Method, apparatus, and systems are disclosed for damping the movements of structures undergoing dynamic forces. The disclosed dampers are a new type of steel plate dampers, intended to reduce the cost and improve the performance of structures subject to severe seismic loading. While in these dampers the metal plates undergo plastic deformation as a method of absorbing and dissipating energy, the disclosed designs do not allow the stress and strain in the metal plates to go above a predetermined design value and; therefore, the new dampers have long lives and do not need repair or replacement after a big earthquake or similar events. These dampers may be used for building and non-building structures. In such applications the required damping capacities are relatively high and different scales of sliding force and stroke are required.

An SMA-STF based viscous damper includes a first connector, a piston rod, a piston which is sheathed on the piston rod; a damping cylinder; first and second end covers which are respectively provided at two sides of the damping cylinder; a second connector which is fixedly connected to the second end cover; and first and second SMA springs which are respectively sheathed on the piston rod. The damping cylinder has first and second damping cavities between which the piston is arranged. One end of the piston rod passes through the first end cover and is connected to the first connector, and the other end passes through the second connector. The first and second SMA springs are respectively held in the first and second damping cavities in an elastic state. The first and second damping cavities are respectively filled with the STF.

A building structure including a plurality of elements extending from a ground surface with at least a first of the elements connected to a second of the elements by a coupling member, the coupling member including a damping element for damping vibrations in the building structure and a means for limiting the deformation of the damping element when the relative movement exceeds a maximum displacement at which damage occurs to the damping element.

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.

The present invention 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 under connection plate, a disc spring, pre-compressed helical springs, a laminated lead rubber bearing, and viscous dampers. The upper connection plate, middle connection plate and under connection plate are made of high strength low carbon steel with high loading capacity. 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 rubber bearing, pre-compressed helical spring and viscous damper. The invention 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.

The present invention relates to a damping system that utilizes a space between an inner building and a stair chamber installed outside the inner building to control vibration of an earthquake applied to a building or a building structure, and more particularly, to a damping system utilizing a space between a stair chamber and an inner building, which is installed in a building structure including the inner building and the stair chamber to damp a transverse force due to seismic waves.

A lateral bracing system having high initial stiffness and including yield links capable of effectively dissipating stresses generated within the lateral bracing system under lateral loads.

A gusset connection that allows greater relative movement between connected structural members and simplifies erection in the field. The gusset connection can be a first gusset portion moveably connected to a vertical column and a second gusset connection moveably connected to a horizontal beam.

The present invention relates to a viscoelastic bracing damper (100), comprising: a cylinder (101); an inner core (102) extended through the cylinder (101) without contacting an inner surface of the cylinder (101), thereby having a barrel portion formed between the inner surface of the cylinder (101) and the inner core (102); a joint (103) connecting a front connector (104) to one end of the inner core (102); a stopper (105) connecting an end connector (106) to an another end of the inner core (102); and characterised by a damping means (107) extended substantially along a length of the barrel portion; wherein the damping means (107) is compressed between the inner surface of the cylinder (101) and the inner core (102) for absorbing vibration loads.

A strut may be interposed between a first floor plate and a second floor plate of a multi-story building, wherein the first floor plate is disposed overtop of the second floor plate. The strut includes a first post section and a second post section. The first post section includes a first portion that is coaxial with, annular to and slidably disposed within a second portion of the second post section. A damping actuator is interposed between the first post section and the second post section, and is arranged to dynamically control a position of the first post section in relation to the second post section. The strut also includes an accelerometer. A controller is in communication with the accelerometer and the damping actuator, and controls the damping actuator to control the position of the first post section in relation to the second post section.