A double-friction pendulum three-dimensional vibration isolation bearing (1), includes a first support plate (10), a second support plate (20), a vertical vibration isolation unit, a first sliding end portion (40) and a second sliding end portion (50). At least one of the first support plate (10) and the second support plate (20) is movable. The vertical vibration isolation unit is disposed between the first support plate (10) and the second support plate (20).

An outer covering of a building includes anchor bolts configured to extend outwardly from an exterior side of floor support structures of the building, a plurality of anchor plates that adjustably mount to the plurality of anchor bolts, and a plurality of spandrel units that mount to an exterior side of the plurality of anchor plates. Each of the plurality of spandrel units includes a first mounting structure that receives a first outer covering section from above and supports a dead weight and lateral load of the first outer covering section via a corresponding one of the plurality of anchor plates and associated anchor bolts, and a second mounting structure configured to rotationally receive a second outer covering section after dead weight of the second outer covering section is loaded on an adjacent spandrel unit located below that one of the plurality of spandrel units.

An outer covering of a building includes anchor bolts configured to extend outwardly from an exterior side of floor support structures of the building, a plurality of anchor plates that adjustably mount to the plurality of anchor bolts, and a plurality of spandrel units that mount to an exterior side of the plurality of anchor plates. Each of the plurality of spandrel units includes a first mounting structure that receives a first outer covering section from above and supports a dead weight and lateral load of the first outer covering section via a corresponding one of the plurality of anchor plates and associated anchor bolts, and a second mounting structure configured to rotationally receive a second outer covering section after dead weight of the second outer covering section is loaded on an adjacent spandrel unit located below that one of the plurality of spandrel units.

Bearing assemblies, bearing components and related methods are provided for heavy load applications. In one embodiment, a bearing assembly includes a first bearing apparatus having a base member and a first plurality of polycrystalline diamond compacts (PDCs) on a first surface of the base member, the first plurality of PDCs defining a first collective bearing surface. A second bearing apparatus is configured to engage and slide over the first collective bearing surface. the second bearing apparatus may include a second plurality of PDCs defining a second collective bearing surface. The collective bearing surfaces may be configured to be substantially planar or substantially arcuate. Such bearing assemblies may be implemented in, for example, bridges, roadways, buildings, railways and other structures and machines that may require heavy load bearing support.

Bearing assemblies, bearing components and related methods are provided for heavy load applications. In one embodiment, a bearing assembly includes a first bearing apparatus having a base member and a first plurality of polycrystalline diamond compacts (PDCs) on a first surface of the base member, the first plurality of PDCs defining a first collective bearing surface. A second bearing apparatus is configured to engage and slide over the first collective bearing surface. the second bearing apparatus may include a second plurality of PDCs defining a second collective bearing surface. The collective bearing surfaces may be configured to be substantially planar or substantially arcuate. Such bearing assemblies may be implemented in, for example, bridges, roadways, buildings, railways and other structures and machines that may require heavy load bearing support.

A pergola comprising a base module having a quadrangular support structure provided with vertical uprights connected to each other by at least one pair of rails and at least one transverse crossbeam connecting the pair of rails. The base module delimits a first roof surface. The pergola includes an extension module having a framework provided with at least one pair of struts. Each strut is at least partially vertically superposed on a corresponding rail, and is provided with at least one support leg that supports the overhanging framework on the side opposite the base module in the longitudinal direction. The extension module delimits a second roof surface at least partially superposed on the first. A guide structure is interposed between the struts and the rails for guiding a reciprocal longitudinal translation between the base module and the extension module, to modify the overall roof surface of the pergola.

A pergola comprising a base module having a quadrangular support structure provided with vertical uprights connected to each other by at least one pair of rails and at least one transverse crossbeam connecting the pair of rails. The base module delimits a first roof surface. The pergola includes an extension module having a framework provided with at least one pair of struts. Each strut is at least partially vertically superposed on a corresponding rail, and is provided with at least one support leg that supports the overhanging framework on the side opposite the base module in the longitudinal direction. The extension module delimits a second roof surface at least partially superposed on the first. A guide structure is interposed between the struts and the rails for guiding a reciprocal longitudinal translation between the base module and the extension module, to modify the overall roof surface of the pergola.

In a boiler support structure in which certain ones of seismic isolators are provided with a pullout countermeasure, the seismic isolators to be provided with the pullout countermeasure are individually identified according to whether the seismic isolator satisfies Formula (1) : N.sub.Dn+N.sub.EQn>N.sub.tn . . . Formula (1) , where N.sub.Dn (N.sub.D<0) is a compressive load occurring on each of the seismic isolators and calculated on the basis of a permanent load imposed on the boiler support structure; N.sub.EQn (N.sub.EQn>0) is a pullout force occurring on each of the seismic isolators and calculated on the assumption that an earthquake has occurred; and N.sub.tn (N.sub.tn>0) is an allowable pullout force of each of the seismic isolators and calculated using an allowable pullout stress of each of the seismic isolators.

In a boiler support structure in which certain ones of seismic isolators are provided with a pullout countermeasure, the seismic isolators to be provided with the pullout countermeasure are individually identified according to whether the seismic isolator satisfies Formula (1) : N.sub.Dn+N.sub.EQn>N.sub.tn . . . Formula (1) , where N.sub.Dn (N.sub.D<0) is a compressive load occurring on each of the seismic isolators and calculated on the basis of a permanent load imposed on the boiler support structure; N.sub.EQn (N.sub.EQn>0) is a pullout force occurring on each of the seismic isolators and calculated on the assumption that an earthquake has occurred; and N.sub.tn (N.sub.tn>0) is an allowable pullout force of each of the seismic isolators and calculated using an allowable pullout stress of each of the seismic isolators.

A stair system with freedom of movement between landings associated therewith includes a connection system configured to connect stairs to a landing associated with a construction, wherein the connection system structurally supports the stairs for safe egress over the stairs while concurrently supporting movement between the landing and a second landing associated with the construction by the stairs in at least one dimension, and wherein the movement supports inter-story drift between the landing and the second landing and removes some force translation between the landing and the second landing.