A damper includes a vibration energy buffering transfer unit and a vibration energy dissipation unit. The vibration energy buffering transfer unit includes a plurality of piston transfer structures and connecting tubes, the piston transfer structures includes a cylinder and a piston arranged as a pair, the plurality of piston transfer structures surrounding the vibration energy dissipation unit, the connecting tubes inter-connecting the plurality of cylinders, the vibration energy dissipation unit includes a damping liquid accommodating cavity and damping liquid accommodated in the damping solution accommodating cavity, and one end of the cylinder or the piston being connected to the damping fluid accommodating cavity. The load-bearing enclosing structure provided with said damper can effectively suppress vibration.

A multidirectional adaptive re-centering torsion isolator is used for isolating buildings, tanks and bridges from earthquakes. The multidirectional adaptive re-centering torsion isolator includes a flat and/or articulated slider and four or more cylindrical energy dissipaters. The flat and/or articulated slider positioned on top of the column provides vertical load transmission, low friction and horizontal displacement capacity. The cylindrical energy dissipaters provide displacement, re-centering and damping in any of the horizontal directions.

A new seismic isolation bearing assembly is disclosed. The assembly includes a first isolation bearing plate, a second isolation bearing plate, and a moveable bearing element disposed between the first and second isolation bearing plates, each of the first and second isolation plates comprises a solid material and a surface facing the other isolation plate comprising a polymeric material different from the solid material. The polymeric material is effective to enhance the operability of the assembly.

A self-centring and energy dissipating seismic isolation device of the elastomeric frictional-type for structures and industrial equipment comprises: first and second metal plates respectively joined, one to the structure or equipment and the other to its foundations, the first metal plate being fixed thereto and the second metal plate being rotatably joined thereto by a column; at least one elastomeric ring between the plates; and a central restrictive bar orthogonally joined to the first plate and extending through the elastomeric ring and through a central through-hole in the second plate, a nut being screwed to the free end of the bar and having a spherical curved-convex bottom in sliding contact and corresponding with a spherical curved-concave inner surface part of the central through-hole. An isolation system can comprise several of these devices and columns or just one pair of devices at the ends of a central column in combination with sliding support pillars.

A rolling block restraint connector for forming a moment resisting connection at a joint intersection between a continuous column and at least a first continuous beam that intersects the continuous column is disclosed. The connector includes a first restraint assembly, a second restraint assembly, wherein the second restraint assembly is configured to be located diagonally across the joint intersection from the first restraint assembly, a first linkage that couples the first restraint assembly with the second restraint assembly, the first linkage including (i) a first saddle configured to couple with an exterior of a first end of a first tubular shaft of the first restraint assembly, and (ii) a second saddle configured to couple with an exterior of a first end of a second tubular shaft of the second restraint assembly, and a second linkage that couples the first restraint assembly with the second restraint assembly.

A system for damping seismic motions transmitted from a foundation to an architectural structure is disclosed. During a seismic event, the seismic damping system may permit bi-directional horizontal movement of the foundation relative to the architectural structure, while simultaneously providing the architectural structure with uplift restraint. The seismic damping system may include upper and lower rail members connected to each other via a bearing assembly. Respective concave surfaces may be formed in the upper and lower rail members to define first and second rolling or sliding paths for the bearing assembly. To limit vertical movement of the architectural structure during seismic motions, the bearing assembly may incorporate uplift restraint members for engaging the upper and lower rail members. Methods of assembling and operating such seismic damping systems are also disclosed.

A panel assembly for a building includes a panel configured to extend between a first surface and a second surface. The panel is movable along a predetermined path relative to the first surface and the second surface. A first pin and a second pin are coupled to the panel. A first bottom face plate is positioned on a first side and defines a first slot. A second bottom face plate is positioned on a second side and defines a second slot. A first top face plate is positioned on the first side and defines a third slot. A second top face plate is positioned on the second side and defines a fourth slot. The first pin is movable in the first slot and the second slot, and the second pin is movable in the third slot and the fourth slot for guiding movement of the panel along the predetermined path.

Improved support systems, including seismic isolation platforms, tracks and flooring systems are disclosed for protecting a payload, for example, data center racks containing delicate computer equipment such as a hard disk drive, from damage due to vibrations such as seismic vibrations and the like. The systems are modular in design, and can be assembled and changed quickly, while being strong and robust enough to support heavy loads.

An articulating joint for a wind turbine having a tower defining a shaft and a deck provided in the shaft includes a bracket extending from a first end having a fixed connection with the deck to a second end including an opening. A fastener includes a head pivotably connected to the tower and a shaft extending through the opening. A washer connected to the bracket is aligned with the opening for receiving the shaft such that the fastener is pivotable with the washer relative to the opening to allow for relative movement between the tower and the deck.

To provide a rotary inertia mass damper, which is capable of reducing an axial reaction force that is generated due to vibration having an excessive acceleration to the extent possible when the vibration is input, and of preventing breakage of the damper itself or a construction, provided is a rotary inertia mass damper, including: a first coupling portion, which is fixed to a first structure; a second coupling portion, which is coupled to a second structure; a screw shaft, which has one axial end connected to the first coupling portion and retained so as to be non-rotatable; a fixed barrel, which has a hollow portion for receiving the screw shaft, and is connected to the second coupling portion; and a rotary body, which is retained so as to be freely rotatable relative to the fixed barrel, is threadedly engaged with the screw shaft, and is configured to reciprocally rotate in accordance with advancing and retreating movement of the screw shaft relative to the fixed barrel. A torque limiting member is provided between an axial end of the screw shaft and the first coupling portion, and is configured to, when a rotational torque that exceeds a predetermined value is applied to the screw shaft, allow rotation of the screw shaft relative to the first coupling portion to reduce a rotation angle of the rotary body.