A system and method are provided for designing/creating, preparing, and installing a natural stone tiled surface at a site that provides a perception of randomness to the observer while actually following a predefined pattern that facilitates simple installation by unskilled trades and allows for the advanced preparation of the stone tiles used. Advanced preparation of the stone tiles allows the offloading of at least some cutting, preparation and installation steps normally required onsite, to an offsite location. In this way, significant time and cost savings can be achieved by shifting time and resources to an offsite location, which minimizes disruptions onsite, allows the building of an inventory of standard shapes, all without compromising the aesthetics or quality of the installation. The system relies on the tessellation or tiling of a specific outline of an irregular concave polygon, that itself includes an internal set of irregular convex polygon shapes. The tessellation of an outline that includes such a set of shapes provides an optical effect that makes it difficult for an observer to recognize the repeating nature of the stones within the patterned outline.

A system and method are provided for designing/creating, preparing, and installing a natural stone tiled surface at a site that provides a perception of randomness to the observer while actually following a predefined pattern that facilitates simple installation by unskilled trades and allows for the advanced preparation of the stone tiles used. Advanced preparation of the stone tiles allows the offloading of at least some cutting, preparation and installation steps normally required onsite, to an offsite location. In this way, significant time and cost savings can be achieved by shifting time and resources to an offsite location, which minimizes disruptions onsite, allows the building of an inventory of standard shapes, all without compromising the aesthetics or quality of the installation. The system relies on the tessellation or tiling of a specific outline of an irregular concave polygon, that itself includes an internal set of irregular convex polygon shapes. The tessellation of an outline that includes such a set of shapes provides an optical effect that makes it difficult for an observer to recognize the repeating nature of the stones within the patterned outline.

A system and method are provided for designing/creating, preparing, and installing a natural stone tiled surface at a site that provides a perception of randomness to the observer while actually following a predefined pattern that facilitates simple installation by unskilled trades and allows for the advanced preparation of the stone tiles used. Advanced preparation of the stone tiles allows the offloading of at least some cutting, preparation and installation steps normally required onsite, to an offsite location. The system relies on the tessellation or tiling of a specific outline of an irregular concave polygon, that itself includes an internal set of irregular convex polygon shapes. The tessellation of an outline that includes such a set of shapes provides an optical effect that makes it difficult for an observer to recognize the repeating nature of the stones within the patterned outline. The system can include one or more orthogonal reference lines to align with reference edges.

A system and method are provided for designing/creating, preparing, and installing a natural stone tiled surface at a site that provides a perception of randomness to the observer while actually following a predefined pattern that facilitates simple installation by unskilled trades and allows for the advanced preparation of the stone tiles used. Advanced preparation of the stone tiles allows the offloading of at least some cutting, preparation and installation steps normally required onsite, to an offsite location. The system relies on the tessellation or tiling of a specific outline of an irregular concave polygon, that itself includes an internal set of irregular convex polygon shapes. The tessellation of an outline that includes such a set of shapes provides an optical effect that makes it difficult for an observer to recognize the repeating nature of the stones within the patterned outline. The system can include one or more orthogonal reference lines to align with reference edges.

A system and associated method constructs a building material from lunar soil. A magnetic sorter magnetically sorts the lunar soil and the system creates a layered surface comprising a microwave susceptible, thermal conductive top layer of lunar soil and a poorly microwave-susceptible and poorly thermally conductive sublayer of lunar soil. A microwave generator generates microwave energy into an antenna and directs the microwave energy onto the top layer of lunar soil to sinter the microwave susceptible, thermal conductive top layer of lunar soil.

A secured paver tile system comprises one or more paver tiles, one or more locking plates or pins, one or more pedestals for placement under the paver tiles and a screw or bolt. The paver tiles have one or more cavities adapted to receive the locking plate or pin. The locking plate or pin has an aperture adapted to receive the screw or bolt. The pedestal is adapted to receive said screw or bolt. The locking plate or pin may be a pin or a plate having 2 or more arms. The arms may optionally have secondary apertures to augment the holding capacity of the system. A method of securing paver tiles in a manner that satisfies high wind requirements of building codes includes inserting said one or more locking plates or pins in said at least one cavity, inserting said bolt or screw in the one or more locking plates or pins, and inserting said bolt or screw into said pedestal. The cavities may be additionally filled with an adhesive such as thin set mortar for example.

The disclosed technology includes a paver including a gripping structure on the bottom surface thereof, as well as methods for manufacturing and using the same.

A structural system that includes at least two pavers partially defining a paved surface, the pavers partially defining a void between them. The system also includes a permeable joint located in the void between the pavers, where the permeable joint also partially defines the paved surface. The permeable joint includes a base layer formed of aggregate and bonded together with a non-cement binder, and a membrane layer formed of aggregate that is sized smaller than the aggregate of the base layer, where the aggregate of the membrane is also bonded together with a non-cement binder. The membrane is less permeable than the base layer and is located above the base layer.

A structural system is provided that includes at least two pavers partially defining a paved surface, the pavers partially defining a void between them. The system also includes a permeable joint located in the void between the pavers, where the permeable joint also partially defines the paved surface. The permeable joint includes a base layer formed of aggregate and bonded together with a non-cement binder, and a membrane layer formed of aggregate that is sized smaller than the aggregate of the base layer, where the aggregate of the membrane is also bonded together with a non-cement binder. The membrane is less permeable than the base layer and is located above the base layer.

The disclosure features structural tiles and methods for forming such tiles, the tiles including a tile body featuring one or more polystyrene materials, and a coating featuring an epoxy resin and an aggregate material, disposed on at least one surface of the tile body, where the structural tile has a dry coefficient of kinetic friction of at least 0.75 and a wet coefficient of kinetic friction of at least 0.70, and where the dry coefficient of kinetic friction is larger than the wet coefficient of kinetic friction by 0.05 or less.