The invention relates to a method and to a liquid column damping system, in particular for damping vibrations, preferably structural vibrations, comprising a tank filled with a liquid, in which at least three preferably vertical columns of the tank, which are spaced apart from one another, in particular for forming communicating liquid columns, are connected by a base region of the tank that is common to all columns, wherein the tank is rotatably mounted about a vertical axis, in particular on a platform that can be rotated about the vertical axis, and, in directions perpendicular to the vertical axis of rotation, has natural frequencies f1, f2, f3, f4 that differ as a function of the direction, wherein the tank can be tuned in terms of the natural frequency f1, f2, f3, f4 thereof acting for a predetermined direction by rotation about the axis of rotation.

A sliding seismic isolator includes a first plate attached to a building support, and at least one elongate element extending from the first plate. The seismic isolator also includes a second plate. The first and second plates are capable of moving relative to one another along a horizontal plane. The seismic isolator also includes a lower support member attached to the second plate, with a biasing arrangement positioned within the lower support member. The elongate element(s) extend from the first plate at least partially into the lower support member, and movement of the elongate element(s) is influenced or controlled by the biasing arrangement. The seismic isolator also includes a damping structure with closed ends spaced apart from the first plate and the base of the seismic isolator. The damping structure is configured to contain a substance, such as a liquid, gas, silicone, and/or a combination thereof, and to expand longitudinally when it is compressed.

A self-adjusting floating environment (SAFE) system is described. The SAFE system can include a construction platform which floats on a buffer medium and a vertical motion isolation system. 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. The vertical motion isolation system can reduce the vertical motion of the construction platform induced from vertical ground movements during an earthquake.

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).

A structure having limited supportable portions has been difficult to isolate from vibration in the direction in which a load is applied. A base isolation apparatus includes a Z-axis base isolation unit, an X-axis base isolation unit, and a Y-axis base isolation unit. The base isolation unit includes a vibration-source connector, an isolated-object connector, a lock device disposed between the isolated-object connector and the vibration-source connector for switching between a state of fixing the isolated-object connector and a state of making it movable, a distance recovery device for generating a force to cause an amount of change in distance to approach zero, depending on the amount of change, and a vibration damper for generating a force in an orientation of hindering the change, depending on the rate of change in distance.

A sliding seismic isolator includes a first plate attached to a building support, and at least one elongate element extending from the first plate. The seismic isolator also includes a second plate. The first and second plates are capable of moving relative to one another along a horizontal plane. The seismic isolator also includes a lower support member attached to the second plate, with a biasing arrangement positioned within the lower support member. The elongate element(s) extend from the first plate at least partially into the lower support member, and movement of the elongate element(s) is influenced or controlled by the biasing arrangement. The seismic isolator also includes a damping structure with closed ends spaced apart from the first plate and the base of the seismic isolator. The damping structure is configured to contain a substance, such as a liquid, gas, silicone, and/or a combination thereof, and to expand longitudinally when it is compressed.

The current invention enables a structure to remain virtually motionless while the ground underneath it is undergoing significant oscillatory accelerations, such as would occur during a tectonic event. This is achieved by using the Meissner effect to maintain controlled elevation of the structure above the ground, allowing the ground to oscillate underneath the structure. The structure is able to move virtually without friction along an array of symmetric and parallel magnetic fields, which are kept parallel to the axis of ground oscillation typically via input from accelerometers in the surrounding oscillating ground. Simple buffering mechanisms keep the elevated structure from moving beyond the lateral range of the parallel magnetic fields, and facilitate the structure's return to its rest position. In this manner, structural damage from high energy large amplitude earthquakes can be virtually eliminated. This system and method can be extended to any object in a vibrational environment.

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 present invention is a modular structural building system and method consisting of prefabricated, precast, composite reinforced concrete raised floor and steel beam panels with adjustable levelling connection assemblies between panels, supported by columns. The system has the ability to accommodate the use of the floor by construction personnel during the on-site assembly process. The perimeter of the raised floor slab can be provided with ducts for a field installed conventional reinforcement means to create a continuous structural diaphragm for the floor panel.

A bottom corner damper with a displacement amplification function and a fabricated type shear wall with rocking energy dissipation are provided. The fabricated type shear wall with rocking energy dissipation is composed of a precast shear wall, upper connecting plates, middle connecting plates, lower connecting plates, bent steel plates, bolts, upper support arms, lower support arms, connectors, lead screws, cylinder barrels, viscous fluids, and propellers. A fabricated type shear wall structure, where novel dampers with displacement amplification and steering functions are installed at weak parts of the bottom of the shear wall, the novel dampers are composed of bending energy dissipation dampers, displacement amplification and steering devices and viscous energy dissipation dampers, and the novel dampers have the functions of amplifying the displacement and converting force in a vertical direction of the structure into force in a horizontal direction for transmission.