The invention concerns an article (20) formed of a ceramic matrix composite structure having a plurality of ceramic fiber layers (22) and a binder material (24) interspersed throughout said layers. The ceramic matrix composite material may be sintered. The ceramic fiber layers undulate relative to one or more outer surfaces (38;40) of the article. Thus support features (48) within the article are able to share a load in use between a plurality of layers. The invention may be suited to engine components such as turbine seal segments in a gas turbine engine.

A multi-component inorganic anchoring system, for chemical fastening of anchors and post-installed reinforcing bars in mineral substrates, includes a curable powdery aluminous cement component A and an initiator component B in an aqueous phase for initiating a curing process. Component A further includes calcium carbonate and component B includes an accelerator constituent and water. The calcium carbonate in component A has an average particle size in the range of from 0.5 to 150 μm. Methods can be utilized for using calcium carbonate having an average particle size in the range of from 0.5 to 150 μm in a multi-component inorganic anchoring system to increase load values. Methods can also be utilized for chemical fastening of anchors, such as metal anchors and post-installed reinforcing bars, in mineral substrates, such as structures made of brickwork, concrete, pervious concrete, or natural stone.

Fiber reinforced aerogel composites, including a transparent composite material that contains an aerogel and fibers embedded into the aerogel and/or bonded to one or more surfaces of the aerogel, and composites that contain an aerogel tile and an assemblage of fibers embedded into the aerogel tile or bonded to the aerogel tile that are useful as Cherenkov radiators for the detection and identification of subatomic particles. Also, methods of making and using the composites.

A process for making an erosion control mat includes rotating a cylindrical drum having a plurality of mold cavities; depositing a paste into the mold cavities; selecting the sheet of mesh material to have sufficient tensile strength to join the blocks of hardened paste together without tearing or separating from the blocks of hardened paste, and to have sufficient density to retain the paste within the mold cavities as the drum rotates; covering an outer surface of the cylindrical drum and outer surfaces of the paste with the sheet of mesh material; continuing to rotate the cylindrical drum as the paste hardens into dimensionally stable blocks, and holding the sheet against the outer surface such that the sheet retains the paste within the mold cavities and the sheet becomes embedded in the paste; and separating the dimensionally stable blocks from the mold cavities.

Concrete can be one of the most durable building materials where consumption is projected to reach approximately 40 billion tons in 2017 alone. Despite this the testing of concrete at all stages of its life cycle is still in its infancy although testing for corrosion is well established. Further many of the tests today are time consuming, expensive, and provide results only after it has been poured and set. Accordingly, by exploiting self-contained wireless sensor devices, which are deployed with the wet concrete, the in-situ curing and maturity measurement data can be established and employed together with batch specific concrete data to provide rapid initial tests and evolving performance data regarding the concrete cure, performance, corrosion of concrete at different points in its life cycle. Such sensors remove subjectivity, allow for rapid assessment, are integrable to the construction process, and provided full life cycle assessment.

A method for forming a passage in a ceramic matrix composite component incudes forming a core for a ceramic matrix composite component; embedding a hollow member into the core at a desired location for a passage in the ceramic matrix composite component; wrapping the core with a ceramic material; and inserting a rod through the hollow member and into the core.

A paving block with improved illumination (luminescent paving block) preferably includes a concrete base layer and a photoluminescent layer. The photoluminescent layer is formed on top of the concrete base layer. The concrete base layer is preferably created by combining sand, aggregate, water, pigment and cement to form an uncured concrete mixture. The photoluminescent layer preferably includes very fine aggreagate, cement, water, pigment, sand and a polyester resin infused with a photoluminescent pigment or a silica-based glass material infused with photoluminescent pigment. Further, a light transmitting sealant may be placed over the photoluminescent material.

A paving block with improved illumination (luminescent paving block) preferably includes a concrete base layer and a photoluminescent layer. The photoluminescent layer is formed on top of the concrete base layer. The concrete base layer is preferably created by combining sand, aggregate, water, pigment and cement to form an uncured concrete mixture. The photoluminescent layer preferably includes very fine aggreagate, cement, water, pigment, sand and a polyester resin infused with a photoluminescent pigment or a silica-based glass material infused with photoluminescent pigment. Further, a light transmitting sealant may be placed over the photoluminescent material.

A use of at least one form insert for in-situ manufacture of a hollow core or hollow core analogue slab, the at least one form insert positioned in a mould defining a monolithic volume in which the hollow core or hollow core analogue slab is manufactured by pouring a cement-based curable material into the monolithic volume to submerge the at least one form insert.

A method for producing a three-dimensional construction material component preferably having at least one curved surface. A plurality of spacers are arranged in a formwork. A textile reinforcement is supported on the spacers, such that the textile reinforcement has a defined position within a formwork interior of the formwork. A tensile force is applied via a tensioning device to the textile reinforcement in at least one tension direction. Construction material is introduced into the formwork interior and surrounds the textile reinforcement. The construction material is then hardened, wherein the tensile force is maintained during the hardening. During this process, the spacers are integrated into the construction material component. The tensioning device has at least one clamping unit for clamping an end portion of the textile reinforcement between two clamping surfaces. The clamping surfaces are provided on clamping insert bodies, which are of a plastic material of a defined hardness.