Abstract: A tensioning device and method for post-tensioning a concrete member having at least one crack is provided. The tensioning device may include an elongated body, a stitch catch arm and an anchor. The catch arm may be perpendicularly joined to one end of the elongated body, wherein the catch arm is inserted into a hole in the concrete member. The elongated body may form an anchor recess therein, wherein an anchor interface surface is defined by the anchor recess. The anchor interface may form an anchor aperture for receiving the anchor. The thickness of the anchor interface may uniformly decrease as the anchor interface extends toward the catch arm end of the anchor recess so that when ratcheting the anchor into the concrete member and onto the anchor interface a portion of the applied compressive force and/or torque may be transformed into an axial force along the elongated body so as to provide post-tensioning through the tensioning device and across the at least one crack.

Abstract: A wind turbine tower arrangement (10), having: a concrete tower (12) including an upper portion(14) and a base portion (16); a footer (22) beneath the base portion; a plurality of tendons (30), each tendon spanning an entire height of the concrete tower, at least a portion of each tendon arranged external to concrete (42) forming the concrete tower, and each tendon is pre-stressed to provide compressive force to the concrete in the concrete tower; and a plurality of pilings (28). The tendons are secured by the plurality of pilings.

Abstract: A thin cementitious decking member is described. The thin cementitious decking member can span and be attached to two or more support members. The thin cementitious decking member can include a binder and natural or artificial sands, stones, or other aggregates. The thin cementitious decking member should have a thickness no greater than 1 ¾?. The thin cementitious decking member can include pre-stressed tendons bonded to the thin cementitious member. The pre-stressed tendons can be tensioned to impose a longitudinal compressive force into a cross section of the member. In this manner, the thin cementitious member is capable of supporting weight over a span between the two support members greater than 4 times the width of the thin cementitious member.

Abstract: A building includes a connection between an engineered wood load bearing element of the building such as a column, beam, or load bearing panel, and another load bearing element or a foundation of the building. At least one tendon ties the load bearing elements or the load bearing element and the foundation together. One or more energy dissipaters, replaceably connected between the load bearing element and/or the foundation, absorb energy when a loading event causes relative movement of the connection. The engineered wood element may be a laminated veneer lumber element, a parallel strand lumber element, or a glue laminated timber element, for example. Typically all of the load bearing elements of the building will be engineered wood elements. The building may be single or multi-storey. The building system enables lightweight low cost buildings, with energy dissipaters which may be replaced after extreme loading. The building may be prefabricated.

Abstract: Anchoring devices and systems are disclosed for use with elongated reinforcement members such as FRP, SRP, metallic bars, or cables. Such devices and systems impart a compressive stress into a static structure having the elongated reinforcement member running there through or there along. An anchoring system can include an anchor block that includes a front end surface for contacting the static structure, an axial bore for receiving the elongated reinforcement member, and clamping members that work with fasteners to provide a clamping force. The bore may be tapered and the fasteners optionally provide different clamping levels to reduce the stress on the elongated reinforcement member near the front end surface. The disclosed systems also include pre-stressing devices that can be used with the disclosed anchor systems, and that can place a tensile force on the elongated reinforcement members to also impart a compressive force on the static structure.

Abstract: Anchoring devices and systems are disclosed for use with elongated reinforcement members such as FRP, SRP, metallic bars, or cables. Such devices and systems impart a compressive stress into a static structure having the elongated reinforcement member running therethrough or therealong. An anchoring system can include an anchor block that includes a front end surface for contacting the static structure, an axial bore for receiving the elongated reinforcement member, and clamping members that, when closed, exert a radial clamping force on a reinforcement member in the axial bore. A tensioning and anchoring system may include one or more tensioners integrally connected to an anchor block. At least one sleeve may be secured to the anchor block and cooperate with a bolt that displaces the anchor block to place a tensile force on the elongated reinforcement member and impart a compressive force on the static structure.

