The present invention relates generally to a below grade, blind side, waterproofing sheet membrane with adhesive and low reflectivity granular particle layer to fully bond to concrete/shotcrete, and a method of making, and using same. More particularly, the invention encompasses a below grade, blind side, waterproofing sheet membrane with adhesive, and having at least one layer of low reflectivity granular particle layer that are fully or partly embedded into the adhesive layer, and where the average reflectivity of the exposed granular particles is about 50 or below 55 percent reflectivity on a standard reflectivity scale. The inventive waterproofing layer having the waterproofing sheet membrane, and an adhesive layer having embedded therein low reflectivity granular particles can be used in any building or wall construction, and can be placed under or around a foundation of a building or dwelling or on its below grade blind side retaining walls, etc.

Systems and methods of the present invention include a method for the treatment of drilling wastes and coal combustion residues, comprising combining at least a first drilling waste with coal combustion residues to form a paste, combining at least a second drilling waste with coal combustion residues to form a compactable fill, and placing the paste and the compactable fill in a landfill. Other embodiments include a method of treating drilling wastes and coal combustion residues, comprising combining at least one drilling waste with a coal combustion residue to form a paste. Further embodiments include containing the paste within at least one geotextile container. Still further embodiments include placing the geotextile container in a landfill.

An electrically conductive geotextile incorporating graphene and a method of using conductive properties in same to detect anomalies in said textile.

Improved containment mats and systems of containment mats may include multiple adjoining mats with a top surface and a bottom surface. The multiple mats may provide a modular structural mat system that may be installed at a drill site, with multiple mats placed adjacent to each other with a lap joint connecting adjacent mats. A geotextile may be used to cover the lap joints and a coating applied to the geotextile. Such a system may provide containment of potential spills, a reliable working surface for drilling operations, and relatively fast and less expensive installation.

The invention relates to a low-permeability geotechnical barrier material including a blend of approximately equal parts of: aggregate particles, sand-size particles and manufactured composite particles that include a hydratable sealant material composed of naturally-occurring clay minerals and/or polymer-enhanced clay minerals, such that the actual percentage of clay mineral component is less than 10% by weight in the blended material. In a particular embodiment, the construction of a low-permeability geotechnical barrier using predominantly coarse grain materials by conventional compaction efforts is rarely attempted due to the difficulty of maintaining a uniform mix of well-graded sand and aggregate blends necessary to achieve low permeability. The regularly achievable permeability offered by this material blend when installed with specific proscribed techniques using conventional equipment can be 5×10.sup.−8 cm/sec or lower.

A membrane-lined wall for levee reinforcement or leak prevention, prevention of water migration, and pollution control of impoundments. The membrane-lined wall generally includes a cementitious or concrete wall formed within an excavated trench. The concrete may be internally reinforced, and the wall may also comprise a double-layer of impermeable geomembrane liner that forms a barrier between the concrete and the sides and bottom of the trench. The membrane or liner reduces water migration, prevents levee leakage, and prevents the escape of contaminants in impoundments.

The present invention relates generally to a below grade, blind side, waterproofing sheet membrane with adhesive and moderate reflectivity granular particle layer to fully bond to concrete/shotcrete, and a method of making, and using same. More particularly, the invention encompasses a below grade, blind side, waterproofing sheet membrane with adhesive, and having at least one layer of moderate reflectivity granular particle layer that are fully or partly embedded into the adhesive layer, and where the average reflectivity of the exposed granular particles is below 55 percent reflectivity on a standard reflectivity scale. The inventive waterproofing layer having the waterproofing sheet membrane, and an adhesive layer having embedded therein moderate reflectivity granular particles can be used in any building or wall construction, and can be placed under or around a foundation of a building or dwelling or on its below grade blind side retaining walls, etc.

Improved containment mats and systems of containment mats may include multiple adjoining mats with a top surface and a bottom surface. The multiple mats may provide a modular structural mat system that may be installed at a drill site, with multiple mats placed adjacent to each other with a lap joint connecting adjacent mats. A geotextile may be used to cover the lap joints and a coating applied to the geotextile. Such a system may provide containment of potential spills, a reliable working surface for drilling operations, and relatively fast and less expensive installation.

A waterstop assembly for use as embedded components in at least a pair of adjacent concrete slabs, defining elongated first and second waterstop panels including a main body sheet to which is mounted by coextrusion or insertion to both of its opposite top and bottom ends a soft expansible flange made from hydrophilic thermoplastic material. Each hydrophilic soft flange has such an expansion capability as to provide strong radially outward pressure applied by the soft flange against the adjacent concrete slabs, thus providing watertight interconnection therebetween. A welding block is taken in sandwich between overlapping transitional end portions of the first and second waterstop panels. Integral ridge and groove connectors interconnect the welding block with the waterstop panels. Resistance wires connected at one end to an electric power source fuse the welding block and the first and second waterstop panels, wherein a watertight joint is formed therebetween. An upright steel post is mounted spacedly parallel to a corresponding one of first and second waterstop panels, and a transverse anchor arm transversely spacedly retaining waterstop panel in upright operational condition parallel to the steel post before and during first concrete pour.

A welder for joining two polymeric sheets together using a wedged heating element allows for a heating profile on opposite faces of the heating element to be varied by controlling where each of the polymeric sheets contacts the corresponding face.