A pinned base connector affixing a structural member to a foundation at one or more levels of a construction. The pinned base connector includes a baseplate affixed to the foundation. A column support plate is affixed to the baseplate via a pivot block. The pivot block is affixed to the baseplate to allow rotation of the pivot block relative to the baseplate about a first axis. The column support plate is affixed to the pivot block to allow rotation of the column support plate relative to the pivot block about a second axis orthogonal to the first. A column or other structural member may then be affixed to a surface of the column support plate.

A pinned base connector affixing a structural member to a foundation at one or more levels of a construction. The pinned base connector includes a baseplate affixed to the foundation. A column support plate is affixed to the baseplate via a pivot block. The pivot block is affixed to the baseplate to allow rotation of the pivot block relative to the baseplate about a first axis. The column support plate is affixed to the pivot block to allow rotation of the column support plate relative to the pivot block about a second axis orthogonal to the first. A column or other structural member may then be affixed to a surface of the column support plate.

A fastener assembly comprises a first cylindrical member disposed within a second cylindrical member. One of the first and second cylindrical members is movable relative to the other in a first direction. The other one of the first and second cylindrical members is locked relative to the one in a second direction opposite to the first direction. A spring is operably attached to the first and second cylindrical members to urge one of the first and second cylindrical members in the first direction. A removable member is operably associated with the first and second cylindrical members to prevent one of the first and second cylindrical members from moving in the first direction prior to removing the removable member. The removable member is configured to be pulled out to allow one of the first and second cylindrical members to move in the first direction.

A fastener assembly comprises a first cylindrical member disposed within a second cylindrical member. One of the first and second cylindrical members is movable relative to the other in a first direction. The other one of the first and second cylindrical members is locked relative to the one in a second direction opposite to the first direction. A spring is operably attached to the first and second cylindrical members to urge one of the first and second cylindrical members in the first direction. A removable member is operably associated with the first and second cylindrical members to prevent one of the first and second cylindrical members from moving in the first direction prior to removing the removable member. The removable member is configured to be pulled out to allow one of the first and second cylindrical members to move in the first direction.

A sliding seismic isolator includes a first plate attached to a building support, and an elongate element extending from the first plate. The seismic isolator also includes a second plate and a low-friction layer positioned between the first and second plates, the low-friction layer allowing the first and second plates to move freely relative to one another along a horizontal plane. The seismic isolator also includes a lower support member attached to the second plate, with a biasing arrangement, such as at least one spring member or at least one engineered elastomeric element, which can include one or more silicon inserts, positioned within the lower support member. The elongate element extends from the first plate at least partially into the lower support member and movement of the elongate element is influenced or controlled by the biasing arrangement.

A sliding seismic isolator includes a first plate attached to a building support, and an elongate element extending from the first plate. The seismic isolator also includes a second plate and a low-friction layer positioned between the first and second plates, the low-friction layer allowing the first and second plates to move freely relative to one another along a horizontal plane. The seismic isolator also includes a lower support member attached to the second plate, with a biasing arrangement, such as at least one spring member or at least one engineered elastomeric element, which can include one or more silicon inserts, positioned within the lower support member. The elongate element extends from the first plate at least partially into the lower support member and movement of the elongate element is influenced or controlled by the biasing arrangement.

The disclosure discloses a high-performance liquefaction mitigation method forstone columns for protecting the existing buildings during earthquakes. Specifically, a small equipment is used to dig trenches in the soil around the existing building. Then, a spiral driller is used to drill a series of boreholes in the trenches according to the optimized borehole design. Next, two or three layers of optimized gravel material with high permeability are filled into the boreholes to work as the inverted layer. Finally, geotextile is arranged around the trench and the trench is filled with the optimized gravel. Compared with current liquefaction mitigation methods for existing buildings, the disclosure is suitable for liquefaction mitigation in large cities, and has the advantages of low disturbance to the overlaid building, simple construction process, high construction efficiency, low construction cost, long service life and the construction material could be easily obtained.

A measuring device and method for horizontal dynamic impedance of specified foundation depth based on differential response analysis of pulse excitation. The measuring method is realized based on the measuring device. Two rigid piles with different lengths are embedded into different foundation depths. Motion characteristics of the two rigid piles in the process of collision impact with the outside are different under the same pulse excitation. Dynamic impedance of specified foundation depth is deduced from the formula according to the differential response. Single-degree-of-freedom oscillators are arranged on the pile heads of the two piles, and strain gauges are arranged on the bottoms of the single-degree-of-freedom oscillators to obtain stress states of the single-degree-of-freedom oscillators, thereby calculating the relative displacements of the single-degree-of-freedom oscillators. This is simple in structure, reliable in measurement and convenient in data collection and processing.

A measuring device and method for horizontal dynamic impedance of specified foundation depth based on differential response analysis of pulse excitation. The measuring method is realized based on the measuring device. Two rigid piles with different lengths are embedded into different foundation depths. Motion characteristics of the two rigid piles in the process of collision impact with the outside are different under the same pulse excitation. Dynamic impedance of specified foundation depth is deduced from the formula according to the differential response. Single-degree-of-freedom oscillators are arranged on the pile heads of the two piles, and strain gauges are arranged on the bottoms of the single-degree-of-freedom oscillators to obtain stress states of the single-degree-of-freedom oscillators, thereby calculating the relative displacements of the single-degree-of-freedom oscillators. This is simple in structure, reliable in measurement and convenient in data collection and processing.

The foundation system includes a below ground rigid raft foundation to bear a load for an above ground structure, and granular cushions and piles formed below the raft foundation. The granular cushions are configured for uniform load distribution of the raft foundation and the piles are configured to bear a load of the above ground structure and the raft foundation. The foundation system further includes stone columns encapsulated with a non-woven geofabric and configured to stabilize the raft foundation. The raft foundation is disposed adjacent and above the stone columns, the granular cushions are present between neighboring stone columns, and the granular cushions are present between the stone columns and the piles. The stone columns have a cementing agent for stabilization.