A method for making a prefabricated, prestressed module includes arranging one or more steel beams atop a supporting formwork element in a direction transverse to the supporting formwork element and arranging one or more precast deck elements across the one or more steel beams to create a substantially continuous surface. The one or more precast deck elements have pockets for receiving connectors that protrude from the one or more steel beams. The method also includes arranging the supporting formwork element to allow the one or more steel beams to bend into a cambered shape to impart compressive stresses to a bottom flange of the one or more steel beams and tension stresses to a top flange of the one or more steel beams and inserting grout into the pockets to hold the cambered shape and to bond the one or more precast deck elements to the connectors and the top flange.

A first arch and second arch are produced in respective first and second structural portions. Each arch has a tie rod interconnecting the foot points of the arch, where a foot point of the arch is displaceably mounted. Each tie rod is tensioned so that horizontal forces caused by the weight of the arches at the foot points of the corresponding arch, are taken up by the tie rods. A first end point of the tie rod of the first arch is connected in a force-fitting manner to the first abutment, and a second end point of the tie rod of a last arch is connected in a force-fitting manner to the second abutment. The remaining adjoining end points of the tie rods are connected to one another in a force-fitting manner, and corresponding foot points of the arches are connected in a force-fitting manner to the abutments and pillar.

The present disclosure discloses an electromagnetic multistage adjustable variable inertance and variable damping device. Iron cores are magnetized by winding electromagnetic coil windings outside the iron cores and applying an electric current action to the electromagnetic coil windings, and air gap magnetic fields are generated by the magnetized iron cores and permanent magnets in air gaps to cause the variation of shear damping forces between a driving shear plate and magnet yokes and between driven shear plates and magnet yokes, which avoids that the mechanical properties of an inerter cannot be fully utilized due to the friction caused by mutual contact among parts, thereby realizing multistage real-time adjustability of an instance coefficient and a damping coefficient of the device.

A variable acceleration curved surface spiral gear transmission mechanism for accelerated oscillator damper damping systems is disclosed. Through the orthogonal orbit planetary gear set moving along the parallel circular arc line guide rail, the concave surface spiral gear and the convex surface spiral gear are meshed at different radii, so as to realize the continuous changing of the speed ratio and changing of the acceleration of the additional mass block. The spiral curve limit guide groove is set on the surface of concave surface spiral gear and convex surface spiral gear, and the changing rate of speed changing ratio is adjusted by designing different spiral curves, and then the acceleration changing rate of additional mass block is controlled.

Structures and methods for controlling road temperature over an underpass space are disclosed, including a structure comprising: footings underlying the road supporting a support assembly comprising: an inner shell; a plurality of beams surmounting the inner shell; an insulating material for thermally isolating the road and the remainder of the support assembly from the underpass space; an outer shell; a temperature control assembly; temperature sensors disposed in the road and the support assembly; and a computer processor configured to receive temperature and weather forecast data; predict changes to the temperature of the support assembly and the road based on the temperature and forecast data; and control the application or removal of heat to the support assembly, based on the predicted changes to the temperature of the support assembly and the road, resulting in the road maintaining a temperature within a predetermined range.

Structural assemblies for constructing bridges and other structures. A structural assembly may comprise an elongated member defining an internal space. The structural assembly may also comprise a plurality of framing members connected to the elongated member at a plurality of pin connection nodes, each pin connection node comprising a pin interconnecting the elongated member, a first one of the framing members, and a second one of the framing members, the pin having a first longitudinal end and a second longitudinal end, at least one of the first longitudinal end and the second longitudinal end of the pin being located in the internal space of the elongated member.

Structural assemblies for constructing bridges and other structures. A structural assembly may comprise an elongated member defining an internal space. The structural assembly may also comprise a plurality of framing members connected to the elongated member at a plurality of pin connection nodes, each pin connection node comprising a pin interconnecting the elongated member, a first one of the framing members, and a second one of the framing members, the pin having a first longitudinal end and a second longitudinal end, at least one of the first longitudinal end and the second longitudinal end of the pin being located in the internal space of the elongated member.

A reinforcing fabric configured for intumescent material expansion includes a woven fabric. The woven fabric has a plurality of composite yarns. Each composite yarn includes a fire resistant component and a crimping component. The crimping component is bonded to the fire resistant component, where the fire resistant component is in a crimped state and the crimping component is in a relaxed state when bonded. The woven fabric is woven with the plurality of the composite yarns with the fire resistant component maintained in the crimped state and the crimping component maintained in the relaxed state in each of the composite yarns. When the woven fabric is imbedded in an intumescent material, the woven fabric is configured to reinforce the intumescent material during heat expansion, and mechanical loads from the expanding intumescent material, in a controlled and predictable manner.

The present invention relates to the technical field of energy dissipation and shock absorption buildings, and particularly relates to a self-recovering energy dissipation support with a shape memory alloy damper. The self-recovering energy dissipation support includes a core shape memory alloy damper and cross-shaped steel columns, wherein the shape memory alloy damper includes two sets of inner and outer sleeves. A sliding groove is arranged between the inner sleeve and the outer sleeve, so that the inner sleeve and the outer sleeve can slide relative to each other along a track. The two sets of inner sleeves are connected through pre-stretched shape memory alloy ribs I. The inner sleeves and the outer sleeves are connected through pre-stretched shape memory alloy ribs II. An outer end plate of the shape memory alloy damper is connected with the cross-shaped steel columns.

Disclosed is a self-centering viscous damper with pre-pressed ring springs. The self-centering viscous damper with pre-pressed ring springs comprises a first inner cylinder, a second inner cylinder, a third inner cylinder, an outer cylinder, a first end cover, a second end cover, a piston, a piston rod, a ring spring, a first connector, a second connector, a first linking nut, a second linking nut, a first outer cover, a second outer cover, a first end and a second end. Due to the interaction between the inner and outer cylinders, the ring springs are further pressed whether a damper is tensioned or pressed. The ring springs have been applied with pre-pressure which overcomes a frictional force and a restoring force when the ring springs are in an initial equilibrium position.