A method and apparatus for forming cemented ground support columns is disclosed. Namely, driving mandrels are provided for the efficient construction of incrementally enlarged diameter support columns. For example, the driving mandrel includes a feed tube that has a top portion and an expansion head portion. The expansion head portion further includes an expansion (or compaction) chamber and a flexible tubular egress port. Further, construction methods are provided of using the driving mandrels for the efficient construction of incrementally enlarged diameter support columns.

A method and apparatus for forming cemented ground support columns is disclosed. Namely, driving mandrels are provided for the efficient construction of incrementally enlarged diameter support columns. For example, the driving mandrel includes a feed tube that has a top portion and an expansion head portion. The expansion head portion further includes an expansion (or compaction) chamber and a flexible tubular egress port. Further, construction methods are provided of using the driving mandrels for the efficient construction of incrementally enlarged diameter support columns.

A dry process connected energy-consuming beam column joint based on a corbel includes a prefabricated concrete corbel column, pre-buried steel plates and connecting steel plates, wherein the corbel section of the prefabricated concrete corbel column is stepped, and a notch section of a prefabricated concrete notch beam is matched with the stepped section of the corbel and is in lap joint to the stepped section; the pre-buried steel plates are separately pre-buried on the upper and lower surfaces of the corbel and the prefabricated concrete notch beam, friction plates are arranged outside the pre-buried steel plates, and slight tooth spaces are arranged on the sides, facing the pre-buried steel plates, of the friction plates; and the connecting steel plates are arranged on the left and right sides of the prefabricated concrete notch beam and the corbel lap joint section.

A dry process connected energy-consuming beam column joint based on a corbel includes a prefabricated concrete corbel column, pre-buried steel plates and connecting steel plates, wherein the corbel section of the prefabricated concrete corbel column is stepped, and a notch section of a prefabricated concrete notch beam is matched with the stepped section of the corbel and is in lap joint to the stepped section; the pre-buried steel plates are separately pre-buried on the upper and lower surfaces of the corbel and the prefabricated concrete notch beam, friction plates are arranged outside the pre-buried steel plates, and slight tooth spaces are arranged on the sides, facing the pre-buried steel plates, of the friction plates; and the connecting steel plates are arranged on the left and right sides of the prefabricated concrete notch beam and the corbel lap joint section.

An assembly (10) for strengthening a building column. The assembly comprising two pairs of elongate members (16, 28) beatable around the building column and with inter engaging engagement formations (22, 24, 32) and (34) which once inter engaged prevent the elongate members (16, 28) from being separated in either a directly longitudinal or a directly transverse direction.

An assembly (10) for strengthening a building column. The assembly comprising two pairs of elongate members (16, 28) beatable around the building column and with inter engaging engagement formations (22, 24, 32) and (34) which once inter engaged prevent the elongate members (16, 28) from being separated in either a directly longitudinal or a directly transverse direction.

A column bracket assembly is provided. The column bracket assembly comprises a bottom base bracket and a top base bracket, each including a bracket body adapted to receive an end of support element (e.g. a wooden column) and a mounting bracket/plate pivotally coupled to the bracket body and adapted to be coupled to a structural element (e.g. a footing, pile, header, beam etc.). The column bracket assembly optionally includes mounting brackets for installing cross brace brackets and/or tension rods to the bracket bodies. A method of installing the column bracket assembly, and a method of repairing, resettling, shoring, and/or leveling a structure with the column bracket assembly are also provided, along with structures comprising the column bracket assembly.

A building module for use in construction of a building comprising a deck oriented in a horizontal plane and a plurality of hollow structural members extending downwardly from around a periphery of the deck. A method of constructing a building comprising placing a plurality of prefabricated modules according to a floor plan to form a story of the building, pouring concrete into the hollow structural members of the plurality of modules to form structural columns, pouring concrete onto the decks of the plurality of prefabricated modules for form structural slabs, and allowing the structural columns and structural slabs to set to complete the story of the building. Embodiments include a plurality of techniques for sealing adjacent prefabricated modules and for installing a balcony on the prefabricated modules.

A building module for use in construction of a building comprising a deck oriented in a horizontal plane and a plurality of hollow structural members extending downwardly from around a periphery of the deck. A method of constructing a building comprising placing a plurality of prefabricated modules according to a floor plan to form a story of the building, pouring concrete into the hollow structural members of the plurality of modules to form structural columns, pouring concrete onto the decks of the plurality of prefabricated modules for form structural slabs, and allowing the structural columns and structural slabs to set to complete the story of the building. Embodiments include a plurality of techniques for sealing adjacent prefabricated modules and for installing a balcony on the prefabricated modules.

A reinforced recycled block/aggregate concrete precast column and a construction method are provided. The reinforced recycled block/aggregate concrete precast column includes several first one-bar hoops, vertical reinforcement bars, several second one-bar hoops, a flexible hinge area, and recycled block/aggregate concrete; the first one-bar hoops and second one-bar hoops are each provided with an anchor end; the first one-bar hoops and second one-bar hoops are disposed in the flexible hinge area, and only the second one-bar hoops are disposed outside the flexible hinge area; the outer edge of each first one-bar hoop is flush with the outer surface of the reinforced recycled block/aggregate concrete precast column; and the interior of the reinforced recycled block/aggregate concrete precast column is filled with the recycled block/aggregate concrete, thereby greatly increasing the recycling rate of engineering waste, reducing shedding of a concrete protective layer in the flexible hinge area of the column.