Abstract: A wave energy converter is disclosed, comprising: a body configured to float in water and roll and/or pitch in response to wave action; a pendulum supported by the body and configured to swing in response to rolling and/or pitching of the body; an energy converting means associated with the pendulum and configured to convert swinging of the pendulum relative to the body into electrical energy; a pendulum adjusting means configured to adjust a swinging period of the pendulum, wherein the pendulum adjusting means includes one or more flywheels, each of the one or more flywheels being selectively operably connectable to the pendulum; a body tuning means configured to adjustably tune rolling characteristics of the body; and a controller configured to control the body tuning means such that a rolling period of the body approximates or matches a wave energy peak period.

Abstract: A method of increasing the structural strength of a load bearing member such as a pile (12), particularly for the purpose of repairing a damaged pile, includes the steps of securing a rigid, structural sleeve (17) around the pile (12) and spaced therefrom to form an interspace (18), filling the interspace (18) with an expansive filler (19), and allowing the filler (19) to set and expand in the interspace (18) to a prestress of at least 3 MPa and impose tensile hoop stresses in the sleeve (17) and corresponding compressive hoop stresses in the pile (12) to enhance the load transfer between the pile (12) and the sleeve (17).