A supporting structure (102) for a wall or a roof partition (104; 120) of a building structure (100), comprises an internal core structure (114) extending in a longitudinal direction, and first and second external covering profiles (106) for at least partially covering the core structure (114). The covering profiles (106) define inwardly and outwardly facing surfaces (108) facing one another, with slits (116) being formed at the inwardly facing surfaces (108). The core structure comprises at least two bands of material (114) which are mutually offset. The supporting structure (102) is suitable as a post, pillar, column, lath, batten, rafter, truss, girder, bar, or beam for a wall or roof partitions of a greenhouse, a cabin or shanty, a wall of a house, a stand-alone wall or roof partition, such as pent roof, a canopy, a fence, a windbreak or a solar panel structure The bands of material (114) are interconnected at their ends only and are pre-tensioned to provide stiffness, and may be configured to minimize their thermal conductivity.

A system for providing an angled construction or bent beam construction. Such system may include a first beam comprising a first elongated beam segment having a first interlocking joint portion at one end, and a second beam comprising a second elongated beam segment having a second interlocking joint at one end, wherein the first interlocking joint portion is configured to rotatably couple to the second interlocking joint to form a rotatable joint such that the angle between the first beam and the second beam is adjustable.

A connector is provided for connecting between a first and second structural members. The connector includes a load applying member which bears in use in a first direction against a crushable portion of the first structural member. A retainer retains the load applying member at an initial distance from the second structural member. A non-return mechanism can act in successive cycles of forced movement of the first structural member. When the first structural member is forcibly moved in a direction opposite the first direction the load applying member progressively crushes the crushable portion of the first structural member. When the first structural member is then moved in the first direction the retained location of the load applying member is moved in the first direction relative to the second structural member. In this way some or all of the play formed in the connection by crushing of the first structural member due to forced displacement in one direction, is taken up by the retainer during forced displacement of in the other direction. This enhances the energy absorbency of the connection during a large cyclical loading event such as an earthquake.

A rolling block restraint connector for forming a moment resisting connection at a joint intersection between a continuous column and at least a first continuous beam that intersects the continuous column is disclosed. The connector includes a first restraint assembly, a second restraint assembly, wherein the second restraint assembly is configured to be located diagonally across the joint intersection from the first restraint assembly, a first linkage that couples the first restraint assembly with the second restraint assembly, the first linkage including (i) a first saddle configured to couple with an exterior of a first end of a first tubular shaft of the first restraint assembly, and (ii) a second saddle configured to couple with an exterior of a first end of a second tubular shaft of the second restraint assembly, and a second linkage that couples the first restraint assembly with the second restraint assembly.

A composite assembly includes a series of elongated layers joined lengthwise thereof. At least two of the elongated layers each have an upper elongated portion and a lower elongated portion secured together in an end-to-end relationship at a joint therebetween by a connector arrangement. The upper elongated portion is constructed of a wood material, and the lower elongated portion is constructed of a non-wood material. The lower elongated portion may have a reinforcing rod therein.

A reinforced building wall comprises a foundation; an anchor rod extending from the foundation; a first stud wall disposed above the foundation, the first stud wall including a first bottom plate and a first top place; a second stud wall disposed above the first stud wall, the second stud wall including a second bottom plate and a second top plate; the first tie rod including first and second threaded end portions, the first end portion is operably connected to the anchor rod; a second tie rod including third and fourth threaded end portions, the third end portion is operably connected to the second end portion of the first tie rod; the second tie rod including an outer end portion operably attached to the second stud wall; an intermediate portion of the first tie rod is unthreaded and comprises at least about 75% of the length of the first tie rod; and an intermediate portion of the second tie rod is unthreaded and comprises at least about 75% of the length of the second tie rod.

A coupling nut includes: a simple fastening nut housing case having bolt insertion holes for insertion, from end portions of the simple nut housing case, of bolts to be coupled, and, in sections of the housing case toward end portions thereof, simple fastening nut housing portions configured to non-rotatably house simple fastening nuts that screw together with the bolts inserted into the bolt insertion holes; and a simple fastening nut that is housed in each simple fastening nut housing portion of the housing case, provided with at least two or more nut segments that are biased by biasing springs, and configured to screw together with a screw portion of the inserted bolt when the housing case is rotated in a screwing direction after insertion of the bolts. One simple fastening nut has a left-hand thread and the other has a right-hand thread.

A metal joint adapted to be fitted into a hole formed in a building component and fixed to the hole with an adhesive includes: a small diameter portion having an elongated shape and an outer diameter smaller than an inner diameter of the hole; and two large diameter portions fixed to the small diameter portion individually at two locations spaced apart from each other in a longitudinal direction of the small diameter portion, each large diameter portion having an outer diameter corresponding to the inner diameter of the hole. Furthermore, irregularities are formed on an outer peripheral surface of the small diameter portion in a section between the two large diameter portions.

A supporting structure (102) for a wall or a roof partition (104;120) of a building structure (100), comprises an internal core structure (114) extending in a longitudinal direction, and first and second external covering profiles (106) for at least partially covering the core structure (114). The covering profiles (106) define inwardly and outwardly facing surfaces (108) facing one another, with slits (116) being formed at the inwardly facing surfaces (108). The core structure comprises at least two bands of material (114) which are mutually offset. The supporting structure (102) is suitable as a post, pillar, column, lath, batten, rafter, truss, girder, bar, or beam for a wall or roof partitions of a greenhouse, a cabin or shanty, a wall of a house, a stand-alone wall or roof partition, such as pent roof, a canopy, a fence, a windbreak or a solar panel structure The bands of material (114) are interconnected at their ends only and are pre-tensioned to provide stiffness, and may be configured to minimize their thermal conductivity.

A reinforced building wall comprises a foundation; an anchor rod extending from the foundation; a first stud wall disposed above the foundation, the first stud wall including a first bottom plate and a first top place; a second stud wall disposed above the first stud wall, the second stud wall including a second bottom plate and a second top plate; the first tie rod including first and second threaded end portions, the first end portion is operably connected to the anchor rod; a second tie rod including third and fourth threaded end portions, the third end portion is operably connected to the second end portion of the first tie rod; the second tie rod including an outer end portion operably attached to the second stud wall; an intermediate portion of the first tie rod is unthreaded and comprises at least about 75% of the length of the first tie rod; and an intermediate portion of the second tie rod is unthreaded and comprises at least about 75% of the length of the second tie rod.