Exemplary inventive practice provides a structure that is attributed with superior resistance to loading. For example, an inventive structure includes two coaxial axisymmetric (e.g., cylindrical) shells and a granulation-filled matrix material occupying the peripheral space between the shells. According to some inventive embodiments, the granulation-filled matrix material has a loading-responsive matrix (e.g., shear-thickening fluid or highly rate-sensitive polymer) and granules dispersed therein. When the inventive structure encounters pressure loading at its exterior shell, the consistency of the loading-responsive matrix becomes thicker or firmer and thereby promotes, among the granules, interactive mechanisms (e.g., friction and/or arching) that reinforce the granulation-filled matrix material. According to some inventive embodiments, the granulation-filled matrix material has a magnetic-field-responsive matrix and magnetizable granules dispersed therein, and is magnetically fortified via application of a magnetic field (e.g., continuously applied where the matrix is magnetorheological fluid, or temporarily applied where the matrix is rheological fluid containing diamagnetic particles).

A method of constructing multiple conduits in building foundations that eliminates the process of core drilling after the foundation has been poured and set. This method creates optional openings for possible future connections. The process uses removable conduit molds installed before the foundation is poured. Once the foundation has set, conduit molds are removed to explose conduits in the foundation as needed.

In one or more arrangements, a stackable pad system is provided. The system has a plurality of blocks with each block having a flat upper surface with an upward extending lip positioned at opposing ends of the flat upper surface. Each block has a flat lower surface with a downward extending lip positioned at opposing ends of the flat lower surface. In some arrangements, the system includes a bottom locking plate and a top locking plate. When placed together, in a stacked arrangement, wherein a bottom most pair of blocks are stacked on top of the bottom locking plate with bottom lips fitting within the recesses of the bottom locking plate, additional pairs of blocks are stacked on the first pair of blocks and the top locking plate placed on the top most pair blocks, the blocks are all locked together and resist shifting and movement.

A tensionless concrete pier foundation for supporting a tower and a method of constructing the same is provided, the foundation having an outer CMP and an inner CMP with an annular space therebetween in which a plurality of sleeved tower anchor bolts are embedded, at least the outer CMP having an upper edge that is flush with the top of the foundation after the tower has been installed. A method of plumbing a tower anchor bolt cage using a bolt alignment ring is also provided that includes coupling the upper ends of the CMPs together with lateral spacing bolts that extend across the annular space. The tower anchor bolt cage is suspended from the lateral spacing bolts by the bolt alignment ring, and the lateral spacing bolts are shimmed on a low side as necessary for leveling the alignment ring and plumbing the bolt cage, before concrete pour.

A waterproof sheet which comprises a base layer constituted of a silicone rubber and a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer superposed thereon and which is for use in preventing the infiltration of rainwater, etc., characterized in that the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer is constituted of a cured object of an addition reaction type curable silicone composition in which the theoretical amount of crosslinks is 0.005-0.01 mol/g and the ratio of the amount of SiH groups to the amount of alkenyl groups, SiH/alkenyl, is 0.5-1.1 by mole and which, when cured, has a hardness as measured with a CSR-2 type hardness meter of 3-20. This waterproof sheet can be used over a long period without decreasing in physical property, and has waterproofing properties over a long period. In particular, by delimiting the hardness and adhesive force of the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer, the waterproof sheet can be made to withstand long-term use. The waterproof sheet exhibits excellent durability concerning pressure-sensitive adhesive properties especially in high-humidity or high-temperature environments.

A cap assembly can include a cap holder device with a plug member and a cap holder. The cap holder device is positionable in an end of a conduit positioned along a roadway. The cap holder is carried by the plug member and includes a magnetic element and a connector. The connector is connectable to the magnetic element to the plug member such that the magnetic element is movable relative to the plug member so as to position the magnetic element for releasably holding a cap that covers the end of the conduit when the plug member is positioned in the conduit. The cap assembly can be a debris cap insertable in a conduit, an end of a pipe, or other opening.

The invention relates to a vibratory pile-driving apparatus having a carrier implement with a mast, on which, for the purpose of generating vibrations, a vibration generator with a transmission housing is supported, in which at least one pair of rotatably supported unbalanced units is arranged that are driven in a rotating manner by at least one rotary drive. According to the invention provision is made in that the transmission housing is surrounded by a soundproof housing, in which the transmission housing is supported by way of damping elements, and in that from the transmission housing at least one oil supply line and one oil discharge line are led out of the soundproof housing, wherein transmission oil can be cooled outside the soundproof housing.

A passive annular grout seal assembly is disclosed for sealing an annular opening between a driven pile and a skirt pile sleeve for an offshore platform. The annular seals are located at the bottom of the pile sleeves near sea floor and automatically activated when piles are inserted and driven through the pile sleeves without any active operational procedure during offshore piling. The seal configuration fully utilizes the seal height, the grout column height and the density difference between grout and sea water to produce enhanced sealing capacity against the column of grout above.

A tensionless concrete pier foundation for supporting a tower and a method of constructing the same is provided, the foundation having an outer CMP and an inner CMP with an annular space therebetween in which a plurality of sleeved tower anchor bolts are embedded, at least the outer CMP having an upper edge that is flush with the top of the foundation after the tower has been installed. A method of plumbing a tower anchor bolt cage using a bolt alignment ring is also provided that includes coupling the upper ends of the CMPs together with lateral spacing bolts that extend across the annular space. The tower anchor bolt cage is suspended from the lateral spacing bolts by the bolt alignment ring, and the lateral spacing bolts are shimmed on a low side as necessary for leveling the alignment ring and plumbing the bolt cage, before concrete pour.

A grout plug assembly for use in forming a pipe pile system defining at least one pile assembly inner surface portion comprises a resiliently deformable plug body and a substantially rigid plug cap. The resiliently deformable plug body defining a plug outer surface, a plug inner surface, a first plug end surface, a second plug end surface, where the plug inner surface defines a plug passageway. The substantially rigid plug cap defines a cap outer surface, a cap inner surface, a first cap end surface, and a second cap end surface. The second cap end surface is rigidly secured to the first plug end surface. The plug outer surface is sized and dimensioned to engage the at least one pile assembly inner surface portion of the pipe pile system during formation of the pipe pile system.