The present invention discloses a flexible connecting structure of a prefabricated component and a building main body. The flexible connecting structure comprises multiple layers of cast-in-situ building main bodies spaced up and down, a prefabricated component is connected between two adjacent cast-in-situ building main bodies, a tenon is provided at the lower end of the prefabricated component, a mortise matching the tenon is provided on the top surface of the cast-in-situ building main body, and the prefabricated component is socketed to the lower layer of cast-in-situ building main body by tenon-and-mortise cooperation; and a first flexible layer for reducing the connection rigidity between the prefabricated component and the upper layer of cast-in-situ building main body is provided at the junction between the prefabricated component and the upper layer of cast-in-situ building main body. The present invention realizes a flexible connection between a prefabricated component and a building main body, and avoids the influence of the prefabricated component on the rigidity of the building main body.

An article of manufacture for an earthquake safety protection device (ESPD) according to the present invention is disclosed. The ESPD consists of an earthquake support pole and mating support members to create survivable space around the support pole should a room be damaged in an earthquake. The ESPD may also comprise a reinforced frame within an interior door of a building. The reinforced frame resists damage from an earthquake that may prevent the interior door from opening. Opening or removal of the inner door protected by the reinforced frame creates a means of safely exiting a room in spite of damage to the interior door and its corresponding door frame. The ESPD may also include a mechanism to prevent a mobile hospital bed from moving about a room during an earthquake.

A novel function-recoverable prefabricated seismic shear wall structure with replaceable components, which includes main structural components, connecting components and replaceable components. All components are connected by bolts or pins. The connections can provide sufficient strength to effectively connect adjacent upper and lower wall panels, or wall panel and coupling beam, together. The replaceable components are installed in the bottom region of the wall and coupling beams, which provide sufficient bearing capacity and stiffness for the building structure under service loads and dissipate seismic energy under the earthquake. The damage concentrates on the replaceable components which could be easily replaced after a strong earthquake so that the function of the building structure could be quickly restored. In addition, the replaceable components with different energy-dissipation mechanisms facilitate the shear wall structure to have multiple seismic fortification lines, and improve the seismic performance of the building structure.

This invention improves seismic resistance of structures by transition from stiff to non destructible flexible state at a threshold earthquake level higher than prior art maximum design earthquake level of stiff structures. Functional characteristics of the category of auto-reversing stiff-to-flexible seismic structures comprise: a limited six degree of freedom motion; a laterally-stable limited rising-twist-sway ascent; a self-centering diagonal-untwist auto-descent; a multidirectional flexibility; and a multi-phase split-force-impact seismic protection. Seismic construction technologies of the category of structures comprise: base split-force-impact technology; cluster split-force-impact technology; tuned segment split-force-impact technology; and tuned spine split-force-impact technology. The auto-reversing stiff-to-flexible seismic joints of the structures are low-cost, simple and easy to manufacture, and especially suitable for mass industrial application.

A ductile anchor attachment (DAA) mechanism is disclosed. Example embodiments are directed to a DAA mechanism having a bottom section configured to connect to an existing anchor; a tapered lower section; a narrowed neck forming a ductile yield mechanism; a tapered upper section; a drilled and untapped top section; and a hollowed interior. Example embodiments are also directed to a DAA mechanism comprising: a headed rebar with a rebar coupler; a rebar segment coupled to the rebar coupler at a first end of the rebar segment; a metal jacket encasing at least a portion of the rebar segment; and a flange connection bracket coupled to the rebar segment at a second end of the rebar segment.

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a structural frame member which includes a brace member that is used to absorb energy when the structural frame is subjected to loadings such as seismic, wind and gravity loads. The brace member is coupled to a restraining member that increases the buckling capacity of the brace member so that the brace member has approximately the same load axial capacity in compression as in tension. Embodiments of the invention also relate to the design, construction and assembly of the connection of the brace member that couples the brace member to a gusset plate which is coupled to the beam and column in the structural frame.

An upper board fixed to a lower part of a structure; a lower board fixed to a foundation at the same position in a plan view with respect to the upper board; and four seismic isolation plates fixed to the upper and lower boards and extending in a cross direction in a plan view. The seismic isolation plates are U-shaped members obtained by bending a long steel sheet, and include an upper fixing part parallel to a lower fixing part, an upper inclined part and a lower inclined part that are closer to each other while separated from the upper and lower fixing parts, and a connecting part that connects the upper and lower inclined parts. The four seismic isolation plates are fixed to upper board at position where upper fixing parts do not overlap and are fixed to lower board at position where lower fixing parts do not overlap.

A shearwall is disclosed for use in lightweight or other constructions to transmit lateral shear forces and dissipate energy on the construction. In examples, the shearwall includes a central panel formed of wood, and side plates formed of steel. The side plates may be affixed at lower corners of first and second opposed surfaces of the central panel. Each side plate may include a fastening plate for affixing the side plate to the central panel, and a restraint plate which fits within a reduced area section of the central panel between the first and second surfaces.

A structural assembly using at least one anchor assembly for attaching a first structure to a second structure is described. The anchor assembly has a body having a first face and a second face. The first face is transverse to the second face and has an elongate slot. The second face has a through hole. The body is fabricated from a material that fails at a temperature in excess of 1,000° F. A fastening member is positioned in the elongate slot for connecting the first face to the first structure and for sliding engagement with the elongate slot in response to relative movement of the first structure and the second structure.

An energy dissipation device includes a primary core module, a housing module, first and second outer plates, an energy dissipation unit, first and second preload tension members and a resilient compression unit. When the primary core module and the housing module are subjected to an external force, the first and second preload tension members stretched by the external force, and the resilient compression unit is compressed, such that relative movement between the primary core module and the housing module is generated. The energy dissipation unit generates a retarding force during the relative movement between the primary core module and the housing module, so as to dissipate the kinetic energy generated as a result of the external force.