A friction damper for attenuating vibrations of a structure. The friction damper includes a first connecting member configured to be attached to a first member of the structure, a second connecting member configured to be attached to a second member of the structure, a first slotted-bar interconnected between the first connecting member and the second connecting member, and a second slotted-bar interconnected between the first connecting member and the second connecting member. The first slotted-bar and the second-slotted bar are configured to allow horizontal and vertical movements of the first connecting member and the second connecting member relative to each other responsive to vibration of the structure.

Described herein is a base isolation system utilising a pier-like assembly comprising intermediary elements such as pillars isolating a first member and a second member, the second member above the first member and the members in a spaced apart relationship with intermediary elements therebetween. In one aspect, a base isolation system is provided comprising a first member and a second member, the second member being above the first member, the members being in a spaced apart relationship separated by pillars; and wherein each pillar comprises a pillar fixed end and an opposing pillar movable end. In the event of relative movement between the first and second member, the pillars dampen transfer of movement between the members by the movable pillar end moving relative to a movable first or second member thereby reducing the degree of energy transfer between the members. A method of installing a base isolation system is also described herein.

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.

A self-centering cable includes a restoring and energy-dissipation unit and a cable reinforcement connected to the restoring and energy-dissipation unit by a connecting unit. The restoring and energy-dissipation unit includes an outer trough, an axial tube provided in an opening at the upper end of the outer trough, two inverted U-shaped mild steel members provided side by side and fixedly mounted in the outer trough, an axial pallet sandwiched between and fixedly connected to the two inverted U-shaped mild steel members, and a disc spring set provided in the outer trough and sleeved onto the axial tube. The cable reinforcement includes a tensile reinforcement penetrating into a reinforcement bottom connector and a reinforcement top connector. The reinforcement bottom connector is connected to the axial tube, the top end connector, connected to the reinforcement top connector, and a bottom end connector are connected to a structure to be reinforced.

Disclosed is a self-centering viscous damper with pre-pressed ring springs. The self-centering viscous damper with pre-pressed ring springs comprises a first inner cylinder, a second inner cylinder, a third inner cylinder, an outer cylinder, a first end cover, a second end cover, a piston, a piston rod, a ring spring, a first connector, a second connector, a first linking nut, a second linking nut, a first outer cover, a second outer cover, a first end and a second end. Due to the interaction between the inner and outer cylinders, the ring springs are further pressed whether a damper is tensioned or pressed. The ring springs have been applied with pre-pressure which overcomes a frictional force and a restoring force when the ring springs are in an initial equilibrium position.

A self-centering cable includes a restoring and energy-dissipation unit and a cable reinforcement connected to the restoring and energy-dissipation unit by a connecting unit. The restoring and energy-dissipation unit includes an outer trough, an axial tube provided in an opening at the upper end of the outer trough, two inverted U-shaped mild steel members provided side by side and fixedly mounted in the outer trough, an axial pallet sandwiched between and fixedly connected to the two inverted U-shaped mild steel members, and a disc spring set provided in the outer trough and sleeved onto the axial tube. The cable reinforcement includes a tensile reinforcement penetrating into a reinforcement bottom connector and a reinforcement top connector. The reinforcement bottom connector is connected to the axial tube, the top end connector, connected to the reinforcement top connector, and a bottom end connector are connected to a structure to be reinforced.

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.

The present invention provides a device configured to effectively absorb repeated shock energy such as a vibration shock by using a composite tube, and the present invention has advantageous effects in that the shock energy caused by a tensile or compressive shock load may be effectively absorbed by the composite tube, and the shock energy absorption device may be applied to a building and used as a vibration control device capable of preparing for repeated earthquakes.

The present invention relates to a multipurpose viscous damper (100), comprising: an outer cylinder (101); a core rod (102) positioned in the outer cylinder (101); a core piston (103) positioned in the middle and surrounded the core rod (102); a plurality of bypass pipes (104) extending along the outer cylinder (101), each bypass pipe (104) being connected to the outer cylinder (101) adjacent to the two ends of the outer cylinder (101); an orifice controller (105) located on the bypass pipes (104) for providing initial adjustable damping during low to moderate vibration; and characterized by a pair of inner cylinders (106) positioned inside the two ends of the core rod (102); an inner piston (107) positioned in each inner cylinder (106); a fixed sealing (108) located at the two end of each of the inner cylinders (106); and an orifice (109) located at the two ends of the inner cylinder (106) for allowing fluid flowing from the inner cylinder (106) to the outer cylinder (101) during movement of inner piston (107).

The present invention provides a device configured to effectively absorb repeated shock energy such as a vibration shock by using a composite tube, and the present invention has advantageous effects in that the shock energy caused by a tensile or compressive shock load may be effectively absorbed by the composite tube, and the shock energy absorption device may be applied to a building and used as a vibration control device capable of preparing for repeated earthquakes.