A method for manufacturing modular retaining wall blocks in natural stone, wherein the blocks are trapezoidal blocks having top and bottom surfaces with channels that receive offset connectors in multiple orientations for building upright, offset, and curved walls. Stone from a quarry is cut or split to form substantially rectangular elongate blocks having top and bottom surfaces, opposed side faces, and opposed ends. A series of channels running parallel to the side faces is cut in each of the surfaces, the top channels lying across from the bottom channels but offset therefrom. The elongate blocks are then cut between opposing pairs of channels to form trapezoidal blocks having front and rear faces.

A trenchless method of installing a new poured-in-place manhole liner provides structural rehabilitation to an existing buried manhole, and is extended above the existing manhole to a higher pre-determined elevation to match the finished grade of a raised levee design. The new liner can be formed in a single or double stage process, which substantially eliminates trenching and excavation of soil, so that new levee soil is not disturbed. The process is faster and less expensive than building a totally new manhole, and maintains the structural integrity of the levee.

Extensible shells and related methods for constructing a support pier are disclosed. An extensible shell can define an interior for holding granular construction material and define a first opening at a first end for receiving the granular construction material into the interior and a second opening at a second end. The extensible shell can be flexible such that the shell expands when granular construction material is compacted in the interior of the shell. A method may include positioning the extensible shell in the ground and filling at least a portion of the interior of the shell with the granular construction material. The granular construction material may be compacted in the interior of the extensible shell to form a support pier.

Provided are a strip-type reinforcing material and a reinforcing material assembly having the same. The strip-type reinforcing material includes: strip bases extending in one direction and made of a flexible material; and resistance means protruding from respective upper and lower parts of the strip bases. Multiple resistance means are provided along the strip bases. The resistance means includes: a first resistance part protruding from the upper parts of the strip bases and having an opening being open in a direction parallel to a longitudinal direction of the strip bases; and a second resistance part protruding from the lower parts of the strip bases and having an opening being open in an opposite direction to the opening of the first resistance part.

This invention relates to a method for insulating sub-soil comprising mechanically destructuring the sub-soil, injecting an insulating material into the destructured sub-soil, and mixing the sub-soil and the insulating material. The thermal conductivity of the insulating material is strictly lower than the thermal conductivity of the sub-soil.

In certain embodiments, a sand-boil filter includes a hollow, conical, water-porous structure made of a mesh material having spaced mesh holes. The filter is inserted narrow-end down into a sand boil to allow water to flow from the ground through the mesh material and out the top of the sand boil, while blocking solid matter larger than the mesh holes from passing through the mesh material. In some implementations, the filter is filled with gravel that holds the filter in place while allowing water to flow out of the sand boil. Such filters prevent sand boils from growing while relieving the underground hydrostatic pressure that created the sand boil in the first place and inhibiting subterranean erosion that can cause failure of a nearby levee. The conical shape provides relatively large surface area that inhibits clogging and allows each filter to be used for a range of different sand-boil sizes.

Extensible shells and related methods for constructing a support pier are disclosed. An extensible shell can define an interior for holding granular construction material and define a first opening at a first end for receiving the granular construction material into the interior and a second opening at a second end. The extensible shell can be flexible such that the shell expands when granular construction material is compacted in the interior of the shell. A method may include positioning the extensible shell in the ground and filling at least a portion of the interior of the shell with the granular construction material. The granular construction material may be compacted in the interior of the extensible shell to form a support pier.

In certain embodiments, a sand-boil filter includes a hollow, conical, water-porous structure made of a mesh material having spaced mesh holes. The filter is inserted narrow-end down into a sand boil to allow water to flow from the ground through the mesh material and out the top of the sand boil, while blocking solid matter larger than the mesh holes from passing through the mesh material. In some implementations, the filter is filled with gravel that holds the filter in place while allowing water to flow out of the sand boil. Such filters prevent sand boils from growing while relieving the underground hydrostatic pressure that created the sand boil in the first place and inhibiting subterranean erosion that can cause failure of a nearby levee. The conical shape provides relatively large surface area that inhibits clogging and allows each filter to be used for a range of different sand-boil sizes.

A method for manufacturing modular retaining wall blocks in natural stone, wherein the blocks are trapezoidal blocks having top and bottom surfaces with channels that receive offset connectors in multiple orientations for building upright, offset, and curved walls. Stone from a quarry is cut or split to form substantially rectangular elongate blocks having top and bottom surfaces, opposed side faces, and opposed ends. A series of channels running parallel to the side faces is cut in each of the surfaces, the top channels lying across from the bottom channels but offset therefrom. The elongate blocks are then cut between opposing pairs of channels to form trapezoidal blocks having front and rear faces.

Provided are a strip-type reinforcing material and a reinforcing material assembly having the same. The strip-type reinforcing material includes: strip bases extending in one direction and made of a flexible material; and resistance means protruding from respective upper and lower parts of the strip bases. Multiple resistance means are provided along the strip bases. The resistance means includes: a first resistance part protruding from the upper parts of the strip bases and having an opening being open in a direction parallel to a longitudinal direction of the strip bases; and a second resistance part protruding from the lower parts of the strip bases and having an opening being open in an opposite direction to the opening of the first resistance part.