), a plurality of jaws (wedges) within the housing, a tightening device to align the jaws (wedges) and to cause engagement of the jaws (wedges) to the tendon (rod), a tensioning device to properly position the apparatus. The tendon (rod) gripping apparatus includes a first aperture and a second aperture that facilitate passage of a tendon (rod) through the apparatus. The jaw (wedge) cluster comprises a plurality of elongated members, that surround the tendon (rod), are generally wedge shaped and complementary to an inner tapered wall of the housing (barrel).

Abstract: A method and a structure for stabilizing a formation of natural substrate having a substantially vertical face. A tendon is inserted into a hole in the formation. A heading device includes a plate, a tube, an adhesive material within the tube, and an anchor. The plate has a bore disposed over a protruding portion of the tendon. The tube is disposed over the protruding portion of the plate. An adhesive material is disposed within the tube to couple the tendon to the tube. The anchor is coupled to the plate. A final concrete facing is placed over the entire heading device embedding the anchor.

Abstract: Disclosed is a compression-based fastening device that is suitable for use with threaded fiberglass reinforced polymer (FRP) rod. FRP rod is often desirable due to certain favorable characteristics relative to metallic rods. Threaded FRP rod, however, has been somewhat unsatisfactory to date owing to the weakness of its thread structure. The herein disclosed device makes a threaded connection to a threaded FRP rod with an ultimate tensile strength that is several times greater than previously has been achieved with FRP rod, thereby effectively enabling FRP rod to be used in place of threaded steel rod. The preferred device includes a barrel with a tapered interior and a jaw assembly with a tapered exterior and internal threads. The jaw assembly's interior thread's engage the threaded FRP rod and the jaw assembly's tapered exterior slidably engages the barrel's tapered interior.

Abstract: A corrosion-resistant joint for use on concrete reinforcing rods and a method to create such a joint are provided. Metal reinforcing bars are typically coated to resist corrosion. However, cutting, welding and mechanical joining of these rods disturbs the anticorrosion coating and introduces sites of potential corrosion. The corrosion-resistant joint comprises a first rod joined to a second rod with a two-layered plastic sleeve slid over the joint. A corrosion-resistant joint is created by heating the joint, causing the inner layer of the sleeve to liquefy while the outer layer shrinks, forcing the liquid inner layer into the intricacies of the joint creating a corrosion barrier. Ends of rods and regions of a rod from which the anticorrosion coating has been accidentally removed can also be protected from corrosion.

Abstract: A concrete joint restraint system that is adapted for securing a dowel to first and second horizontal members that are spaced apart from one another and located at a desired height above a subgrade prior to placement of concrete. The system includes a closed clip including a cylinder with an end aperture for receiving one end of the dowel and a snap-on connection for connecting the open clip to the first horizontal member. The system further includes an open clip including a pair of flexible, arcuate side walls that define an elongated gap for receiving the other end of the dowel and a snap-on connection for coupling the closed clip to the second horizontal member. The system beneficially permits plastic, fiberglass reinforced plastic, or other non-metallic dowels to be supported between inexpensive rebar bolsters made of steel wire.

Abstract: An apparatus for gripping a smooth, fiberglass rod, the apparatus comprising a housing, a jaw cluster within the housing, and a force tube for positioning the jaw cluster within the housing. The rod-gripping apparatus includes a first aperture and a second aperture which facilitate passage of a rod through the apparatus. The force tube is mechanically interfitted with the jaw cluster. The jaw cluster comprises a plurality of elongated jaw members which are generally wedge-shaped and complementary to an inner tapered wall of the housing. The jaw cluster, which surrounds the rod, is set to or released from the rod, as desired, in response to a repositioning of the force tube relative to the housing.

Abstract: A blind anchor capable of anchoring a smooth rod in a hole drilled in an existing structure. The blind anchor consists of a cylindrical expansion sleeve having a cylindrically tapered aperture and a jaw cluster that fits within the expansion sleeve. The expansion sleeve may be slotted to facilitate expansion and may include external ribs to firmly grip the interior of the hole. The jaw cluster is fashioned from a plurality of jaw members that are expandably retained together in a notched retaining ring. The connections between the blind anchor, the smooth rod, and the hole are beneficially reinforced when the rod experiences a pulling force away from the hole.