A method of manufacturing a paving block with embedded photoluminescent material, comprising the steps of mixing sand, aggregate, water, and cement to form an uncured concrete mixture; mixing phosphorescent pigments, sand, cement, aggregate, and water to form an uncured phosphorescent mixture; providing a paving block mold; pouring the uncured concrete mixture into the paving block mold to fill the paving block mold; compressing the uncured concrete mixture in the paving block mold via a tamper head until the paving block mold is between 80% and 90% full; pouring the uncured phosphorescent mixture into the paving mold block to substantially fill the paving block mold; and compressing and vibrating the uncured concrete mixture and the uncured phosphorescent mixture in the paving mold block to generate an uncured paving block having a desired thickness and density.

A CRCP repair system is provided. The repair system may comprise a precast pavement panel having one or more openings positioned in the bottom, side portions thereof, as well as reinforcing members embedded within the panel. The panel may also include a reinforcing fastening member extending into each of the openings. The repair system may further include a prepared side edge of the CRCP having reinforcing anchoring members epoxy cemented therein and extending therefrom, with the anchoring members configured to extend into the openings of the panel with the panel positioned in the void created by the removed CRCP. The anchoring members may be configured in a pair, with each pair positioned to extend into the opening, with the fastening member extending into the opening between the pair of anchoring members. Each of the fastening members and the anchoring members may have a head on a distal end thereof, with the heads configured to create opposing and overlapping forces within the opening when cementitious adhesive (such as grout) is inserted within the opening and cured.

A modular pavement slab comprises a body, a strain sensor array, and a sensor processor. The body includes a top surface, a bottom surface, and four side surfaces. The modular pavement slab is configured to be coupled to at least one other modular pavement slab via connectors along at least one of the side surfaces. The strain sensor array is retained within the body and is configured to detect a plurality of strains on the body resulting from vehicular traffic across the top surface of the body. The sensor processor is in communication with the strain sensor array. The sensor processor is configured to communicate input signals to the strain sensor array, receive output signals from the strain sensor array, and determine a plurality of time-varying strain values, each strain value indicating a strain experienced over time by a successive one of a plurality of regions of the body.

The present invention provides a bidirectional energy-transfer system comprising: a thermally and/or electrically conductive concrete, disposed in a structural object; a location of energy supply or demand that is physically isolated from, but in thermodynamic and/or electromagnetic communication with, the thermally and/or electrically conductive concrete; and a means of transferring energy between the structural object and the location of energy supply or demand. The system can be a single node in a neural network. The thermally and/or electrically conductive concrete includes a conductive, shock-absorbing material, such as graphite. Preferred compositions are disclosed for the thermally and/or electrically conductive concrete. The bidirectional energy-transfer system may be present in a solar-energy collection system, a grade beam, an indoor radiant flooring system, a structural wall or ceiling, a bridge, a roadway, a driveway, a parking lot, a commercial aviation runway, a military runway, a grain silo, or pavers, for example.

A form for forming a modular pavement slab with long and short cavities alternatingly formed around its periphery includes a header and a plurality of short and long forming tools. The header includes an inner vertical surface that defines a portion of the periphery of the modular pavement slab. The short forming tool includes an elongate body defining a longitudinal axis and having a proximal end positioned against the inner vertical surface of the header. The elongate body has a longitudinal bore therethrough and a riser bore defining an axis that is noncollinear to the longitudinal axis. A riser is releasably coupled to the riser bore. The long forming tool is substantially similar to the short forming tool. The elongate body, however, is longer than the short forming tool and includes two riser bores. A riser is releasably coupled to each respective riser bore.

A form for forming a modular pavement slab with long and short cavities alternatingly formed around its periphery includes a header and a plurality of short and long forming tools. The header includes an inner vertical surface that defines a portion of the periphery of the modular pavement slab. The short forming tool includes an elongate body defining a longitudinal axis and having a proximal end positioned against the inner vertical surface of the header. The elongate body has a longitudinal bore therethrough and a riser bore defining an axis that is noncollinear to the longitudinal axis. A riser is releasably coupled to the riser bore. The long forming tool is substantially similar to the short forming tool. The elongate body, however, is longer than the short forming tool and includes two riser bores. A riser is releasably coupled to each respective riser bore.

