Abstract: A connection system for reinforced thermoplastic polymer (RTP) pipe is disclosed. The connection system includes a first pipe having a first end and a reinforced thermoset resin (RTR) coupler positioned adjacent the first end of the first pipe. The RTR coupler has an annular body with a first socket extension extending into the first end of the first pipe and a first thermoplastic tie layer provided between the first socket extension and the first end of the first pipe. A first set of wedges is positioned circumferentially around an outer surface of the first end of the first pipe, and a first flange fitted around the first set of wedges, wherein the first set of wedges is wedged between the first end and the first flange.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically jointing of reinforced thermosetting resin (RTR) pipes. For example, an automated installation of RTR joints system may have an inductor and a pig for automated in-field installation of RTR pipes. The inductor may be fitted on an outside of RTR joint. Additionally, the pig may be inserted inside the pipeline and remotely controlled to assist operators during the alignment of the pipes and subsequent joint making/welding. Through the successive inflation and deflation of pneumatic wheels placed along the pig, the pig may autonomously move inside the RTR pipeline (from one RTR joint to the other) during the installation, while also be used to apply internal pressure at specific locations of the pipe, as needed, during installation.

Abstract: A reinforcing bar comprising a core is provided. The core comprises ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene fibers aligned in an axial direction and a polyethylene matrix. The ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene fibers are bound in the polyethylene matrix. A shell comprising ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene tape surrounds the core in a radial dimension.

Abstract: A system for coupling reinforced thermosetting resin pipes includes a first pipe having a tapered, spigot end, wherein a portion of an external surface of the tapered, spigot end of the first pipe is bonded to a first thermoplastic material and a second pipe having a tapered, socket end adapted to internally receive the tapered, spigot end of the first pipe, wherein a portion of an internal surface of the tapered, socket end of the second pipe is bonded to a second thermoplastic material. A method of coupling the first pipe and the second pipe includes inserting the first pipe into the second pipe; coupling the first pipe to the second pipe via a mechanical joint; and employing a thermal joining process to bond the first thermoplastic material to the second thermoplastic material by heating the first and second thermoplastic materials to melt the first and second thermoplastic materials.

Abstract: An engineered cementitious composite (ECC) has a tensile strain capacity ranging from 8.6 to 12.5% and includes a cement precursor, unprocessed desert sand, and polymer fibers. The polymer fibers may be ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fibers, polypropylene fibers, or a combination thereof. A method of preparing an ECC structure includes providing a cementitious precursor mixture including a cement precursor and unprocessed desert sand, introducing water into the cementitious precursor mixture to form a cement slurry, and adding polymer fibers to the cement slurry. The polymer fibers may be ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fibers, polypropylene fibers, or a combination thereof. Then, the method includes forming a structure with the cement slurry and curing the cement slurry.

Abstract: There is disclosed a mechanical coupling for two rebars. The coupling includes a first extremity disposed on a first of the two rebars, and a second extremity disposed on a second of the two rebars. Each of the first and second extremities are machined to effect an interlocking, form-fit connection between the two rebars, wherein the form-fit connection prevents separation of the extremities and inhibits axial displacement of the two rebars with respect to each other. The coupling further includes a covering disposed about the two extremities when the extremities are interconnected via the interlocking, form-fit connection. Also disclosed and described is a related method.

Abstract: A system and method for inspecting a surface of a structure for defects includes an inspection apparatus having a heating device for heating a section of the surface of the structure, an infrared camera for receiving infrared radiation from the surface in response to heating, a controller configured to generate thermographs from the received infrared radiation, and a communication device. A training system includes an expert system module configured to determine correlations between a set of thermographs generated by a thermal simulation of modeled structural elements with defects, and parameters of the modeled structural elements. A computer system communicatively coupled to the training system and the inspection apparatus, is adapted to receive thermographs received from the inspection apparatus and to detect quantitative parameters of defects in the structure using the correlations obtained from the training system.

