Abstract: Conductive concrete mixtures are described that are configured to provide EMP shielding and reflect and/or absorb, for instance, EM waves propagating through the conductive concrete mixture. The conductive concrete mixtures include cement, water, conductive carbon material, magnetic material, and metallic conductive material. The conductive carbon material may include conductive carbon particles, conductive carbon powder, and/or coke breeze. The metallic conductive material may include steel fibers, and the magnetic material may include taconite. The conductive concrete mixture may also include supplementary cementitious materials (SCM). A method of making a concrete structure includes pouring a concrete mixture to form conductive concrete, and positioning a first conductive screen within the conductive concrete proximate to an exterior surface of the conductive concrete.

Abstract: A system and method for engaging a customer in an enhanced shopping experience. The customer provides customer information which is stored on a database. An identifying token (e.g. a card) is issued to the customer. This identifying token is detected (e.g. by an RFID sensor) when carried by the customer into a retailer's space. This causes at least a portion of the customer information to be accessible from the database to retail personnel while the customer is physically present in the retailer's space, thereby facilitating personal engagement by the retail personnel with the customer.

Abstract: The bridge is constructed of one inner tube and an outer tube surrounding the inner tube. The inner and outer tube are joined to each other by connecting pipes welded to the outer surface of the inner tube and to the inner surface of the outer tube so that the inner tube and the outer tube are connected to each other through said connecting pipes whereby a rigid composite structure is formed. The tubes and pipes are preferably laser welded to each other, preferably by a continuous seam.

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward a novel moment resisting connection system, for use, but not limited to, with a pony-truss bridge system. The connection system comprises multi-hollow sections that can be, but are not limited to, extruded aluminum and a joint or node connector that can be casted, milled, forged or made by any other means.

Abstract: The invention relates to a traffic installation having at least two traffic routes arranged one above the other, which each comprise at least one traffic area, which traffic area is completely enclosed at least over a certain length, the enclosure having at least one transparent element allowing a view out of the enclosure.

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward a novel moment resisting connection system, for use, but not limited to, with a pony-truss bridge system. The connection system comprises multi-hollow sections that can be, but are not limited to, extruded aluminum and a joint or node connector that can be casted, milled, forged or made by any other means.

Abstract: A bridge structure, comprising: a deck (1) for supporting a load thereon; first and second abutments (13a, b) which support respective ends of the deck and bear a compressive load from backfill (5) at the respective outer sides thereof; and at least one displacement compensation unit (21) which is configured such as to accommodate longitudinal displacement of the deck and maintain a predeterminable longitudinal force between the abutments, wherein the at least one displacement compensation unit has a load-displacement characteristic which provides for a reduced rate of change in the longitudinal force with longitudinal displacement of the deck as compared to a conventional bridge structure which incorporates no displacement compensation unit.

Abstract: A modular bridge apparatus includes a self-supporting truss section that can be lifted and transported as a structural unit. The modular bridge has left and right longitudinally extending trusses. Each truss section is made of an upper longitudinal chord member and a lower longitudinal chord member which are connected together at a plurality of joints with vertical and diagonally inclined web members. In the preferred embodiment, these longitudinally extending trusses occur on opposite sides of the bridge, defining the sides of the road surface and extend between supports on each end. A plurality of transverse beams extend between the left and right side trusses of the bridge at an elevation that is higher than the lower longitudinal chord members of the trusses. Some of the transverse beams extend beyond the lower longitudinal chord member, and are connected to the upper longitudinal chord members with an inclined diagonal kicker.

Abstract: A modular fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) module that interlocks with other similarly designed modules. Specifically, each FRP module has a female, receiver, end and a male, inserter, end such that the inserter of a first FRP module interlocks with, or “snaps into” or “slids into,” a receiver of an adjacent second FRP module. Once interlocked, the two connected FRP modules are further secured by either adhesive and/or thermal connections. An FRP module is made of multiple layers of multi-axial fiber reinforcement and a resin matrix, the layers being continuous throughout the entire shape of the module. An overlay may be placed over the top face of one or more FRP modules joined together to provide a uniform surface. In addition, one or more exterior FRP composite laminates, grids, plates or fabrics may be bonded continuously to the top face.