Abstract: Anchoring devices and systems are disclosed for use with elongated reinforcement members such as FRP, SRP, metallic bars, or cables. Such devices and systems impart a compressive stress into a static structure having the elongated reinforcement member running therethrough or therealong. An anchoring system can include an anchor block that includes a front end surface for contacting the static structure, an axial bore for receiving the elongated reinforcement member, and clamping members that, when closed, exert a radial clamping force on a reinforcement member in the axial bore. A tensioning and anchoring system may include one or more tensioners integrally connected to an anchor block. At least one sleeve may be secured to the anchor block and cooperate with a bolt that displaces the anchor block to place a tensile force on the elongated reinforcement member and impart a compressive force on the static structure.

Abstract: A building anchor system includes a pair of elongate anchor rods (1,2), an anchor rod coupling joint (3) for joining the anchor rods end-on-end, the anchor rod coupling joint comprising or including a sleeve (4, 5, 6 & 7) for connection to an end of one of the anchor rods (1) a slideable arm (8) receivable in the sleeve for connection to an end of the other anchor rod (2) a closed slot within the arm or sleeve for slideably receiving the free end of a stop member (13) by which movement of the anchor rods along their major axis is possible to the extent allowed by the length of the slot, and frictional adjustment means (6,7) acting between the arm and the sleeve by which they may be joined and by which the force required to move them with respect to each other can be selectively varied. The invention also extends of a method of preventing or inhibiting catastrophic structural failure of a building by installing one or more anchor systems of the type described.

Abstract: A construction structure includes a substrate made of a concrete material and has an external surface, and a reinforcement attachment made of a metallic material having an outwardly facing surface and an inwardly facing surface. The attachment is secured to the substrate with the inwardly facing surface bonded to the external surface of the substrate, and has first portions and second portions. At least one of the surfaces of a first portion of the attachment is pre-treated and attached to the substrate such that when the construction structure is under loading the first portion(s) block(s) or reduce(s) spreading of strain sustained by the attachment along the attachment to avoid or at least delay complete detachment of reinforcement from substrate.

Abstract: A method of building a structure, the method including the steps of: 1. fabricating a generally longitudinal, steel sub-structure of the structure with a cable retainer attached to, or forming part of, the substructure and that extends substantially longitudinally therealong; 2. assembling the sub-structure into a structure; 3. inserting a cable into the cable retainer; 4. after step 2, applying a tensile force to the cable relative to the cable retainer; and 5. after step 4, bonding the cable to the cable retainer.

Abstract: A foundation for a wind turbine tower, provided with a central accommodation for accommodating and firmly constraining, by means of threaded bars projecting from such central accommodation, an actual wind turbine tower, made of steel or concrete, is entirely prefabricated and includes at least two prefabricated structural elements, modular and monolithic, made of reinforced concrete, approached in sequence, shape-coupled, and subsequently constrained to each other, at least at such central accommodation, by a series of post-tension cables arranged in respective through-holes, so as to make the entire foundation monolithic.

Abstract: A building comprises first and second floors and respective first and second ceilings; a foundation; and a stud wall extending between the second floor and the second ceiling. A cross member is operably attached within the stud wall. A tie rod anchor is anchored in the foundation. A series of interconnected tie rods has one end secured to the tie rod anchor and an end portion extending through the cross member, the interconnected tie rods extending within the stud wall through the second floor. A nut is secured to the end portion of the interconnected tie rods. A loaded spring is disposed between the nut and the cross member to maintain the interconnected tie rods under tension when a slack develops on the interconnected tie rods.

Abstract: A ring beam element, a ring beam and a method of constructing a ring beam from a plurality of ring beam elements is disclosed. The ring beam can support a shell or wall of a tank. The ring beam element comprises a reinforced concrete body, preferably having a metal base plate anchored therein, and a plurality of tensile conduits extending circumferentially there through. Ideally, the reinforced concrete body will have interlocking surfaces such that the ring beam elements interlock with one another when circumferentially juxtaposed. Tensile members can be placed through the plurality of tensile conduits and tensioned and anchored by anchors to clamp a plurality of juxtaposed ring beam elements together. Ideally, the base plates of a plurality of the ring beam elements can be connected or welded together to form an annular ring of base plates.

Abstract: A composite section including a concentric arrangement of inner and outer laminates having an interstice therebetween is provided. Both the inner and outer laminates include a matrix material and a fabric layer. A plurality of tubes having an inner cavity, are situated in the interstice of the inner and outer laminates. A reinforcing material is disposed in the interstice and along the length of the concentric arrangement unoccupied by the plurality of tubes to create a composite section. A plurality of tension members are threaded though the plurality of tubes to provide post tensioning to each of the composite sections. The components are easily transported and assembled to form composite sections to provide cost effective on-site tower formation. Also provided is an apparatus to form the inner and outer laminates and a method of formation of the composite section.

