A column assembly has an elongated tubular member. A wall end assembly has an elongated tubular member. A flexible interface connects the column assembly to the wall end assembly. The flexible interface includes a spring pack assembly having a disc spring, an elongated male fastening member, a female fastening member, and an absorbing layer. The male fastening member extends through the spring pack hole into the female fastening member to connect the column assembly to the wall end assembly with the female fastening member and to hold the male fastening member in place.

A lower connector includes a lower connector hollow body, a pair of lower connector bosses coupled to the lower connector hollow body, and a pair of lower connector arms coupled to the lower connector bosses. A connector assembly includes an upper connector coupled to a lower connector and a gusset plate sandwiched between the upper and lower connectors.

A prefabricated post assembly is proposed. The prefabricated post assembly includes a vertical post having at least one assembly surface and a horizontal post having an assembly module mounted at an end thereof to be coupled to the assembly surface, in which at least one upper insertion hole is formed at an upper portion of the assembly surface and at least one lower insertion hole is formed at a lower portion of the assembly surface.

A collar flange assembly clamping tool is disclosed, including an axle having a long axis, and a pair of arms mounted on the axle. At least one of the arms is slideable along the long axis. Each arm includes a primary axis perpendicular to the long axis of the axle, a proximal end portion, and a distal end portion with a tab. The proximal end portion includes a clamping device that moves in a direction perpendicular to the primary axis of the arm and the long axis of the axle.

A Z-shaped attachment element for use in building construction is disclosed. The Z-shaped attachment element is made from a single piece of sheet metal that is first cut and then bent to form the Z-shaped cross-sectional profile. The Z-shaped attachment element comprises: an elongated upper flange; an elongated lower flange, wherein the upper and lower flanges are spaced apart and substantially parallel to each other; an elongated middle web section between, and connected to, the upper and lower flanges along respective upper and lower lengthwise bends (wherein the middle web section is diagonal in relation to the position of the upper and lower flanges, thereby defining a generally Z-shaped cross-sectional profile); and a plurality of notches formed along the lower lengthwise bend and into the lower flange and the adjoining middle web section, but not into the upper bend or the upper flange, of the Z-shaped sheet metal attachment element.

A truss includes a plurality of truss members, each truss member formed from a unitary folded blank of sheet metal to create a main panel, and proximal and distal flanges and a horizontal panel each extending perpendicularly from the main panel, the proximal flange of a first truss member is connected to the distal flange of a second truss member to form a truss. In one embodiment employing trusses formed of folded sheet metal, a plurality of interconnected truss modules, each truss module including a plurality of truss members, forms a plurality of oppositely extending horizontal flanges that collectively present the top and bottom surfaces of a cantilevered canopy.

In a joint structure of steel beam structure, a bracket is coupled and fixed to the lateral side of a large beam or a pillar and a steel beam is coupled to the bracket such that the steel beam is coupled to the lateral side of the large beam or the pillar. One end of the bracket is coupled to the lateral side of the large beam or the pillar, and the other end is inclined such that the lower part thereof forms an acute angle, wherein a first attachment plate is coupled to the inclined end part of the bracket such that a fixed length thereof protrudes from the upper end of the bracket. The lower part of one end of the steel beam is inclined at an obtuse angle so as to correspond to the other inclined end of the bracket.

A modular support frame comprises trusses, purlins transverse to the trusses, and vertical posts supporting the various trusses. A supply of wedges permits flange-type connectors to be joined to complementary connectors throughout the foundation. The trusses are arranged end-to-end in parallel rows, each row comprising at least one pair of trusses or more depending on the desired size of the foundation. Vertical posts are positioned between the ends of each of the trusses within a row and at opposing ends of the row, and each post comprises a pair of flange-type connectors at predetermined heights. Each of the trusses is terminated at either end with a pair of complementary connectors such that adjacent in-line trusses can be mounted to the post between them and the outer pair of trusses can be mounted to the posts terminated the row. Purlins extend perpendicularly between the trusses in adjacent rows to reinforce the frame. To that end, the trusses comprise flange-type connectors and the purlins are terminated at either end with complementary connectors.

The present anti-ballistic shelter is a reinforced unit configured to comply with both ISO standards for size and weight, and with the U.S. Department of State Certification Standard for Forced Entry and Ballistic Resistance of Structural Systems. Each end and side wall of the unit is reinforced with wall studs that penetrate the unit's structural framework. Even though these wail studs are welded into place, penetration of the wall studs into the framework ensures acceptable blast, ballistic, and forced entry resistance even if the welds are flawed.

The modular anti-ballistic shelter system includes two end units and, optionally, additional middle units for a wider structure. End and middle units may also stack atop each other for multi-story structures. Each unit is configured to comply with both ISO standards for size and weight, and with the U.S. Department of State Certification Standard for Forced Entry and Ballistic Resistance of Structural Systems. Each exterior wall of each end unit and each middle unit is reinforced with wall studs that penetrate the unit's structural framework of beams and frames. Even though these wall studs are welded into place, penetration of the wall studs into the beams and frames ensures acceptable blast, ballistic, and forced entry resistance even if the welds are flawed.