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.

Embodiments of the invention included structural decking systems with at least a four-layered seam and methods for manufacturing and assembling structural decking systems with at least four-layered seams. The decking panels may be provided with an edge having an exposed “male lip” with two layers, and an opposite edge having a “female lip” with two layers. Individual panels may be coupled together by placing the female lip of a first panel over the male lip of an adjacent panel, thus creating an unjoined seam. In order to couple the panels together, the panels may be secured through various couplings configurations. The couplings may be formed by deforming, cutting, and/or welding the seam. Not only do the couplings help prevent vertical separation between adjacent panels, the couplings minimize lateral shifting along the seam, and ensure a desired level of shear strength in the seam and across the structural decking system.

Embodiments of the invention included structural decking systems with at least a four-layered seam and methods for manufacturing and assembling structural decking systems with at least four-layered seams. The decking panels may be provided with an edge having an exposed “male lip” with two layers, and an opposite edge having a “female lip” with two layers. Individual panels may be coupled together by placing the female lip of a first panel over the male lip of an adjacent panel, thus creating an unjoined seam. In order to couple the panels together, the panels may be secured through various couplings configurations. The couplings may be formed by deforming, cutting, and/or welding the seam. Not only do the couplings help prevent vertical separation between adjacent panels, the couplings minimize lateral shifting along the seam, and ensure a desired level of shear strength in the seam and across the structural decking system.

An edge protection system for use with concrete flooring, including a first part for coupling to an edge portion of a first concrete flooring panel and a second part for coupling to an opposed edge portion of a second, neighbouring, concrete flooring panel, and a support foot for supporting the system relative to a ground surface, wherein the first part has a pair of vertically opposed longitudinal rails, and the support foot has an engagement formation which has an unlocked orientation for inserting the formation between the opposed rails to abut against the first part and a rotated, locked orientation wherein the formation is locked by the rails against lateral withdrawal from the first part.

An edge protection system for use with concrete flooring, including a first part for coupling to an edge portion of a first concrete flooring panel and a second part for coupling to an opposed edge portion of a second, neighbouring, concrete flooring panel, and a support foot for supporting the system relative to a ground surface, wherein the first part has a pair of vertically opposed longitudinal rails, and the support foot has an engagement formation which has an unlocked orientation for inserting the formation between the opposed rails to abut against the first part and a rotated, locked orientation wherein the formation is locked by the rails against lateral withdrawal from the first part.

A concrete slab system includes a bed of a first concrete having a top surface and edge surfaces. The bed's top surface has shrinkage cracks and induced cracks. The widths of the induced cracks are greater than widths of the shrinkage cracks. Non-concrete material is disposed on the bed's top surface and on each of the bed's edge surfaces. A second concrete covers the non-concrete material and the bed. The second concrete has stretchable fibers mixed therein.

A concrete slab system includes a bed of a first concrete having a top surface and edge surfaces. The bed's top surface has shrinkage cracks and induced cracks. The widths of the induced cracks are greater than widths of the shrinkage cracks. Non-concrete material is disposed on the bed's top surface and on each of the bed's edge surfaces. A second concrete covers the non-concrete material and the bed. The second concrete has stretchable fibers mixed therein.

A formwork for performing horizontal castings for the provision of floors, of the type comprising a series of props, and supporting heads to be arranged on the props for the resting of panels designed to form a surface for a concrete casting, each panel comprising at least two longitudinal profiles, for resting on the supporting heads; each one of the longitudinal profiles comprises a central body, a first longitudinal part, for the fixing of the transverse elements, and an opposite second longitudinal part, each one of the supporting heads comprises a plate-like base from which there extends at least one lateral shoulder for the resting of the central body of a longitudinal profile in an intermediate configuration for assembly or disassembly, and a central protrusion, which protrudes from the same side as the lateral shoulders.

A modular storm water retention system and method for exemplary uses collecting and temporarily retaining storm water run-off. The system includes a plurality of modular retaining units which are selectively connected together to form an interior chamber volume for collecting storm water run-off directed into the chamber volume. A plurality of modular trays are engaged with the top portions of the respective retention units to prevent relative movement of the retention units and eliminate, or substantially reduce, the need for porous material to be installed in and around the retention units greatly increasing the excavation void space usable for water collection and retention. The trays further support the backfill material and prevent passage of the backfill material into the void space below the trays.

The invention comprises a product. The product comprises a first removable concrete form having a concrete forming face and a first insulating panel insert having a first primary surface and an opposite second primary surface, wherein the second primary surface of the first insulating panel insert contacts the concrete forming face of the first removable concrete form. The product also comprises an elongate anchor member having an enlarged portion and an elongate portion, the elongate portion having a first end and an opposite second end, wherein the enlarged portion is disposed adjacent the first end and contacts the second primary surface of the first insulating panel insert and wherein the elongate portion extends through the first insulating panel insert and extends outwardly from the first primary surface of the first insulating panel insert. A method of using a removable insulated concrete form system is also disclosed.