Abstract: A decorative structure is provided that is suspended within a space and includes a flexible panel maintained in a flexed configuration. The decorative structure includes a cable that supports the flexible panel and that is connected to a biasing member. The biasing member cooperates with a portion of the flexible panel to maintain the panel in a flexed configuration. A method of configuring a decorative structure with a flexed panel is also provided.

Abstract: A panel structure including a flexible panel, at least one edge strip and mounting hardware is provided. Also provided is a method of configuring the panel structure. The edge strip has at least one mounting member receiving area provided thereon. The mounting member receiving area is dimensioned to receive the mounting hardware therein. The mounting hardware cooperates with the edge strip to suspend and mount the flexible panel. When installed, the panel structure provides a canopy-like visual element to a space in which it is suspended or mounted. The panel structure may be suspended or mounted in various configurations having different degrees of flex or curvature. The panel structure can be installed easily and reconfigured easily to suit the user.

Abstract: An anchor system for a tendon includes a load transfer device having at least one wedge receiving bore therein. The wedge receiving bore has a tapered interior surface. The anchor system also includes a wedge configured to be affixed to an exterior surface of a tendon. The wedge has a tapered exterior surface configured to cooperate with the tapered interior surface of the wedge receiving bore to laterally compress the wedge against a tendon when the wedge is moved longitudinally into the bore. Taper angle of the wedge and a taper angle of the wedge receiving bore are selected such that longitudinal compressive force exerted by the wedge is substantially evenly longitudinally distributed.

Abstract: A method of forming an insulated concrete foundation is provided comprising constructing a foundation frame, the frame comprising an insulating form having an opening, inserting a pocket former into the opening; placing concrete inside the foundation frame; and removing the pocket former after the placed concrete has set, wherein the concrete forms a pocket in the placed concrete that is accessible through the opening. The method may further comprise sealing the opening by placing a sealing plug or sealing material in the opening. A system for forming an insulated concrete foundation is provided comprising a plurality of interconnected insulating forms, the insulating forms having a rigid outer member protecting and encasing an insulating material, and at least one gripping lip extending outwardly from the outer member to provide a pest barrier. At least one insulating form has an opening into which a removable pocket former is inserted.

Abstract: A panel structure including a flexible panel, at least one edge strip and mounting hardware is provided. Also provided is a method of configuring the panel structure. The edge strip has at least one mounting member receiving area provided thereon. The mounting member receiving area is dimensioned to receive the mounting hardware therein. The mounting hardware cooperates with the edge strip to suspend and mount the flexible panel. When installed, the panel structure provides a canopy-like visual element to a space in which it is suspended or mounted. The panel structure may be suspended or mounted in various configurations having different degrees of flex or curvature. The panel structure can be installed easily and reconfigured easily to suit the user.

Abstract: A connection in wood frame construction such as in frame walls of homes, wood framed apartment buildings and light wood framed commercial buildings. Specifically, the disclosure describes a pair of connectors for joining wall studs to a base plate and to a top plate for framing a wall. The two connectors used in the connection are identical and include an edge member for connection to the edge faces of the stud and the base or top plates, and a face member for engaging the lower face of the base plate or the upper face of the top plate. The face member is joined to the edge member and projects at a right angle thereto. The face member serves the dual purposes of locating the connected at the ends of the studs and of resisting tension forces.

Abstract: A stress-optimized structural support which may be utilized as a beam or assembled with similar supports to form a building floor or roof panel or a bridge deck utilizes an open core element, made preferably of suitably treated fluted paper, upper and lower thin skin sheets, preferably steel skins, and a layer of concrete poured over the top skin. Modules comprising the hollow core element and the upper and lower skin sheets are fabricated to lengths required for building floor, roof or bridge spans and, when joined by welding or otherwise joining the upper and lower skin sheets of adjacent elements along their full lengths, provide a floor or roof deck structure of a large span with horizontal stresses distributed omnidirectionally. A post-stressing tensile system redistributes and reduces the load on the roof deck by about one-half.

