E04H9/0237

Three-dimensional isolator with adaptive stiffness property
11339849 · 2022-05-24 · ·

The present disclosure discloses a three-dimensional seismic and vibration isolator with adaptive stiffness property in both vertical and horizontal directions. The isolator comprises an upper connection plate, a middle plate, an lower connection plate, a disc spring, a pre-compressed helical springs, a laminated lead rubber bearing, and viscous dampers. The upper connection plate, the middle plate and lower connection plate are made of high strength low carbon steel. The upper connection plate and middle plate are tightly contacted by the occlusive design, to guide the vertical motion. The vertical isolation system is made up of the disc spring, pre-compressed helical spring, and viscous damper. The horizontal isolation system comprises the laminated lead rubber bearing, pre-compressed helical spring and viscous damper. The disclosure adopts the theory of nonlinear adaptive vibration control technology and can be used to protect building structures or instruments from the seismic strikes or other environmental vibrations.

Bidirectional collapse-proof damper with macroscopic NPR structure and bridge structure having same

The present invention discloses a bidirectional collapse-proof damper with a macroscopic NPR structure and a bridge structure having the same, comprising a sleeve and a sliding rod; by adding a structure of a reducing part and a limiting body, a sliding gap exists between both ends of the limiting body and both inner ends of the reducing part; the rod body is connected with the inner side wall of the sleeve through an elastic element; the limiting body and the rod body can realize bidirectional slip in the sleeve, which have multi-level seismic performance.

PHASE TRANSFORMING CELLULAR MATERIALS

A phase transformational cellular material, including a plurality of bistable cells, each respective bistable cell operationally connected to at least one other respective bistable cell. Each bistable cell enjoys a first stable phase and a second stable phase. The first stable phase is a first geometric configuration and the second stable phase is a second geometric configuration different from the first geometric configuration. An energy transaction is required to shift each respective cell between stable phases. A mechanical energy transaction is required to shift from the first to the second phase, while a thermal energy transaction is required to shift from the second to the first phase.

CONSTRUCTION DAMPER WITH AT LEAST ONE AT LEAST IN REGIONS LADDER-LIKE CONSTRUCTED THRUST DAMPING PART
20220136237 · 2022-05-05 ·

The present invention relates to a construction damper with at least one at least in regions ladder-like constructed thrust damping part which has a spatial structure wherein at least two transverse beams are connected in two different alignments to at least two longitudinal beams and wherein the damping effect is achieved by thrust force damping in the transverse beams.

METHOD OF MANUFACTURING BUCKLING-RESTRAINED BUILDING MATERIAL
20230243174 · 2023-08-03 ·

A predetermined amount of clearance is secured with high accuracy between a core material and core-material-facing surfaces of two buckling-restrained members.

In a method of manufacturing a buckling-restrained building material, clearance-maintaining members 18 for securing a predetermined amount of clearance Δt between a core material 2 and core-material-facing surfaces 3d, 3d of two buckling-restrained members 1, 1 sandwiching the core material are disposed between the core-material-facing surfaces. The method comprises a clearance adjustment step for applying a surface treatment for adjusting an amount of the clearance on clearance reference surface portions 3e which are parts of the core-material-facing surface and are in contact with the clearance-maintaining members, and a smoothing step for performing a smoothing process of the core-material-facing surface before the clearance adjustment step. In the clearance adjustment step, the surface treatment is not applied to a surface portion other than the clearance reference surface portions on the core-material-facing surface.

Seismic bracing yield fuse
11761577 · 2023-09-19 ·

A seismic bracing yield fuse includes at least one housing member, and a fuse member housed within or mounted externally to the at least one housing member. The fuse member is configured to undergo ductile yielding in a length dimension upon application of a tensile force along the length dimension of the fuse member, and the at least one housing member is configured to accommodate a change in length of the fuse member resulting from the ductile yielding.

Active beam joint brace
11788315 · 2023-10-17 ·

The Active Beam Joint Brace (ABJB) is an improvement or a compliment to the current technology of protecting steel beam structured buildings such as tuned mass dampers near the top floors of sky scrapers and large shock absorbers to reduce sway due to high winds and earthquakes. The ABJB can be also used in any type of structure i.e. bridges. It is positioned near the joint of two of the beams and therefore does not interfere with the placement of doors and windows. There are two embodiments of the ABJB: 1. A basic ABJB 2. A smart ABJB The basic ABJB reacts to any distortion of the protected beam joint and applies a counter force to the two beams in than joint. The smart ABJB is also able to forecast some of the remaining wave forces in an earthquakes duration (from the first wave forms) and proactively apply counter forces (i.e. a Rayleigh Wave). It may also adjust the frequency, magnitude and direction in combination with the other ABJB's in the structure based on the properties of the external force on the structure. Additional sensors, such as strain gauges, wind speed sensors, wind direction sensors and accelerometers can be used to gather more data about any distortion of the beam structure which can then be utilized with an intelligent algorithm to forecast and proactively resist the beam structure from distorting due to external forces.

Ductile connections for pre-formed construction elements
11788314 · 2023-10-17 · ·

Precast construction elements are described suitable for use in high seismic areas. The precast construction elements can be precast, pre-topped double tees. The precast construction elements incorporate a passive energy dissipation device in a flange. The energy dissipation device provides a ductile connection having a deformation capacity of larger than 0.6″. Adjacent elements are connected to one another at joints that include the passive energy dissipation device. Passive energy dissipation devices can be passive hysteretic dampeners, such as U-shaped flexural plates. Passive energy dissipation devices can be bar dissipaters (e.g., grooved dissipaters). Also described are passive hysteretic dampers that include U-shaped flexural plates held in conjunction with a reinforcement element that defines a circle around which the flexural plate can bend.

Coupling beam eddy current damper with shear displacement amplification

The present invention discloses a coupling beam eddy current damper with shear displacement amplification. The coupling beam eddy current damper with shear displacement amplification comprises a rigid rod, rotating shafts, a pin column, pins, levers, screws, thread sleeves, copper sheets, permanent magnet components, a steel structural component, balls, ball supports and an outer shell. When vibration occurs, coupling beams on both sides of the damper are relatively vertically displaced; at this moment, two levers move up and down relative to the rigid rod; the movement causes the screws and the copper sheets to rotate; the copper sheets rotate in a magnetic field, then induced electromotive force will generates inside the magnetic field, thereby generating eddy current in the copper sheets. The eddy current effect will produce a damping force that impedes the rotation of the copper sheets.

System for controlling structural vibrations of a multi-story vertical structure

A new passive control building arrangement is provided for improving the seismic response of structures. The proposed control arrangement was incorporated to a 1/20 scale model of a steel structure. The SAP2000 software program was used to develop an analytical model of the constructed scale model. After using a series of experimental data to calibrate the analytical model, valuable information of the dynamic properties of the arrangement was obtained. Different configurations with distinct parameters of the control arrangement were analyzed in the program to evaluate the variables that affect the dynamic properties of the model. It was determined that the geometric configuration of the arrangement and the spring stiffness value of a spring used in the arrangement affect considerably the dynamic properties. Simulated earthquake tests were performed in two proposed alternatives of the control arrangement to evaluate their effectiveness in improving the seismic response of the scale model. It was observed that the control arrangement can effectively reduce the accelerations and base reactions of the model.