A system of modular components for on-site assembly of a shelter for an above-ground structure to protect the structure from blast, wind, fire or other physical hazards. A pyramidal shelter with triangular or rectangular base is formed by joining side panels to each other. Each side panel includes a triangular frame covered, except at access hatch, observation port and door openings, with either steel plate or diamond steel mesh to which blast-resistant, fire-resistant or other kinds of coatings or panels are applied. A corner anchor assembly to support each corner of a shelter has a lower plate, an overlying split plate, and a pair of upstanding, anchor rods attached to the split plates for insertion into hollow, lower portions of side beams of adjacent side panels. The corner anchor assemblies facilitate expansion of an assembled shelter by addition of more modular components.

A three part foundation system for supporting a building is described. Three part foundation systems can include a containment vessel, which constrains a buffer medium to an area above the containment vessel, and a construction platform. A building can be built on the construction platform. In a particular embodiment, during operation, the construction platform and structures built on the construction platform can float on the buffer medium. In an earthquake, a construction platform floating on a buffer medium may experience greatly reduced shear forces. In a flood, a construction platform floating on a buffer medium can be configured to rise as water levels rise to limit flood damage.

A building structure having at least one storey including at least one column; at least one brace attached at one end to one side of at least one of the columns and at a second end to a fixed foundation surface; the brace attached to the at least one column at an incline; the at least one brace having a first portion and a second portion; wherein the at least one brace has a first in-use configuration in which the first portion is freely moveable with respect to the second portion such that a gap is formed in the brace preventing the transmission of force axially along the brace by preventing tensional forces from travelling axially along the brace, and a second in-use configuration in which the gap is closed by the first portion and the second portion being in contact to permit the transmission of forces axially along the brace; and wherein the second in-use configuration allows compressive forces to be transmitted along the brace such that the brace is activated when sufficient deformation occurs in the column in a direction that compresses the brace; and further comprising at least one damper functionally connected to one or both of the first and second portions and configured to provide damping as the at least one brace moves from the first in-use configuration to the second in-use configuration.

The invention provides for a method, system and apparatus for resisting and restraining potentially destructive movement within a building structure while introducing little or no obstruction with respect to how a building structure is designed and how it is intended to function.

The present invention relates to a shear link including replaceable cover plates. The shear link includes first and second combination plates combined with a structure, a main frame that includes both ends fixed to the first and second combination plates respectively and a hollow formed in a center to pass therethrough forward and backward, first and second cover plates positioned to come into contact with left and right sides of the main frame respectively to cover the hollow and including a plurality of through holes passing therethrough forward and backward, and a combination unit that separably combines the main frame with the first and second cover plates.

In the shear link including replaceable cover plates according to the present invention, since the first and second cover plates are separably combined with the main frame by the combination unit, the first and second cover plates deformed by an external force may be easily separated from the main frame to reduce time and costs consumed for a replacement operation.

A retrofitting structure includes a column fixed in the ground. A structural fuse is pivotally mounted to the retrofitting structure at two vertically offset locations. The structural fuse is further pivotally mounted at a third location above the column to a superstructure of a building. The structural fuse is designed to yield for loads for which the column only deforms elastically. The structural fuse may be a planar member captured between the column and a retention plate to prevent buckling of the structural fuse. The retention plate may include a channel beam in order to provide sufficient stiffness to prevent buckling. Desired yield properties are obtained by increasing width of the structural fuse with distance from the bottom of the column. The width is augmented with distance from the bottom of the column to account for friction with the column and retention plate.

The purpose of the invention is to reduce a cost and a construction period, secure measures for stability of the shelter main body against a tsunami, water pressure resistant performance against the tsunami generated by the Nankai Trough Great Earthquake, safety performance necessary for using the evacuation shelter, and good living comfort, and shorten evacuation time.

The shelter main body 3 is connected to the concrete foundation 2 and has a structure with the frame 3a of a columnar structure, the ceiling 3b, and the internal space 9 of a columnar structure. The inner hatch 5 is attached to the periphery of the opening 4 provided in the ceiling 3b by a hinge in an openable and closable manner. A rising portion 6 rises upward from the peripheral edge of the opening 4. The outer hatch 7 is connected to the upper surface of the rising portion 6 by a hinge 7a in an openable and closable manner. A pair of rails 8 is arranged in the vertical direction on the inner wall surface of the frame 3a of a columnar structure of the shelter main body 3. The movable floor 10 is capable of moving up and down inside the internal space 9 along the rails 8.

To improve and use a buoyancy type power generation method. A method for harnessing buoyancy and a device therefor are described as prior art in Patent No. JP 5789231 B2 Buoyancy Type Power Generation Method. The present invention, adds self-supply of driving power as a new feature to the prior art. That is, the present invention is a self-contained power generation method and a device therefor, for driving itself by means of power produced by itself and for generating power that can be used industrially. Presented are: a gap operation type float and a rotary type float which have simple operating methods and configurations as novel power generation devices of the present invention; various devices such as a self-reliant electric-power plant, a bubble injection water maker, a wired electric aircraft, and a seismic isolator as utilization inventions that use the power generation device of the present invention; and various uses of the power generation device of the present invention, for the respective industrial fields.

A system may measure displacement in an architectural brace that absorbs deformation inducing energy. The architectural brace may have a core member with first and second ends attachable to architectural features, and an intermediate portion between the first and second ends. The architectural brace may also have a buckling restraining assembly that encases the intermediate portion to resist buckling of the intermediate portion. The system may have a first coupling with a first attachment feature securable to the first end of the core member, and a second coupling with a second attachment feature securable to the second end of the core member. The second coupling may be displaced from the first coupling by a displacement. Further, the system may have a sensor that measures a plurality of changes in the displacement occurring over a period of time. The sensor may provide measurement data indicative of the changes.

The purpose of the present invention is to reduce costs and building time, address the safety of shelter main body against a tsunami, ensure water pressure resistance against a tsunami caused by a Nankai Trough Great Earthquake, provide the safety required when using an evacuation shelter, provide favorable livability, and shorten evacuation time. A shelter main body 3 is a structure made of reinforced concrete; slopes 3a are provided to two sides of the exterior of the shelter main body 3. Surplus soil is provided to the slopes 3a, the surface is covered with concrete, the shelter main body 3 is reinforced with a plurality of H-section steel members 3b, an opening 4 is provided to an above-ground part, and an outside door 5 and inside door 6, which constitute a double structure fireproof steel door for opening and closing the opening 4, are provided, thus forming a structure for withstanding tsunami pressures.