A post-tensioned tube foundation for supporting a structure subject to high upset forces is described herein. The post-tensioned tube foundation includes an outer CMP positioned within an excavated hole. A foundation plug is positioned within the cavity of the outer CMP and extends across the bottom of the excavated hole. An inner CMP is positioned within the cavity of the outer CMP such that an annular space is defined between the inner CMP and the outer CMP. A tubular concrete base is positioned within the gap defined between the inner CMP and the outer CMP. A void forming element is positioned within the gap defined between the inner CMP and adjacent the top surface of the foundation plug.

A sheet piling for mandrel-installed engagement with an identical adjacent sheet piling. The mandrel has a guide hook and a rotating toe protector. The sheet piling has a female interlocking feature with a pair of hooks and an engagement hook for releasably engaging the mandrel guide hook. The sheet piling also has a male interlocking feature with a pair of hooks configured to engage the pair of female hooks of an adjacent sheet piling in a multi-piling wall structure.

A system and method to create or elevate a berm of a liquid retention facility by placement of lightweight liquid impervious. The system and method can also be used to elevate the liquid retention height of the berm in combination with impervious liner retention material. By constructing the berm system on an existing levee, the effective height of the levee can be increased. The lightweight fill material provides the shape of the berm or levee extension. The liquid impervious liner material provides a watertight surface, the media for joining of the lightweight fill material, and the anchoring of the lightweight fill material to the existing berm or levee structure. The system may use solid wall hollow body structures to elevate the berm. The system may also use lightweight frames to support the vertical elevation of a liner above the berm.

Systems and methods for soil improvement foundation isolation and load spreading are provided. The systems and methods provided herein relate to isolation of structural foundations from soil improvement elements and distributing stress from high stiffness elements to lower stiffness materials. A shear load transfer reduction system may include one or more ground improvement elements for supporting an applied load. A shear break element may be positioned above one or more ground improvement elements. The shear break elements may be configured to have low interface shear strength. Further, systems and methods are provided for creating an engineered slip surface for reducing shear stresses between a laterally loaded foundation and a rigid foundation support element and wherein two slip pads are provided that form the engineered slip surface.

A system and method to create or elevate a berm of a liquid retention facility by placement of lightweight fill material anchored by impervious liner material(s). The liner materials can be part of the liquid retention pond. The system and method can also be used to elevate the height of the berm in combination with impervious liner retention material. By constructing the berm system on an existing berm, earth embankment or levee, the effective height of the system structure can be increased. The liquid impervious liner material provides a watertight surface, joining media, and the anchoring of the lightweight fill material to the existing berm. The system may use solid wall hollow body structures. The system may also use flexible and liquid porous geotextile structures including geotubes. The liquid impervious liners retain the liquid in the retention pond.

A reinforcement unit and methods are provided for creating footings for supporting structures, such as a fence post, using a reinforcement unit that has a tower that is generally perpendicular to a base, the tower defining a cavity for receiving a portion of the structure and an anchoring material. The reinforcement unit can include a top portion of a tower that is frangible. The base of the reinforcement unit can further include a pocket (or similar recess) substantially similar in width or diameter to the top portion of the tower such that a second identical reinforcement unit can be inverted and stacked on top of the second reinforcement unit. The methods can include placing the reinforcement unit on a layer of backfill material behind the wall face so that the unit is located adjacent the wall face and the base of the reinforcement unit extends away from the wall face, covering the base with at least one other layer of the backfill material, fracturing the top portion from the tower, such that the top portion drops into the cavity of the tower, depositing a bottom portion of the structure in the cavity of the tower, and filling the cavity of the tower with an anchoring material.

Seal arrangement for a joint of two joint elements, in particular realized as a monopile and a transition piece, of an offshore structure, preferably an offshore wind energy installation, in particular a substructure thereof, in which, for the purpose of producing a stable joint, an upper joint element and a lower joint element are inserted into each other in a clamping manner by means of at least one seal unit, comprising one of the joint elements and the at least one seal unit fixed to the joint element, in such a manner that the seal unit, in a joining position, is arranged between an inner joint surface of one joint element and an outer joint surface of the other joint element, at least one seal unit having at least one elastic sealing element, which extends in the circumferential direction around the entire circumference and the thickness (D) of which is greater than the thickness (D) of an adjoining seal unit region and method for producing a seal arrangement.

Disclosed are embodiments of a method for manufacturing concreate panels for a mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) retaining wall that employ geosynthetic strips that attach to the MSE retaining wall and extend into the backfill soil. One embodiment can be generally summarized as follows: (a) providing a mold for the concrete panel; (b) providing in the mold: (1) a plastic pipe; (2) a metal rod situated in the pipe; (3) a removable block-out insert that creates a geosynthetic strip cavity within the panel body around the pipe for enabling a geosynthetic strip to be looped around the pipe; (c) introducing concrete into the mold; (d) permitting the concrete to substantially solidity within the mold; and (e) after the concrete has substantially solidified, separating the panel from the mold and removing the block-out insert to expose the cavity and the pipe extending through the cavity.

A system and method to create or elevate a berm of a liquid retention facility by placement of lightweight liquid impervious. The system and method can also be used to elevate the liquid retention height of the berm in combination with impervious liner retention material. By constructing the berm system on an existing levee, the effective height of the levee can be increased. The lightweight fill material provides the shape of the berm or levee extension. The liquid impervious liner material provides a watertight surface, the media for joining of the lightweight fill material, and the anchoring of the lightweight fill material to the existing berm or levee structure. The system may use solid wall hollow body structures to elevate the berm. The system may also use lightweight frames to support the vertical elevation of a liner above the berm.

A pile for being driven into soil includes a shaft and a frost sleeve (upheaval resistant sleeve) surrounding the shaft. The frost sleeve (upheaval resistant sleeve) is located on the shaft between a top of the soil and a frost line. The pile further includes a grout disruption (separation) plate. The grout disruption (separation) plate is located at the frost line.