Abstract: There is disclosed a mechanical coupling for two rebars. The coupling includes a first extremity disposed on a first of the two rebars, and a second extremity disposed on a second of the two rebars. Each of the first and second extremities are machined to effect an interlocking, form-fit connection between the two rebars, wherein the form-fit connection prevents separation of the extremities and inhibits axial displacement of the two rebars with respect to each other. The coupling further includes a covering disposed about the two extremities when the extremities are interconnected via the interlocking, form-fit connection. Also disclosed and described is a related method.

Abstract: A system and method for optimizing an additive manufacturing process in which a reinforcement material is randomly introduced to a fabrication bed. An image of the fabrication bed is captured. The image is analyzed by code in a computer to identify the actual arrangement of the randomly deposited reinforcement material relative to the object being manufactured. Based on the image data showing the reinforcement material, a toolpath is dynamically determined that incorporates the random reinforcement material. Accordingly, the toolpath incorporates the reinforcement material into the structure of the object, which can result in a reduction of the total amount of raw material is fused to create the object being manufactured.

Abstract: A reinforcing bar comprising a core is provided. The core comprises ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene fibers aligned in an axial direction and a polyethylene matrix. The ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene fibers are bound in the polyethylene matrix. A shell comprising ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene tape surrounds the core in a radial dimension.

Abstract: A polymer geo-injection apparatus for protecting an underground structure is provided. The apparatus includes: a mechanized vehicle for moving on the ground in order to transport the apparatus while the apparatus forms a subsurface polymer layer that protects the underground structure; a polymer supply tank coupled to the mechanized vehicle and configured to supply solid polymer during the forming of the polymer layer; a polymer melting unit coupled to the mechanized vehicle and configured to receive and melt the supplied solid polymer and to supply the molten polymer during the forming of the polymer layer; and a subsurface ripper coupled to the mechanized vehicle and configured to move through the ground in response to the movement of the mechanized vehicle while receiving and injecting the supplied molten polymer into the ground above the underground structure in order to form the polymer layer and protect the underground structure.

Abstract: A polymer geo-injection apparatus for protecting an underground structure is provided. The apparatus includes: a mechanized vehicle for moving on the ground in order to transport the apparatus while the apparatus forms a subsurface polymer layer that protects the underground structure; a polymer supply tank coupled to the mechanized vehicle and configured to supply solid polymer during the forming of the polymer layer; a polymer melting unit coupled to the mechanized vehicle and configured to receive and melt the supplied solid polymer and to supply the molten polymer during the forming of the polymer layer; and a subsurface ripper coupled to the mechanized vehicle and configured to move through the ground in response to the movement of the mechanized vehicle while receiving and injecting the supplied molten polymer into the ground above the underground structure in order to form the polymer layer and protect the underground structure.

Abstract: A trenchless system for subsurface delivery of a polymer-based mesh to protect an underground structure is provided. The system includes: a body for moving above the ground and over the underground structure while the system delivers the mesh below the ground; a polymer mesh supply coupled to the body and configured to supply the mesh during the moving of the body; and a ripper assembly coupled to the body and configured to move through the ground in response to the moving of the body without digging a trench and while receiving and delivering the supplied mesh below the ground and above the underground structure to protect the underground structure. In an embodiment, the polymer mesh supply includes a polymer mesh spool configured to rotate during the moving of the body in order to supply the mesh. A method of trenchless subsurface delivery of the mesh is also provided.

Abstract: A system and method for optimizing an additive manufacturing process in which a reinforcement material is randomly introduced to a fabrication bed. An image of the fabrication bed is captured. The image is analyzed by code in a computer to identify the actual arrangement of the randomly deposited reinforcement material relative to the object being manufactured. Based on the image data showing the reinforcement material, a toolpath is dynamically determined that incorporates the random reinforcement material. Accordingly, the toolpath incorporates the reinforcement material into the structure of the object, which can result in a reduction of the total amount of raw material is fused to create the object being manufactured.