Abstract: A device for connecting a beam to pillars or similar supporting structural elements in order to erect buildings, particularly multistory buildings, by means of prefabricated concrete components, the device comprising first means for connecting two end regions of the beam to the pillars and second means for connecting the beam to the pillars, the first connection means provide a coupling at least of the hinge type between each one of the two end regions of the beam and the corresponding pillar; the second connection means comprise at least one tension element that passes through the beam and is connected to the pillars by means of the ends thereof that protrude from the beam.

Abstract: An anchoring device for a corrosion-protected tension member includes an anchor body, which is provided with bores for the passage of the tension elements. Sealing discs, which can be compressed by means of a pressure plate and threaded bolts, are provided on a face of the anchor body and lie opposite a downstream face. A perforated disc, which is enclosed by two supporting discs, is located downstream of the sealing discs and the pressure plate. The perforated disc acts as a spacer for the tension elements and is fixed between lugs that are opposite an anchor tube and that is connected to the anchor body. The locking of the perforated disc enables the position of the tension elements to remain parallel, even when the sealing discs are compressed to activate the seal. If individual tension elements have to be replaced, the loosening of the threaded bolts allows the sealing discs to “breathe” and to return to their original position.

Abstract: A corrosion-resistant tension member, particularly a tendon for prestressed concrete, comprising a bundle of tension elements arranged inside a sheathing, has at its ends anchoring devices each with an anchor plate. On the side of the anchor plate facing away from the open air side, a seal having tension elements running through it and having a sealing plate are arranged, the sealing plate being fixed in place on the side facing away from the anchor plate opposite the anchor body against longitudinal displacement. Between the anchor plate and a pressure plate butting against the sealing plate, pressure-transferring means, for example, a pressure tube, are provided, having a length calculated in such a way that a longitudinal displacement of the anchor plate that occurs when the tension elements are being tensioned, actuates the exertion of surface pressure to the sealing plate for activating the seal.

Abstract: A form assembly for forming a roof slab, an eave, and a peripheral beam in a monolithic structure is provided. The form assembly is detachably attached to upright columns of a housing frame structure and includes an eave formwork and a peripheral formwork. The eave formwork is mounted on the upright columns while the peripheral formwork is disposed between columns to be coupled to the eave formwork. The peripheral beam is formed between the eave and the roof slab and encloses a portion of top beams of the housing frame structure.

Abstract: A building construction and method using tension support members includes a support structure for bearing a compressive load; a support beam borne by the structure; at least one enclosure cell and at least one tension member for suspending an enclosure cell from the support beam.

Abstract: An intermediate anchorage for a post-tension system including an anchor member, a tendon extending through an interior passageway of the anchor and a sleeve formed of a heat shrink material and extending over the unsheathed portion of the tendon. The sleeve is affixed in heat sealed compressive contact with a surface of the anchor member and with an exterior surface of the sheathed portion so as to maintain the unsheathed portion in a liquid-tight environment. The sleeve can be a tubular member, a split tubular member or a wrapping material. The anchor member is an encapsulated anchor having a tubular extension extending outwardly therefrom such that the sleeve is secured in sealed compressive contact with the tubular extension.

Abstract: A large number of existing reinforced concrete structures, such as buildings and bridges, if subjected to abnormal loads, such as those expected during earthquakes or bomb blast, may experience significant inelasticity in their critical regions. It is economically not feasible to replace the entire existing infrastructure with new and improved structures; retrofitting provides the only solution to the problem of seismically and otherwise structurally deficient existing structures. A new retrofitting process has been developed to improve strength and deformability of existing reinforced concrete columns. The process involves determining column critical regions, identifying critical stresses that may lead to brittle shear and/or compression failures, determining external prestressing to overcome some of these stresses and to provide lateral confining pressure to improve the ductility of compression concrete.

Abstract: A sealing arrangement for closing off the areas to be filled with a casting compound of a tension member composed of a bundle of individual elements arranged within a tubular sheathing, for example, a stay cable of a cable-stayed bridge, includes a sealing plug composed of a first sealing layer of a deformable, non-flowable sealing material introduced between the individual elements, a second sealing layer of a setting or hardenable material introduced in a flowable state and arranged adjacent the first sealing layer in the direction toward the area to be filled out with casting compound.

