Abstract: A detector is provided. A plurality of scintillation crystals is provided, where each scintillation crystal has a width, and wherein a first plurality of scintillation crystals is placed adjacent to each other so that first surfaces of the first plurality of scintillation crystals form a first rectangular surface. A reflective coating is formed over the first rectangular surface with an open region grid pattern, wherein each open region forms a space wherein each space has a width equal to the width of a scintillation crystal of the plurality of crystals. A plurality of photodetectors is provided, wherein each photodetector is placed over a space, wherein the photodetector has a width greater than the width of the space over which the photodetector is placed. At least one electronic readout is electrically connected to the plurality of photodetectors.

Abstract: Rounded vault forming structures and the systems and methods for making the same are disclosed. Such structures include a monolithic building having one or more arches, one or more integrated hip structures, and a non-circular outer circumferential shaped base. At least some of the structures result in zero to extremely low amounts of waste material from building such structures.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present disclosure provides complex curved structures and methods of making the same without requiring specially made frames or the like. These structures may include complex multi-axis, spherical, semi-spherical, twisted, or other like curves, for example. In this illustrative embodiment, individually sized boxes are stacked or assembled to form the structure.

Abstract: A building panel and a building formed therefrom, where the building includes a plurality of building panels arranged to form a cylindrical shape, where each panel comprises a single, or monolithic, glass piece, where each glass piece is substantially rectangular and includes two opposing long sides extending in a height direction and two opposing short sides extending substantially in a width direction, and where each glass piece forms an identical circular arc when viewed from either of the two opposing short sides.

Abstract: A method of constructing an inhabitable underground structure is disclosed that comprises the steps: creating a cutout in the earth at a desired location to generally match a desired shape of an interior of the underground structure; applying a reinforcement structure to an outer perimeter of the cutout; and applying shotcrete over the reinforcement structure to create a monolithic underground structure.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a composite girder for bridge construction. More preferably, a girder is formed in a rectangular shape that is horizontally long and opened at the top portion thereof, wherein the girder is convexly curved in the center so as to be formed in the shape of an arch. The girder has a compression section, a web and a tension section, which are integrally composed together, and is filled with concrete inside the girder so as to increase the sectional strength of the girder. Simultaneously, a stopper is formed on the inside surface of the compression section to prevent the separation of the steel materials and the concrete.

Abstract: Rounded vault forming structures and the systems and methods for making the same are disclosed. Such structures include a monolithic building having one or more arches, one or more integrated hip structures, and a non-circular outer circumferential shaped base. At least some of the structures result in zero to extremely low amounts of waste material from building such structures.

Abstract: A monolithic dome building having a plurality of integrated dome hip structures, and methods for making the same.

Abstract: A nuclear power plant building includes a building body portion and a roof covering over the building body portion. The building body portion is formed in a rectangular shape in plane cross section by four outer walls. The roof is of a shell construction. In addition, corner walls each to bridge between the adjacent outer walls or to bridge between the roof and the outer wall are provided at angle portions of the body portion of the building.

Abstract: A building panel and a building formed therefrom, where the building includes a plurality of building panels arranged to form a cylindrical shape, where each panel comprises a single, or monolithic, glass piece, where each glass piece is substantially rectangular and includes two opposing long sides extending in a height direction and two opposing short sides extending substantially in a width direction, and where each glass piece forms an identical circular arc when viewed from either of the two opposing short sides.

Abstract: Prefabricated ribbed ferrocement element E sandwich type is effused in the mould K with vibrating motor 14 embedded, and it consist from box looking shell 15 made from ferrocement with fortified ribs 16 thermal isolation layer 17 and protective layer 5; on the side of the elements E hooks 18 have been positioned made from armature and used for removing elements from the mould K and his placement on the construction site. Moustaches 19 made from armature and positioned on the frontal side of the element serve for binding with armature of the reinforced concrete arches 6; they have an optional openings 8 made for windows, ventilation and other installations. A construction structure is constructed using the prefabricated ribbed ferrocement element E.

Abstract: The present invention provides structural members for buildings, methods for using the same, and building structures comprising such structural members. In particular, the present invention provides buildings that can withstand natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods, high winds such as hurricanes and tornadoes, and other natural disasters.

Abstract: The present invention proposes a dome-shaped shelter that has a seismic-isolation structure so as to reduce the shock effects of earthquakes and that is easy to construct. The dome-shaped shelter of the present invention is provided with (1) a dome affixed to a bottom board, and formed so as to surround an inside space with a floor, adjoining segments that form a wall, and adjoining segments that form a ceiling, all of which are made of expanded polystyrene, and (2) as an appropriate place for the dome, an improved ground that consists of a circular hole that is dug in ground to a predetermined depth and then packed with identical spheres. Said dome is slidably placed on said improved ground. The spheres of said improved ground are preferably cobblestones or made of hard rubber.

Abstract: A doubly prestressed roof-ceiling construction with grid flat soffit for extremely large-span is a prefabricated element intended for assembling roofs of extremely large-span buildings with a flat soffit. The construction includes a grid soffit construction and an upper concrete girder of a modified “T” shape or of an inverse “V”-shaped cross section, interconnected by slender steel pipe-rods that stabilize the upper girder against lateral buckling. The empty openings within elements of the horizontal grid are fulfilled with plates wherewith a flat soffit is achieved. The construction is prestressed by the double prestressing. The grid-soffit is prestressed centrically and the upper girder is prestressed by a wedge at the midspan.

Abstract: A special high durability, building device and process to construct same. This device is essentially comprised of a base or chassis, an expanded polystyrene foam, structural members (of various materials and shapes) inside the foam and a cementitious material sprayed on the exterior of the foam. The configuration is such that the walls, floor, and roof are rigidly attached to each other yet maintain good flexural strength to resist wind loads and temperature changes. The system is anticipated for mobile and manufactured homes as well as other residential and commercial use. The construction of buildings has the cementitious coating to most surfaces and the structure uses minimal or no non-durable materials such as wood, nails, and screws. This provides resistance to surface damage to walls, rot, and decay.

Abstract: The invention is a collapsible structure comprising a plurality of panel elements, each having a coilable frame element and flexible material attached to the frame element. The panel elements are joined to define an enclosure having a roof portion and a bottom perimeter. The bottom perimeter rests on a supporting surface. The structure has at least one roof support rod having a first end and a second end. The first end of the at least one roof support rod is attached to a first location on the bottom perimeter, and the second end of the at least one roof support rod is attached to a second location on the bottom perimeter. The at least one roof support rod is in supporting contact with the roof portion of the enclosure.

Abstract: A catastrophic event survival structure and method of manufacture such that the catastrophic event survival structure includes a monolithic outer shell formed from a single pour of concrete and enclosing a confined inner space therein. The monolithic outer shell of the catastrophic event survival structure is configured to withstand substantial wind and projectile impact forces and includes a door to permit resealable access to the confined inner space.

Abstract: A building accessible to persons, which comprises at least one constructional element, which element is tubular and which is at least substantially made of wound-together layers of a strip of paper/cardboard, wherein each layer is at least substantially made up of a corrugated sublayer and a flat sublayer affixed to one side thereof.

Abstract: A structural assembly has elongate members extending at angles to one another from connector members and forming with the connector members a lattice structure having open spaces defined by the elongate members, with the connector members at corners of the open spaces. Tension members extending between the connector members have opposite end portions extending through the connector members to anchor members on the tension members. Adjustable fasteners retain the anchor members on the end portions of the tension members and the anchor members are distributed around the connector members, with each of the anchor members in a respective one of the angles in wedging relationship with a pair of the elongate members.