Abstract: An energy dissipating connector for coupling first and second structural members together has a first attachment member attachable to a first rebar member of the first structural member and a second attachment member attachable to a second rebar member of the second structural member such that the second attachment member is slidably connectable to the first attachment member whereby sliding of the second attachment member relative to the first attachment member permits relative motion of the first and second structural members and dissipates energy tending to cause such motion. The second attachment member is preferably slidably moveable relative to the first attachment member by approximately 1/4 inch in either direction and the second attachment member preferably moves relative to the first attachment member in response to force of at least 90,000 pounds. The first and second attachment members are preferably attachable to the first and second rebar portions via screw threads.

Abstract: The subject matter of the invention is a scaffold tunnel for civil and industrial engineering applications, comprising a section bar secured to a fixed support and having mounted thereon, at predetermined spacings over the full length of the tunnel, a plurality of hinge mountings each composed of a bearing block and a hinged body. A metal scaffold secured to these hinge mountings is composed of hollow base section bars and hollow vault section bars of any suitable curvature adapted to have cover sheets of glass or a plastic material mounted thereon.The overall construction is completed by a plurality of suitable configured sealing gaskets, a corresponding plurality of finish section strips and a plurality of safety tensioners (FIG. 2 Tab. II).