A form-fitted covering that transforms a garden structure into an enclosed apiary. A configurable opening in the roof directs the flight path of the bees up and away from outdoor living spaces and nearby homes.

A form-fitted covering that transforms a garden structure into an enclosed apiary. A configurable opening in the roof directs the flight path of the bees up and away from outdoor living spaces and nearby homes.

A structure for growing plants comprising a main support, vertical supports along the perimeter of the foundation, a perimeter frame connected to the vertical supports, cables connected to the main support, vertical supports and perimeter frame, and an inner and outer shell formed from transmissive panels supported by the cables.

A structure for growing plants comprising a main support, vertical supports along the perimeter of the foundation, a perimeter frame connected to the vertical supports, cables connected to the main support, vertical supports and perimeter frame, and an inner and outer shell formed from transmissive panels supported by the cables.

An indoor growing facility includes an enclosed structure defined by one or more first walls and a growing shell defining a grow zone positioned in the enclosed structure. The growing shell defined by one or more second walls. The indoor growing facility also includes at least one environmental control component positioned inside the enclosed structure and outside the growing shell.

An indoor growing facility includes an enclosed structure defined by one or more first walls and a growing shell defining a grow zone positioned in the enclosed structure. The growing shell defined by one or more second walls. The indoor growing facility also includes at least one environmental control component positioned inside the enclosed structure and outside the growing shell.

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 structural grid support system adapted for transferring seismic loads to the vertical structural supports of a modular structure. The system includes larger and longer high load capacity main runners with mechanically fastened cross tees, which transfer seismic forces without failing. The structural grid can provide a diaphragm using mechanically fastened connections in a single horizontal plane without requiring additional overhead support from the roof deck, or requiring fewer such supports. The main runners may include additional connecting elements disposed within the usable space beneath the runner (e.g., ventral threaded receivers) for attaching deployment-specific equipment or hardware, such as network cable trays.

A structural grid support system adapted for transferring seismic loads to the vertical structural supports of a modular structure. The system includes larger and longer high load capacity main runners with mechanically fastened cross tees, which transfer seismic forces without failing. The structural grid can provide a diaphragm using mechanically fastened connections in a single horizontal plane without requiring additional overhead support from the roof deck, or requiring fewer such supports. The main runners may include additional connecting elements disposed within the usable space beneath the runner (e.g., ventral threaded receivers) for attaching deployment-specific equipment or hardware, such as network cable trays.

A method for determining an optimal arrangement of circular pipe supports of a steel silo composite shear wall, including: designing a set of steel silo composite shear wall model including parameters of interval of the circular pipe supports, axial-load ratio, steel ratio and aspect ratio: establishing an ABAQUS finite element model including initial defect; performing force analysis by the finite element software ABAQUS and calculating a horizontal ultimate bearing capacity; fitting formulas of the horizontal ultimate bearing capacity of the steel silo composite shear wall by applying least square method; drawing a relationship curve between the interval of the circular pipe supports and the horizontal ultimate bearing capacity; determining the optimal arrangement of the circular pipe supports of the steel silo composite shear wall according to a critical point of the relationship curve between the interval of the circular pipe supports and the horizontal ultimate bearing capacity.