Abstract: A system and method are provided for determining optimal design conditions for structures incorporating geosynthetically confined soils. A testing apparatus referred to as a load frame simulates a particular geostructural construction without having to construct a full-scale or near full-scale model. The load frame includes an enclosure made from materials such as concrete block or rigid panels that enclose a plurality of layers of geosynthetic materials and lifts of representative soil and aggregate obtained from the jobsite of the geostructural construction. An upper load plate and lower load plate confine the lifts and geosynthetic materials. A load is applied to the upper load plate in order to compact the contents within the load frame. Both static and vibratory energy can be applied for the loading, thereby closely replicating actual compaction efforts at the job site. Once the contents have been compacted, compaction testing can be conducted to confirm design parameters.

Abstract: A system and method provides for repair/reconstruction of bridge and culvert constructions. Geosynthetically confined soils are used in combination with soil nails. The soil nails provide additional tensile strength below the areas reinforced with the geosynthetically confined soils. The soil nails may include both horizontal and vertical soil nails. Various forms of vertical tensioning support can be provided to include soil nails, micro-piles, sheet piling, and the like. The confined soils are installed at locations under and adjacent to the man made constructions, and can be provided in both symmetrical and asymmetrical configurations. For bridge constructions, the confined soils may be installed at a desired depth under the bridge girders, and under other primary support members of the bridge. Horizontal nails may be installed under and adjacent to the confined soils.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for determining optimal design conditions for structures incorporating geosynthetically confined soils. A testing apparatus referred to as a load frame simulates a particular geostructural construction without having to construct a full-scale or near full-scale model. The load frame includes an enclosure made from materials such as concrete block or rigid panels that enclose a plurality of layers of geosynthetic materials and lifts of representative soil and aggregate obtained from the jobsite of the geostructural construction. An upper load plate and lower load plate confine the lifts and geosynthetic materials. A load is applied to the upper load plate in order to compact the contents within the load frame. Both static and vibratory energy can be applied for the loading, thereby closely replicating actual compaction efforts at the job site. Once the contents have been compacted, compaction testing can be conducted to confirm design parameters.

Abstract: A system and method provides for repair/reconstruction of bridge and culvert constructions. Geosynthetically confined soils are used in combination with soil nails. The soil nails provide additional tensile strength below the areas reinforced with the geosynthetically confined soils. The soil nails may include both horizontal and vertical soil nails. Various forms of vertical tensioning support can be provided to include soil nails, micro-piles, sheet piling, and the like. The confined soils are installed at locations under and adjacent to the man made constructions, and can be provided in both symmetrical and asymmetrical configurations. For bridge constructions, the confined soils may be installed at a desired depth under the bridge girders, and under other primary support members of the bridge. Horizontal nails may be installed under and adjacent to the confined soils.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for increasing the width of an existing roadway. The system incorporates a reverse-oriented retaining wall and soil nail supports. The retaining wall is formed by a first set of soil nails, wire mesh material, and one or more geotextile material layers. An alternate embodiment forms the retaining wall with a plurality of concrete blocks stacked and spaced to form a block wall. The blocks are mounted over the first set of nails. Backfill material fills a gap between the existing sloping surface and the retaining wall. A second set of soil nails can be provided for additional subsurface support. An upper surface of the backfill material can be paved to form the extended roadway width.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for increasing the width of an existing roadway. The system incorporates a reverse-oriented retaining wall and soil nail supports. The retaining wall is formed by a first set of soil nails, wire mesh material, and one or more geotextile material layers. An alternate embodiment forms the retaining wall with a plurality of concrete blocks stacked and spaced to form a block wall. The blocks are mounted over the first set of nails and can be filled with mortar. Backfill material fills a gap between the existing sloping surface and the retaining wall. A second set of soil nails can be provided for additional subsurface support. An upper surface of the backfill material can be paved to form the extended roadway width. The cantilevered configuration of the reverse-oriented retaining wall provides a solution for a less costly retaining wall structure.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for increasing the width of an existing roadway. The system incorporates a reverse-oriented retaining wall and soil nail supports. The retaining wall is formed by a first set of soil nails, wire mesh material, and one or more geotextile material layers. An alternate embodiment forms the retaining wall with a plurality of concrete blocks stacked and spaced to form a block wall. The blocks are mounted over the first set of nails and can be filled with mortar. Backfill material fills a gap between the existing sloping surface and the retaining wall. A second set of soil nails can be provided for additional subsurface support. An upper surface of the backfill material can be paved to form the extended roadway width.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for increasing the width of an existing roadway. The system incorporates a reverse-oriented retaining wall and soil nail supports. The retaining wall is formed by a first set of soil nails, wire mesh material, and one or more geotextile material layers. An alternate embodiment forms the retaining wall with a plurality of concrete blocks stacked and spaced to form a block wall. The blocks are mounted over the first set of nails and can be filled with mortar. Backfill material fills a gap between the existing sloping surface and the retaining wall. A second set of soil nails can be provided for additional subsurface support. An upper surface of the backfill material can be paved to form the extended roadway width. The cantilevered configuration of the reverse-oriented retaining wall provides a solution for a less costly retaining wall structure.

Abstract: A subsurface support is provided in the form of a soil nail. The soil nail has asperities formed on the outer surface thereof to improve the pullout capacity of the soil nail. The asperities can take a number of forms to include indentations, deformations and threads formed on the outer surface of the soil nail. Optionally, a stinger may be attached to a distal end of the soil nail to further enhance the pullout capacity of the soil nail.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for promoting vegetation growth on a steeply sloping surface. The system of the present invention includes anchors that are secured to the sloping surface, an inner mesh layer in contact with the slope, a geosynthetic layer placed over the inner mesh layer, and seeded compost material placed in the gap or space between the geosynthetic layer and the inner mesh layer. An outer mesh layer is placed over the geosynthetic layer to help stabilize the geosynthetic layer. The geosynthetic layer and outer mesh layer are also secured to the protruding anchors. Vegetation grows in the compost material and roots of the vegetation penetrate the inner mesh layer into the slope. An established root system stabilizes the slope. The seeded compost material provides an environment that greatly enhances the growth of vegetation on steeply sloping surface which otherwise do not have adequate soil to promote growth.

