A shrinkage compensating device for seismic restraint in wood building construction combines a spring-operated take-up device (TUD) with a ratcheting split nut. The split nut, attached to or formed as part of a rotatable component of the TUD, acts as the securing nut for the TUD and allows the TUD with the split nut to be slipped over the top of a threaded rod and pulled down along the rod into place against a structural member. Several forms of attachment of the split nut to the spring-operated TUD are disclosed, as is a simplified rotatable split nut version.

The invention provides a prefabricated volumetric construction module having connection mechanism for securing to other similar modules. A prefabricated volumetric construction module includes a self-supporting structure and pairs of corner castings arranged at least at the corners of the structure. During building construction, the modules are assembled and secured together using connection rods and interlocking plates to provide vertical securement between vertically adjoining modules and horizontal securement between horizontally adjoining modules.

A clearspan structure including component systems, and methods of forming a clearspan structure including component systems, for mitigating hazards to personnel or equipment from explosions, fires, toxic material release, and other hazards in hazardous locations. The exemplary clearspan structure is also capable of withstanding environmental conditions such as snow loads and wind. The exemplary clearspan structure is, for example, a tent or fabric structure which includes a plurality of frame members forming a support system for the clearspan structure, and fabric roof portions and walls for enclosing the clearspan structure.

Disclosed is a seismic reinforcement structure and a seismic retrofitting method, including: a first bracket including a horizontal part extending in contact with the bottom surface of the building, and a vertical part formed in connection with the horizontal part and extending in contact with the wall surface of the building; a second bracket including a horizontal part extending in contact with the ceiling of the building, and a vertical part formed in connection with the horizontal part and extending in contact with the wall surface of the building; and a connecting support rod having a vertically long shape and vertically connecting the horizontal part of the first bracket and the second bracket, wherein the relative position to the bottom of the whole building is fixed, thereby preventing the building from collapsing.

A vertical tie is for a load-bearing column of a building off-site structural module with a box-section structural member. The tie has a top tie assembly for engagement by a torqueing tool from above the column. There is a bottom tie assembly, which fastens to the module below. Torque which is applied to the top tie assembly is transferred to the bottom tie assembly by an interconnect tube. The top and bottom tie assemblies are configured so that the bottom tie assembly is adapted to engage with a top tie assembly of an underneath module, in one case by a nut engaging a spindle protruding up from the lower module. This allows modules to be tied together in the vertical direction in a simple, convenient, and safe manner by an operator on-site working on top of the upper module. Access to torque the tie does not require any side opening in the column and so its load-bearing properties are not affected.

A log wall panel is placed into a drying kiln in an upright orientation, with the log wall panel extending along an upright direction when in the upright orientation. The log wall panel is compressed by at least applying a downward force to the log wall panel along the upright direction while the log wall panel is in the drying kiln. The log wall panel is dried while the log wall panel is being compressed by the downward force.

A system and method of retroactively reinforcing an exterior wall of a building. An anchoring assembly is mounted into the void space between a first joist and a second joist inside the building. The anchoring assembly has a first element that mounts to the first joist and a second element that mounts to the second joist. The anchoring assembly has an adjustable length. In this manner, the anchoring assembly can be adjusted to properly fit the void space between the first joist and the second joist. An anchor plate is provided outside the building in the area of the wall that needs to be reinforced. A tensioning tether is provided that extends through the exterior wall and mechanically joins the anchoring assembly to the anchor plate. The tensioning tether can be selectively tightened, therein biasing the anchor plate outside the building toward the anchoring assembly inside the building.

A hold down system for a building wall comprises a first rigid member and a second rigid member, the second rigid member being vertically spaced apart from the first rigid member, the first rigid member is supported on a horizontal member of a stud wall, the first and second rigid members including first and second openings, respectively; a tie-rod with a lower end portion for being anchored to an anchorage, the tie-rod extending transversely through the first and second openings, the tie-rod dividing the first and second rigid members into a first lateral section on one side of the tie-rod and a second lateral section on a diametrically opposite side of the tie-rod; first support and second support disposed between the first and second rigid members, the first support being disposed in the first lateral section, the second support being disposed in the second lateral section, the tie-rod extending through the first and second rigid members outside of the first support or the second support; and a nut threaded to the tie-rod, the nut exerting pressure on the second rigid member to place the tie rod under tension loading, the tension loading is transferred by the second rigid member to the first and second supports to subject the first and second supports to compression loading, thereby causing the first rigid member to press on the horizontal member of the stud wall via the first and second lateral sections of the first rigid member, thus distributing the compression loading.

A clearspan structure including component systems, and methods of forming a clearspan structure including component systems, for mitigating hazards to personnel or equipment from explosions, fires, toxic material release, and other hazards in hazardous locations. The exemplary clearspan structure is also capable of withstanding environmental conditions such as snow loads and wind. The exemplary clearspan structure is, for example, a tent or fabric structure which includes a plurality of frame members forming a support system for the clearspan structure, and fabric roof portions and walls for enclosing the clearspan structure.

A hold down system for a building wall comprises a first rigid member and a second rigid member, the second rigid member being vertically spaced apart from the first rigid member, the first rigid member is supported on a horizontal member of a stud wall, the first and second rigid members including first and second openings, respectively; a tie-rod with a lower end portion for being anchored to an anchorage, the tie-rod extending transversely through the first and second openings, the tie-rod dividing the first and second rigid members into a first lateral section on one side of the tie-rod and a second lateral section on a diametrically opposite side of the tie-rod; first support and second support disposed between the first and second rigid members, the first support being disposed in the first lateral section, the second support being disposed in the second lateral section, the tie-rod extending through the first and second rigid members outside of the first support or the second support; and a nut threaded to the tie-rod, the nut exerting pressure on the second rigid member to place the tie rod under tension loading, the tension loading is transferred by the second rigid member to the first and second supports to subject the first and second supports to compression loading, thereby causing the first rigid member to press on the horizontal member of the stud wall via the first and second lateral sections of the first rigid member, thus distributing the compression loading.