Abstract: A truss for distributing a maximum bending moment normally occurring at a midpoint region of a girder (430) includes a first truss segment member (505) having first and second ends, a second truss segment member (420) having first and second ends, a third truss segment member (510) having first and second ends, a fourth truss segment member (425) having first and second ends, and a fifth truss segment member (415) having first and second ends. The first end of the first truss segment member (505) is attached substantially perpendicular to the girder at a first location near the midpoint region of the girder and the second end of the second truss segment member (420) is attached to the second end of the first truss segment member (505). The first end of the third truss segment member (510) is attached substantially perpendicular to the girder (430) at a second location near the midpoint region of the girder. The first location is located between the second location and the first end of the girder.

Abstract: In a device that can be walked on or driven on, for example for bridging under bridges requiring renovation or for bridging over streets, a web that can be walked on is connected to handrails via transverse struts. In this case, the web that can be walked on and/or the transverse struts and/or the handrails comprise extruded aluminum profiles.

Abstract: A prefabricated modular unit construction bridging system in which all components are identical and interchangeable to meet any variation of span, width of roadway, number of lanes of traffic, and live load specification for any temporary, semi-permanent, or permanent bridge. The bridge is capable of being dismantled and the individual modular components used elsewhere to form a new bridge. The panels, when connected end-to-end to form the main load-bearing trusses of the bridge side girders, are of such a shape that they can be pinned together at their bottom chord level to support the standard cross-beams and modular deck units/bracing throughout the bridge and provide gaps between adjacent panels at their top chord level into which can be pinned other standard chord units of such a length calculated to eliminate entirely both the natural pin-hole deflection inherent in 2-pinned modular truss structures and the elastic deflection under dead load.

Abstract: A bridge designed to afford enhanced resistance to shearing forces has at least one top chord (1) of concrete and a bottom chord (2) of concrete or of metal connected to each other by means of structural elements designed to resist shearing forces. These structural elements include two pleated or corrugated continuous steel sheets (3, 4) placed on each side of a vertical mid-plane (P) of the bridge. The pleats or corrugations extend in a direction which is substantially perpendicular to the length of the bridge.

Abstract: A floating pier structure comprising a floating platform, an anchored base, and an articulated, parallelogram linkage structure pivotably connecting the platform to the base so that the platform will remain substantially level on the surface as water conditions change. The linkage is also pivoted to the base so that the platform can be swung into shore without disassembly.

Abstract: A warpable beam allowing a controlled degree of torsional resistance. The beam is formed with an open cross-section channel-shaped structural element (24) that includes a plurality of planar structural elements (28) or (32) that are positioned within the open section and that define the cross sectional shape. A plurality of diagonal structural element s(46) or (48) positioned transversely within the open section and interfaced with the planar elements transmitting shear across segments. A plurality of points of restraint (50) control the warping of the beam as a result of their relative motion. Further, oppositely inclined diagonal elements in different segments are connected in such a manner as to allow relatively free longitudinal motion while transmitting loads. The beam may be used for bridges or boat docks or as a leading edge spar (57) of an airfoil.

Abstract: A utility bridge suitable for connecting offshore facilities such as offshore platforms is disclosed in which a plurality of helical pipelines provide flow communication between the facilities and relative movement of the facilities in response to environmental forces is provided for by helical pipelines with torsion expansion loops supported by a substantially rigid frame of the utility bridge which has means to prevent coupling of dynamic forces between the respective offshore facilities.

Abstract: An elevated bikeway can be constructed to be extremely lightweight and therefore inexpensive by restricting use to bicycle traffic only and by using aluminum as substantially the only structural material. The bikeway includes two spaced apart trusses supporting horizontal bracing, which supports a deck tread surface.

Abstract: This invention relates to a prestressed concrete structure which behaves like a hollowed out slab.The structure combines a lattice work structure and a prestress by external cable, maximally optimizing the advantages of these two techniques. The Figure represents a part of the floor of a bridge according to the present invention. The floor comprises two tables 6 and 7 which are joined by a lattice work composed of pyramids P. Prestressing cables 8, 8' and 9' pass between the tables outside the concrete of the bars of the pyramids.The present invention is used for the construction of bridges, roofings and floors.

Abstract: A girder for supporting a movable body has a truss structure of a cross-sectional shape forming an isosceles triangle with a horizontal base. The truss structure is formed of three main tubes of a circular cross section that are located in positions corresponding to respective corners of the triangle and extend continuously over the length of the girder. A plurality of branch tubes of circular cross section are fixed at their ends to respective pairs of the main tubes by joint pieces, such that three branch tubes lie in a plane extending through the respective joint pieces perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of the main tubes so as to form the isosceles triangle. A rail support is secured to each main tube of the base of the isosceles triangle at a position disposed upwardly and outwardly of the center thereof, and a rail, along which the movable body is traversable, is supported on each rail support.