Abstract: A multi-axis prestressed double-tee beam and method for construction the same is provided, the prestressed double-tee beam includes a cantilever type and a simple-support type, the cantilever type is composed of a pair of laterally combined steel skeletons and each includes a flat elongate erect web having straight upper edge and a bowed lower edge, a pair of upward sloped upper flanges extended along the length of the web, an elongate groove of U-shaped section centrally extended between the upper flanges, a single lower flange extended along the length of the lower edge of the web, a bottom engageable with the lower end of the combined steel skeletons, a plurality of wedges inserted into the groove and a plurality of triangular reinforcement of different size spacedly secured to the lateral sides of the webs abutting the upper flanges, the simple-support type is mostly similar to the cantilever type except a slightly upward arcuate rectangular cross-section and equal sized triangular reinforcements, besides

Abstract: The constructability of a concrete structure is facilitated by providing pre-assembled, modular frame units formed of steel or concrete beams and columns. Reinforcing bars have their opposite ends embedded in the beams that form each frame unit, but in most embodiments they are unattached to the columns because they extend through tubular debonding sleeves embedded within the columns. An elongate post-tensioning duct extends through each frame unit and an elongate tendon having opposite ends that may be placed under tension extends through the duct so that it compresses the frame unit. When a lateral load impacts against the frame unit, the reinforcing members that extend through the tubular sleeves stretch within the sleeves but their resilience urges the vertical columns to regain their vertical disposition when the impact passes. The elongate tendon that extends through the post-tensioning duct similarly urges the frame unit to regain its position of repose.

Abstract: The tensile strength of pre-stressed or reinforced concrete girders for bridges is considerably increased by the addition of at least one layer of external tendons which are stressed under tension between a pair of friction connectors attached near the ends of the girder, each said friction connector comprising a base plate, means attached to the lower face of the base plate for receiving and stressing under tension said layer of tendons, means for pressing the upper face of the base plate against the lower surface of the girder, and means for increasing the friction coefficient between the upper face of the base plate and the lower face of the girder to an extent sufficient to fix the position of the connector solely by friction on said girder.

Abstract: Metal reinforcing members (3) are attached by bonding to a surface in the tension zone (1a) of a concrete structure component (1) for reinforcing the component. To prevent the ends of the reinforcing members (3) from separating from the structural component (1) when the component is subjected to load, attachment elements (4) clamp the ends of the reinforcing members against the surface of the component in addition to the bonding action. The attachment elements (4) apply such high compressive forces to the structural component, so that potentially damaging tension and shear forces can not be effective.

Abstract: A formwork panel is formed from metal longitudinal members and metal transverse members interconnected by devices such as screws to form a dismountable formwork panel. The panels may be interconnected by other connector devices to form larger composite panels of various sizes and shapes. The panels may be formed from a kit of parts for easy assembly and disassembly at a construction site.

Abstract: In a pier having a series of spaced-apart horizontal pile caps surmounting and connecting the supporting piles together transversely of said pier, there is an integrated one-piece deck supported atop the pile caps so that it can slide thereon. A series of prestressing tendons connect the deck to the pile caps so that when a wharf is struck by a ship, the lengthening and shortening of the tendons and the sliding friction between the deck and the pile caps absorbs the impact load.

Abstract: A vacuum-insulated thin-wall panel requires internal spacers to resist the compressive force of the atmosphere and to hold the sides apart. Such spacers are paths for heat flow by conduction. However, in the panel of this invention, the sides are held apart by a web of relatively thin and long spacers stressed in pure tension. Heat flow through such spacers is substantially less than through the more massive spacers designed to be stressed in compression.

Abstract: A concrete structure in which a post-tensioned concrete slab is supported by columns, each column being surrounded or partly surrounded by an area of concrete in the form of a hollow inverted pyramid, the column passing through the apex of the pyramid. The area concerned is formed integrally with the remainder of the slab and is of substantially uniform thickness sloping downwardly from the surrounding concrete towards the column at an angle .theta. to the horizontal such that tan .theta. lies in the range of 0.1 to 0.25 or in the case of a column near an edge or corner of the structure 0.1 to 0.35.