Abstract: A subsurface support includes a soil nail of two-piece construction. The body of the soil nail is constructed of fiberglass. The tip of the soil nail is constructed of a machined metal piece that is secured to the distal end of the fiberglass body. The soil nail is preferably installed by a launching device.

Abstract: A subsurface support includes a protective outer member that encases an interior support member. The inner support member may typically be a steel or iron rod which is held within the outer tube as by grout or cement. The outer tube is preferably emplaced by forcing the outer tube into the ground by use of a launching device. The distal end of the outer tube is pointed thus allowing easier penetration of the outer tube into the ground. The subsurface support may be used in numerous functional ways to provide support for an overlying man made structure, or to stabilize surrounding rock and soil. The support can be used in compression, tension, bending, and/or shear.

Abstract: A scour platform to prevent scour of a moving body of water is constructed by placing an excavation adjacent to the body of water. The excavation is spaced laterally from the body of water and extends up or downstream a desired length. A stabilizing sheet material covers the bottom of the excavation. Aggregate is placed within the excavation over the sheet material, and a free end of the sheet material is then folded back over the upper surface of the emplaced aggregate. Any remaining gaps between the excavation and the sheet material may be backfilled and compacted as necessary. The scour platform is completed once the free end of the sheet material is folded back over the aggregate. For additional prevention of scour, micropiles may be emplaced between the scour platform and the body of water.

Abstract: An abutment especially adapted for use with a bridge is provided which incorporates lateral containment elements which prevent undesirable lateral shifting or movement of the bridge during a seismic event. The lateral containment elements are constructed of varying materials, and form an integral part of the bridge abutment. The lateral containment elements are positioned laterally of the bridge sill and in abutting relationship with the lateral ends of the sill. The lateral containment elements may include mechanically stabilized earth, concrete blocks, concrete blocks with micropile tie downs, reinforced concrete blocks with shear keys which extend below ground, or steel piles or beams which are secured in the ground.

Abstract: An abutment especially adapted for use with a bridge is provided which incorporates lateral containment elements which prevent undesirable lateral shifting or movement of the bridge during a seismic event. The lateral containment elements are constructed of varying materials, and form an integral part of the bridge abutment. The lateral containment elements are positioned laterally of the bridge sill and in abutting relationship with the lateral ends of the sill. The lateral containment elements may include mechanically stabilized earth, concrete blocks, concrete blocks with micropile tie downs, reinforced concrete blocks with shear keys which extend below ground, or steel piles or beams which are secured in the ground.

Abstract: A container lid for a container, the lid having a wall to fit around an upper end of the container, a sealing ridge or retention ridge within the wall to interengage with the upper end of the container, a stop shoulder within the lid, to abut against the top edge of the container, an upstanding inverted channel extending inwardly from the shoulder, and extending upwardly there from, and a downwardly dependent inner wall extending from the channel, a transverse junction wall extending from the lower end of the inner wall, a generally vertical wall extending downwardly from the transverse wall, and a closure panel extending across the closure, from the downwardly dependent wall, and, a label retention lip formed integrally with the container lid and extending at a generally inward angle from the conjunction between the inner wall and the downwardly dependent wall, in which a label may be inserted and in which the lip defines a predetermined spacing from the upper surface of the ridge, so as to protect the lip,

Abstract: A polymeric cup adapted to hold foods and to receive a sheath with a substantially smooth exterior surface to form an insulated container is set forth. The substantially smooth exterior surface allows for the displaying of printed material. The polymeric cup includes a side wall with an outer surface and a base connected to a lower portion of the side wall. A plurality of ribs project radially outward from the outer surface of the side wall and axially extend substantially along the entire length of the side wall. The ribs are uniformly distributed around substantially the entire circumference of the side wall. Each of the ribs has a face with a circumferential width and is separated from an adjacent one of the ribs by a predetermined distance. The predetermined distance is less than approximately 0.100 inch and the ratio of the circumferential width to the predetermined distance is in the range from about 0.15 to about 1.0.

Abstract: A retaining wall has at least two facing panels in a tier adjacently interconnected by at least a pair of panel interconnectors mounted to the inner surfaces of the panels to allow adjacent panels to rotate relative to each other. Horizontal flexible anchoring devices, which include rigid anchors flexibly or rigidly connected to the panel interconnectors, connect the facing panels to an earth mass. The panels may tilt, or horizontally deform, relative to deformations in the earth mass. Front horizontal panel adjustment devices allow the tension of the connection between the flexible anchoring devices and the panel interconnectors to be varied from the front of the wall to allow horizontal alignment of the panels after the earth wall has been built. An adjustable inner panel supports the facing panels prior to the start of earth wall construction. Geofabric layers, independent of the flexible anchoring, are used during construction to stabilize the earth wall.

Abstract: A boulder rolling down a slope is caught with an energy absorbing device to dissipate a portion of its kinetic energy and to redirect the boulder downwardly into the ground to absorb the rest of the kinetic energy and to stop it. This is accomplished by temporary deformation of joints in the energy absorbing device to dissipate the kinetic energy and redirect the boulder downwardly into the ground. The energy absorbing device will return substantially to its undeformed state for intercepting additional boulders which may roll down the slope.