A beam coupler adapted to couple two beams mounted side by side. One coupler comprises a central plate mounted to the first beam, comprising two central-plate side faces in the coupling orientation; and a longitudinal oblong hole providing a passage connecting the two side faces. The coupler also comprises a pair of side plates mounted to the second beam, each comprising an interior face to neighbor the central plate; an exterior face; and a circular side-plate hole providing a passage connecting the interior face with the exterior face. The coupler further comprises compression means applying an inward preload over the plates, comprising a body extending between the exterior faces through the circular and oblong holes. The oblong holes allow displacement of the body of the compression means therein in the longitudinal direction upon a displacement of the plates resulting from a deflection of the beams.

A full-moment column collar is disclosed, including four collar flange components and four collar corner components. Each collar flange component includes an upper transverse element and a lower transverse element, connected by a bridging member. Each collar corner component includes first and second expanses defining a corner and a standoff portion extending from the corner, the standoff portion having a distal T-shaped structure. Each collar corner component is configured to connect two adjacent collar flange components, and each collar corner component has a multi-axis alignment structure extending from a bottom end portion for vertically positioning a lower transverse element of a respective collar flange component.

A beam-column node structure of the steel prefabricated building is provided. The structure includes inner sleeves and driving components. The inner sleeves are slidably embedded in the transverse sleeves of the cross beam or node member; the driving components are used to drive the inner sleeves to move from one of the cross beams and the transverse sleeves embedded with the inner sleeves to the other. The inner sleeves are partly located in the crossbeams and partly in the lateral sleeves, and then the internal connection between the crossbeams and the lateral sleeves can be realized by the fasteners.

A method, assembly and system of assembling and disassembling a shelter is provided. The method provided is configured to assemble a modular shelter in a hard to access location without heavy machinery. The assembly comprises a plurality of shipping modules having truss systems composed of beams and columns. The trusses may be connected to other trusses with the help of joint nodes. The truss system may be extended for sliding columns, may be connected to varying other trusses with varying joint nodes and may comprise connecting elements for angled connections. The assembly and the truss system are modular in that a plurality of the beams, columns and joint nodes may be removable.

A connector assembly, having an upper connector coupled to a lower connector and a gusset plate sandwiched between the upper and lower connectors. The upper and lower connectors allow for coupling to adjacent upper and lower connectors, respectively, allowing for addition of a modular unit to a pre-existing modular structure. Also, ways of coupling adjacent upper connectors and coupling of adjacent lower connectors when coupling a modular unit to a pre-existing modular structure are provided.

A structural reinforced composite construction mat includes a plurality of composite plastic beams that are ganged together to define the mat, with a plurality of flitch plates disposed between at least some of the plastic beams to provide additional strength and rigidity to the mat. The plastic beams may be made of a composite material have a generally rectangular cross-section. The flitch plates have a width (vertical height) when disposed between adjacent beams that is less than the width (vertical height) of the beams, such that the flitch plates may be recessed below and above the top and bottom surfaces of the mat, respectively. A plurality of rods extend in the lateral direction through the beams and plates to compress the beams and plates against each. The flitch plates may be metal or fiber-reinforced resin and may further include slotted holes to allow the beams to retract lengthwise in response to environmental changes.

A connector assembly, having an upper connector coupled to a lower connector and a gusset plate sandwiched between the upper and lower connectors. Also, disclosed is a hoistable connector assembly, a lifting frame assembly, a coupling system for modular frame units, a method for assembling a module unit using the connector assembly, and a modular frame unit and building having the connector assembly.

A resilient prestress-free steel structure includes the elastic centering beam and two pin-ended box column bases. The elastic centering beam includes two cantilever segment I-shaped steel beams, a middle segment I-shaped steel beam and buckling restrained high strength steel bars. The cantilever segment I-shaped steel beams are fixed to the two pin-ended box column bases, the middle segment I-shaped steel beam is connected between the two cantilever segment I-shaped steel beams, the buckling restrained high strength steel bars are symmetrically arranged. One end of each of the buckling restrained high strength steel bars is firmly connected with the web of each of the cantilever segment I-shaped steel beams, and the other end of each of the buckling restrained high strength steel bars is firmly connected with the web of the middle segment I-shaped steel beam. The resilient prestress-free steel structure is arranged in left and right symmetrical manner.

A prefabricated column assembly includes a hollow tubular column having a longitudinal axis. A gusset plate assembly includes a plurality of gusset plates connected to the column and extending laterally outward from the column in planes generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the column. A first pair of the gusset plates extends laterally outward from the column along a first axis and defines a space for receiving an end portion of a first beam for mounting the first beam on the first pair of gusset plates. A second pair of the gusset plates extends laterally outward from the column along a second axis that is nonparallel and non-coincident with the first axis. The second pair of gusset plates defines a space for receiving an end portion of a second beam for mounting the second beam on the second pair of gusset plates to provide a bi-axial joint connection.

The present invention concerns a construction system for a building module, whose main elements are made of plastic material, providing a robust construction in an easy and quick manner. The system includes a set of main beams (1) adapted to be assembled end-to-end to form an open structure in the shape of a 3-dimensional rectangular frame. The system further includes secondary beams (11), adapted to be assembled between parallel and opposite main beams, and flat facade elements (3) insertable against each other between two adjacent parallel beams. Each facade element (3) includes a rectangular flat plate provided with two folded opposite edges (3A) intended to be hooked with adjacent parallel beams. Each main beam has a rectangular cross-section including, on the four sides thereof, a projection (21) parallel to the side and spaced therefrom leaving an opening to receive a folded edge of a flat facade element. Each secondary beam (11) includes, on two opposite faces, at least one projection leaving an opening to receive a folded edge of a flat facade element (3).