An apparatus for limiting event energy in an underground structure having free space includes: an inner layer configured to envelope and seal an interior volume; an outer layer configured to envelope the inner layer; and, wherein the interior volume includes a volume-occupying material, having a solid material, a semi-solid material, a gaseous material, or any combination of the solid, the semi-solid, and the gaseous material.

A bell hole box with an open bottom for protecting construction workers from wall cave-in when working below a surface of the Earth may utilize two, opposing, generally concave walls with generally straight panels portions. The two walls may be connected using multiple spreaders that are pinned or connected to each of the two, opposing walls. Each longitudinal end of the bell hole box is open to permit passage of a pipeline through it. Numerous vertical guard posts may be connected around a top frame rail and joined together with chains. The bell hole box may be lifted in and out of a hole with mounted lifting hooks.

A gasket for concrete structures such as tunnel segments includes a gasket body having a bottom face configured to be positioned against a surface of an associated tunnel segment. First and second anchor members protrude from opposed side edges of the gasket adjacent the bottom face of the gasket. The anchor members are configured to attach the gasket to the tunnel segment during casting of a precast concrete member. The gasket body forms a groove in the concrete member and the anchor members form side channels in the groove. Should a defect be found in the original gasket, the gasket body can be removed from the groove of the concrete member relatively easily, even in the field, and a replacement gasket having corresponding anchor members can be snapped into the groove.

The present invention is directed to below grade fluid containment structures, which may include a foam floor and a foam wall extending upward from the floor, the foam wall being formed from foam panels. A granular material is provided for reducing hydraulic soil pressure against an exterior face of the foam wall that would otherwise be exerted by the soil, if the soil were allowed to be positioned up against the foam, particularly the foam wall. The well-draining granular material may be gravel, crushed stone, or the like, which provides better drainage as compared to the surrounding soil material. The interior face of the foam is coated with an elastomeric abrasion resistant impact resistant polymeric coating that seals the below grade interior space defined between the floor and the wall in a seamless water-tight configuration.

The present invention is directed to below grade fluid containment structures, which may include a foam floor and a foam wall extending upward from the floor, the foam wall being formed from foam panels. A granular material is provided for reducing hydraulic soil pressure against an exterior face of the foam wall that would otherwise be exerted by the soil, if the soil were allowed to be positioned up against the foam, particularly the foam wall. The well-draining granular material may be gravel, crushed stone, or the like, which provides better drainage as compared to the surrounding soil material. The interior face of the foam is coated with an elastomeric abrasion resistant impact resistant polymeric coating that seals the below grade interior space defined between the floor and the wall in a seamless water-tight configuration.

Disclosed is a Bailey support system applied to cross protection of complex pipes and cables in an intersection tunnel, including a type I suspension system, a type II suspension system, type III suspension systems, a type IV suspension system, and a type V suspension system, where two groups of the type III suspension systems are disposed on a front side of the type IV suspension system, and two groups of the type III suspension systems are disposed on a rear side of the type IV suspension system and are in one-to-one correspondence with the other two groups disposed on the front side, the type II suspension system and the type I suspension system are sequentially disposed on a left side of the type IV suspension system from left to right, and the type V suspension system is disposed on a right side of the type IV suspension system.

Disclosed is a Bailey support system applied to cross protection of complex pipes and cables in an intersection tunnel, including a type I suspension system, a type II suspension system, type III suspension systems, a type IV suspension system, and a type V suspension system, where two groups of the type III suspension systems are disposed on a front side of the type IV suspension system, and two groups of the type III suspension systems are disposed on a rear side of the type IV suspension system and are in one-to-one correspondence with the other two groups disposed on the front side, the type II suspension system and the type I suspension system are sequentially disposed on a left side of the type IV suspension system from left to right, and the type V suspension system is disposed on a right side of the type IV suspension system.

In one or more arrangements, a lagoon entry system and method of retrofitting a lagoon entry system to a covered lagoon is presented. In one or more arrangements, the lagoon entry system includes a center wall connected to an interior portion, an exterior portion, and a gate complex. The gate complex includes a gate which is configured to provide selective access into the covered lagoon, namely access by a submersible robot cleaner configured to clean the floor of the covered lagoon. In one or more arrangements, the lagoon entry system is retrofitted to a covered lagoon by cutting a hole in the cover of the covered lagoon, excavating material from an interior area located inside the covered lagoon and an exterior area located outside the lagoon. Once the interior area and exterior area have been excavated, the center wall, interior portion, and exterior portion can be placed and properly connected.

In one or more arrangements, a lagoon entry system and method of retrofitting a lagoon entry system to a covered lagoon is presented. In one or more arrangements, the lagoon entry system includes a center wall connected to an interior portion, an exterior portion, and a gate complex. The gate complex includes a gate which is configured to provide selective access into the covered lagoon, namely access by a submersible robot cleaner configured to clean the floor of the covered lagoon. In one or more arrangements, the lagoon entry system is retrofitted to a covered lagoon by cutting a hole in the cover of the covered lagoon, excavating material from an interior area located inside the covered lagoon and an exterior area located outside the lagoon. Once the interior area and exterior area have been excavated, the center wall, interior portion, and exterior portion can be placed and properly connected.

Described herein are apparatus, systems and methods useful in forming vertical structures.