Method of forming a cement-based material pad (3) comprising a plurality of drainage holes and forms for use in such a method.

A modular pavement slab including a paving material set around a plurality of forming tools and defining a side face and a top surface. Each of the forming tools includes an elongate body extending along a longitudinal axis and having a sidewall exterior surface configured for removal of the elongate body through the side face. Each of the forming tools also includes a riser releasably coupled to the elongate body and extending in a direction noncollinear to the corresponding longitudinal axis.

A method of producing concrete blocks for creating a surface covering, wherein each concrete block comprises a multiple-layer concrete block body with at least one level concrete block underside and, opposite the at least one level concrete black underside, an essentially flat concrete block upper side, wherein the multi-layer concrete block body comprises a first concrete block layer designed as a facing concrete layer and forming the concrete block upper surface, at least one second concrete block layer designed as a core concrete layer, as well as at least one third concrete block layer forming the concrete block underside. In the method at least one formwork is provided.

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.

Some deck or patio areas constructed of pavers mounted on adjustable pedestal supports must remain snow and ice free on their top surfaces. The pedestal-mounted paver heating system is designed to allow easy installation of electric heating cable that is positioned against the bottom surface of pavers so that heat generated by the cable is efficiently transferred up into the pavers to raise their temperature enough to prevent the accumulation of snow and ice on their top surfaces.

Photoluminescent sand preferably includes play sand, photoluminescent pigment, a powdered binder and a curing agent. The play sand is preferably mixed with the photoluminescent pigment to form a photo sand mix. The photo sand mix is then mixed with the powered binder and curing agent to form the photoluminescent sand mix. The photoluminescent sand mix is allowed to cure for between 3-7 days to form the photoluminescent sand.

A modular pavement slab including a paving material set around a plurality of forming tools and defining a side face and a top surface. Each of the forming tools includes an elongate body extending along a longitudinal axis and having a sidewall exterior surface configured for removal of the elongate body through the side face. Each of the forming tools also includes a riser releasably coupled to the elongate body and extending in a direction noncollinear to the corresponding longitudinal axis.

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.

Disclosed herein are paver adhesives including dry concrete mixes. The paver adhesive can include cement, silica sand, alumina silicate, and latex or acrylic polymer. The paver adhesive can be configured to be applied to a substrate in a dry state. The paver adhesive can be configured to become hydrated subsequent to pavers being installed over the paver adhesive, and the paver adhesive can be configured to cure and adhere paver tiles to the substrate following the hydrating.

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.