The subject of the invention is based on an insulating element, in particular a strip or other insulating element, joined in particular by melting or welding, which is provided on at least one side with a combustible or thermally destructible and electrically conductive element. The invention also relates to a method of inspecting of welds and melting of insulating elements, in particular strips. The invention further provides a control system for welds and melting-down of insulating elements.

A gasket for concrete structures such as tunnel segments includes a gasket body having a bottom face configured to be positioned against a surface of an associated tunnel segment. The bottom face may include a set of spaced indentations. First and second anchor members protrude from opposed side edges of the gasket adjacent the bottom face of the gasket. The anchor members are configured to attach the gasket to the tunnel segment during casting of a precast concrete member. The gasket body forms a groove in the concrete member and the anchor members form side channels in the groove. A respective fin can be provided on opposed side faces of the gasket. Should a defect be found in the original gasket, the gasket body can be removed from the groove of the concrete member relatively easily, even in the field, and a replacement gasket having corresponding anchor members, fins and indentations, can be snapped into the groove.

The invention relates to a tunnel lining composed of at least two concrete elements (10) each having at least one protective element (20) connected to the concrete element, wherein the protective element (20) has a protective portion which has a first side which faces the concrete element (10) and on which there is provided at least one connecting element (17) for producing a retaining connection between the protective portion and the concrete element (10), wherein the protective portion consists of at least one plastic, wherein the protective element (20) has at least one protective element seal (30) which is connected to the protective portion (20), wherein the connection to the protective portion (20) is gas-tight and liquid-tight, wherein a joint (40) is present between the at least two concrete elements (10) arranged to form the tunnel lining (300), wherein the joint (40) is sealed in a gas-tight and liquid-tight manner with respect to the tunnel interior (100) by at least one protective element seal (30) having a sealing action (first sealing action), and wherein the tunnel lining (300) is provided with drainage (C) into the tunnel interior (100).

A method for preparing an article includes at least a first component of a polyolefin in conjunction with a second component of a polymer made by ring-opening metathesis polymerisation of norbornene type monomers. The method includes pre-treating a surface of the first component, applying a ring-opening metathesis polymerisable mixture of norbornene type monomers and a catalyst to the surface, and curing the ring-opening metathesis polymerisable mixture in contact with the surface, wherein the ring-opening metathesis polymerisable mixture has a η.sub.1000 at 30° C. of more than 9 sec. Articles such as a pipe line field joint or a protective element for a concrete tunnel lining element can be made using the method.

A tunnel reinforcement system having a plurality of structural supports positioned at spaced intervals along the length of a tunnel. Each structural support has a plurality of structural segments connected in an end to end relationship. Each structural segment has a plurality of bars connected to a first end and a second end, in which the first end comprises a first butt plate having one or more apertures, and the second end comprises a second butt plate having one or more apertures. The one or more apertures of the first butt plate or the second butt plate of a structural segment are coaxially aligned with the one or more apertures of the first butt plate or the second butt plate of another structural segment in an end to end relationship. The first butt plate or the second butt plate of a structural segment is attachable to the first butt plate or the second butt plate of another structural segment in an end to end relationship. Each structural support defines a geometric supporting framework.

An underground support system having an underground reinforcement system that is at least partially encapsulated with concrete or a cement material. The underground reinforcement system includes a flexible wire mesh having a matrix of longitudinally and transversely extending metal wires. The matrix of longitudinally and transversely extending metal wires has at least one three-dimensional sheet, each sheet having at least one raised corrugation, positioned along the length of an underground space. The raised corrugation acts as a template depth girder for application of concrete or cement material at a defined depth such that the underground reinforcement system is at least partially encapsulated with the concrete or cement material.

A tunnel reinforcement system having a plurality of structural supports positioned at spaced intervals along the length of a tunnel. Each structural support has a plurality of structural segments connected in an end to end relationship. Each structural segment has a plurality of bars connected to a first end and a second end, in which the first end comprises a first butt plate having one or more apertures, and the second end comprises a second butt plate having one or more apertures. The one or more apertures of the first butt plate or the second butt plate of a structural segment are coaxially aligned with the one or more apertures of the first butt plate or the second butt plate of another structural segment in an end to end relationship. The first butt plate or the second butt plate of a structural segment is attachable to the first butt plate or the second butt plate of another structural segment in an end to end relationship. Each structural support defines a geometric supporting framework.

A method and sensor system for monitoring in time a geometric property of a gasket (32, 34) that sealingly interconnects two structural members (20, 21) of a subterraneous or immersed tunnel (10). The system includes a sensor (42) for measuring position indications for surface portions (48) of the gasket relative to a reference (26, 27, 47) associated with one or both structural members, and a processor (44) that is coupled with the sensor to receive the position indications. The processor is configured to derive indications of displacement (ΔY) for each of the gasket surface portions based on the measured indications of position, to compare the indications of displacement for each of the gasket surface portions with at least one threshold value (Ty), and to generate a warning message for an operator if at least one of the indications of displacement transgresses the at least one threshold value.

A gasket for concrete structures such as tunnel segments includes a gasket body having a bottom face configured to be positioned against a surface of an associated tunnel segment. First and second anchor members protrude from opposed side edges of the gasket adjacent the bottom face of the gasket. The anchor members are configured to attach the gasket to the tunnel segment during casting of a precast concrete member. The gasket body forms a groove in the concrete member and the anchor members form side channels in the groove. Should a defect be found in the original gasket, the gasket body can be removed from the groove of the concrete member relatively easily, even in the field, and a replacement gasket having corresponding anchor members can be snapped into the groove.

A gasket for concrete structures such as tunnel segments includes a gasket body having a bottom face configured to be positioned against a surface of an associated tunnel segment. The bottom face may include a set of spaced indentations. First and second anchor members protrude from opposed side edges of the gasket adjacent the bottom face of the gasket. The anchor members are configured to attach the gasket to the tunnel segment during casting of a precast concrete member. The gasket body forms a groove in the concrete member and the anchor members form side channels in the groove. A respective fin can be provided on opposed side faces of the gasket. Should a defect be found in the original gasket, the gasket body can be removed from the groove of the concrete member relatively easily, even in the field, and a replacement gasket having corresponding anchor members, fins and indentations, can be snapped into the groove.