An interlock connector interlocks building blocks that are assembled so as to provide a wall structure. The building blocks have respective front surfaces for defining a front façade of the wall structure and respective rear surfaces with at least one respective horizontal groove. The interlock connector comprises first and second bodies. The first body is inserted in the rear surface horizontal groove of a first building block. The second body is inserted in the rear surface horizontal groove of a second building block adjacent the first building block. Insertion of the first and second bodies in the respective rear surface horizontal grooves of the first and second building blocks provides for interlocking the first and second building blocks.

What is provided is a precast hollow block, a precast wall system incorporating the precast hollow block, and forms for manufacturing a hollow block and a coping cap. Accordingly, the precast hollow block and its incorporation into a precast wall system provide solutions to current “level up” block coping techniques, wall flood protection, wall force protection, and the like. Instead of having mismatched or missing face textures on sloped portions of the wall, the precast wall system allows for easier installation of face-textured blocks directly at the top of the wall. As a result, the precast wall system may readily account for slope transitions of a wall, conform to specific Department of Transportation project requirements, accommodate existing wall construction specifications, and be easily customizable for a variety of applications.

An apparatus includes a monolithic retaining wall formed by combinable modular retaining wall blocks. Each of the combinable modular retaining wall blocks defines (A) vertical grooves extending along a vertical direction, and (B) horizontal grooves extending along a horizontal direction. This is done in such a way that the monolithic retaining wall, which is formed by the combinable modular retaining wall blocks, defines (A) spaced-apart instances of the vertical channels extending vertically through the monolithic retaining wall, and (B) spaced-apart instances of the horizontal channels extending horizontally through the monolithic retaining wall, in which at least some of the spaced-apart instances of the horizontal channels intersect at least some of the spaced-apart instances of the vertical channels.

A simulated stone or brick column or retaining wall is made up of rows of masonry blocks of generally trapezoidal configuration arranged in end-to-end relation to one another in each row, each block including a recessed portion being aligned with one another in each row and each block having textured wall surfaces simulating the appearance of brick or stone along one or more wall surfaces arranged in different configurations without the necessity of interlocking the blocks together.

A building element for coupling with other building elements to erect a retaining wall. Optionally, the building element can have a modular construction. The building element can have a face panel and a beam member that extends substantially perpendicularly relative to the face panel. The building elements can have a variety of different configurations, providing flexibility in the design of retaining walls. Optionally, each building element can define alignment voids that receive portions of alignment posts for ensuring vertical alignment between adjacent building elements or portions of building elements.

Disclosed is a device for containing granular elements, comprising a metal mesh panel having metal wires welded together, the panel comprising at least one curvature of a first orientation and at least one curvature of a second orientation, the first orientation being characterized by a first axis and the second orientation being characterized by a second axis, the first axis and the second axis being non-collinear.

A method of forming simulated stone or brick column or a retaining wall is made up of rows of masonry blocks of generally trapezoidal configuration arranged in end-to-end relation to one another in each row, each block including a recessed portion being aligned with one another in each row and each block having textured wall surfaces simulating the appearance of brick or stone along one or more wall surfaces arranged in different configurations without the necessity of interlocking the blocks together.

A caisson or casing 107 for installing a sheet 102/103 into a ground or underwater location, the caisson 107 having a shaped wall 107.1, which is open for a predetermined length and is adapted to receive and connect to an excavation means 3 within the confines of the caisson or casing 107. In at least one embodiment, the system includes a drilling assembly 3 for insertion of a caisson or casing 1, the drilling assembly 3 having one or more expanding drill bits 4 which are adapted to be driven by a drilling or rotation motive device 5, the expanding drill bits 4 being adapted to be arranged with respect to the caisson or casing 1 in use, so as form a hole or bore which substantially conforms to, or substantially overlaps with, the shape of the caisson or casing 1.

A concrete building block includes indicators along each end to assist in aligning a pin placed in the block with a channel in a like block in a course below as a wall is being constructed.

A retaining wall block includes a block body having a top side and a bottom side parallel to the top side, each of the top side and the bottom side being trapezoidal in shape and symmetrical with respect to a central vertical plane; a front side and a rear side parallel to the front side; and a right side and a left side opposite the right side. The retaining wall block includes a vertical interlock system having a groove having a groove depth and a groove width and extending transverse to the central vertical plane along the bottom side from the left side to the right side; and a key extending transverse to the central vertical plane along the top side and having a maximum key width that is smaller than or equal to the groove width, the key having a maximum key height that is smaller than or equal to the groove height, wherein the key has a left side portion and a right side portion, and each of the left side portion and the right side portion is shaped to reduce in width toward both the left and right sides of the block.