Abstract: Systems and methods for trenchless placement of an underground protective network of intertwined cables for protecting buried assets from accidental damage are disclosed. The system includes an apparatus for towing behind a vehicle and laying a plurality of continuous cables directly underground and interweaving the cables to form a cable network. The apparatus includes a plurality of soil rippers mounted at respective radial positions to a rotating carrier. The rotating carrier rotates about an axis that is at least partially normal to the ground surface. The rippers plow through the ground in the direction of vehicle travel and include a cable-feeding guide for directly and continuously feeding cable out underground during operation. In operation, the combined movement of the soil rippers from rotating the carrier and movement in the direction of travel serves to intertwine the cables deposited by respective rippers forming the protective network of intertwined cables.

Abstract: A system and method for inspecting a surface of a structure for defects includes an inspection apparatus having a heating device for heating a section of the surface of the structure, an infrared camera for receiving infrared radiation from the surface in response to heating, a controller configured to generate thermographs from the received infrared radiation, and a communication device. A training system includes an expert system module configured to determine correlations between a set of thermographs generated by a thermal simulation of modeled structural elements with defects, and parameters of the modeled structural elements. A computer system communicatively coupled to the training system and the inspection apparatus, is adapted to receive thermographs received from the inspection apparatus and to detect quantitative parameters of defects in the structure using the correlations obtained from the training system.

Abstract: A system and method for inspecting a surface of a structure for defects includes an inspection apparatus having a heating device for heating a section of the surface of the structure, an infrared camera for receiving infrared radiation from the surface in response to heating, a controller configured to generate thermographs from the received infrared radiation, and a communication device. A training system includes an expert system module configured to determine correlations between a set of thermographs generated by a thermal simulation of modeled structural elements with defects, and parameters of the modeled structural elements. A computer system communicatively coupled to the training system and the inspection apparatus, is adapted to receive thermographs received from the inspection apparatus and to detect quantitative parameters of defects in the structure using the correlations obtained from the training system.

Abstract: A system and method for optimizing an additive manufacturing process in which a reinforcement material is randomly introduced to a fabrication bed. An image of the fabrication bed is captured. The image is analyzed by code in a computer to identify the actual arrangement of the randomly deposited reinforcement material relative to the object being manufactured. Based on the image data showing the reinforcement material, a toolpath is dynamically determined that incorporates the random reinforcement material. Accordingly, the toolpath incorporates the reinforcement material into the structure of the object, which can result in a reduction of the total amount of raw material is fused to create the object being manufactured.

Abstract: A polymer geo-injection apparatus for protecting an underground structure is provided. The apparatus includes: a drill bit configured to drill a path through the ground to a desired depth that is above the underground structure; an injection nozzle coupled to the drill bit and configured to insert into and withdraw from the ground along the drilled path, and to create a corresponding cavity in the ground at the desired depth by injecting compressed air into the ground at the desired depth; and a polymer melting and injection unit configured to fuse or melt one or more components of a solid polymer into a liquid form of the solid polymer, and supply the liquid polymer to the injection nozzle. The injection nozzle is further configured to fabricate a corresponding protection slab of the solid polymer at the desired depth by injecting the supplied liquid polymer into the corresponding cavity.

Abstract: Systems and methods for trenchless placement of an underground protective network of intertwined cables for protecting buried assets from accidental damage are disclosed. The system includes an apparatus for towing behind a vehicle and laying a plurality of continuous cables directly underground and interweaving the cables to form a cable network. The apparatus includes a plurality of soil rippers mounted at respective radial positions to a rotating carrier. The rotating carrier rotates about an axis that is at least partially normal to the ground surface. The rippers plow through the ground in the direction of vehicle travel and include a cable-feeding guide for directly and continuously feeding cable out underground during operation. In operation, the combined movement of the soil rippers from rotating the carrier and movement in the direction of travel serves to intertwine the cables deposited by respective rippers forming the protective network of intertwined cables.