A modular pavement slab comprises a body, a strain sensor array, and a sensor processor. The body includes a top surface, a bottom surface, and four side surfaces. The modular pavement slab is configured to be coupled to at least one other modular pavement slab via connectors along at least one of the side surfaces. The strain sensor array is retained within the body and is configured to detect a plurality of strains on the body resulting from vehicular traffic across the top surface of the body. The sensor processor is in communication with the strain sensor array. The sensor processor is configured to communicate input signals to the strain sensor array, receive output signals from the strain sensor array, and determine a plurality of time-varying strain values, each strain value indicating a strain experienced over time by a successive one of a plurality of regions of the body.

The present invention provides a bidirectional energy-transfer system comprising: a thermally and/or electrically conductive concrete, disposed in a structural object; a location of energy supply or demand that is physically isolated from, but in thermodynamic and/or electromagnetic communication with, the thermally and/or electrically conductive concrete; and a means of transferring energy between the structural object and the location of energy supply or demand. The system can be a single node in a neural network. The thermally and/or electrically conductive concrete includes a conductive, shock-absorbing material, such as graphite. Preferred compositions are disclosed for the thermally and/or electrically conductive concrete. The bidirectional energy-transfer system may be present in a solar-energy collection system, a grade beam, an indoor radiant flooring system, a structural wall or ceiling, a bridge, a roadway, a driveway, a parking lot, a commercial aviation runway, a military runway, a grain silo, or pavers, for example.

A method for manufacturing a curable light-conducting body (21) in a casting method, in particular for the manufacture of light-conducting bodies (21) of a curable concrete material (36, 56), wherein a light-conducting mat (1) is embedded in a curable casting material (36, 56), and a casting mold (27) with a recessed mold cavity (18) open at the top is filled with the not-yet-cured casting material (36, 56), wherein, in a first method step, a plurality of molding punches (32) moveably arranged in the mold cavity (18) of the casting mold (27) are moved to at least the plane of the upper edge (43) of the mold cavity (18), 1. in a second method step, the space between the molding punches (32) in the mold cavity (18) is filled with a curable casting material (36), 2. in a fifth method step, the light-conducting mat (1) to be embedded in the casting material (36, 56) is placed on the end sides (61) of the molding punches (32) raised in the mold cavity (18), 3. and that, in a sixth method step, the light-conducting mat (1) is pressed into the casting material (36, 56) wherein, with the pressing movement of the light-conducting mat (1) into the casting material (36, 56), the molding punches (32) are approximately synchronously moved downwards out of the bottom surface of the mold cavity (18).

A method for manufacturing a curable light-conducting body (21) in a casting method, in particular for the manufacture of light-conducting bodies (21) of a curable concrete material (36, 56), wherein a light-conducting mat (1) is embedded in a curable casting material (36, 56), and a casting mold (27) with a recessed mold cavity (18) open at the top is filled with the not-yet-cured casting material (36, 56), wherein, in a first method step, a plurality of molding punches (32) moveably arranged in the mold cavity (18) of the casting mold (27) are moved to at least the plane of the upper edge (43) of the mold cavity (18), 1. in a second method step, the space between the molding punches (32) in the mold cavity (18) is filled with a curable casting material (36), 2. in a fifth method step, the light-conducting mat (1) to be embedded in the casting material (36, 56) is placed on the end sides (61) of the molding punches (32) raised in the mold cavity (18), 3. and that, in a sixth method step, the light-conducting mat (1) is pressed into the casting material (36, 56) wherein, with the pressing movement of the light-conducting mat (1) into the casting material (36, 56), the molding punches (32) are approximately synchronously moved downwards out of the bottom surface of the mold cavity (18).