Abstract: A moment frame wall assembly includes a box wall frame having first and second columns spaced apart from one another and header and sill beams extending between the first and second columns. The beams are joined to the respective columns by respective beam-to-column joints. Each of the beam-to-column joints includes a yielding member that fails prior to failure of the respective beam and column joined by the respective beam-to-column joint due to external lateral forces applied to the moment frame wall assembly. The assembly includes a shear panel made of sheet metal. The shear panel has an upper edge margin attached to the header beam, a lower edge margin attached to the sill beam, a first side edge margin attached to the first column, and a second side edge margin attached to the second column. The shear panel resists the external lateral forces applied to the moment frame wall assembly.

Abstract: A light-frame shear wall for resisting lateral forces includes a frame wall, shear reinforcement structure, and sheathing. The frame wall includes a top plate, a sill, a first stud interconnecting the top plate and the sill and a second stud interconnecting the top plate and the sill. The frame wall has a cavity bounded by the top plate, the sill, the first stud, and the second stud. The shear reinforcement structure resists lateral forces experienced by the frame wall. The shear reinforcement structure is disposed in the cavity of the frame wall. The shear reinforcement structure is attached to the first stud and the second stud. The shear reinforcement structure includes a shear member arranged to resist the lateral forces experienced by the frame wall. Sheathing is connected to the frame wall and the shear reinforcement member for supporting the shear wall against shear loads.

Abstract: A damper frame includes a structural frame and a damper assembly secured to the structural frame. The damper assembly includes a damper support secured to the structural frame. A damper is secured to the damper support. A diagonal link is secured to the structural frame. A lever is secured to the damper support and the damper. The lever is pivotally connected to the diagonal link so displacement of the diagonal link is amplified and transferred to the damper. The damper support includes a laterally-extending cantilevered portion and the damper is secured to the damper support at the cantilevered portion.

Abstract: A joint connection structure of a building framework includes a column assembly including a column and a pair of gusset plates connected to the column on opposite sides of the column and extending laterally outward from the column. A full-length beam assembly includes a full-length beam having upper and lower flanges and an end portion received between the gusset plates. A connecting member is operatively attached by welding to at least one of the flanges of the full-length beam. The connecting member is bolted to at least one of the gusset plates of the column assembly to connect the full-length beam assembly to the column assembly.

Abstract: A damper frame for dissipating seismic energy includes a structural frame and a damper assembly secured to the structural frame. The damper assembly includes a damper support secured to the structural frame. A damper is secured to the damper support adjacent a first end of the damper. A diagonal link is secured to the structural frame. A lever is secured to the damper support and the damper adjacent a second end of the damper opposite the first end of the damper. The first end of the damper is spaced vertically from the second end of the damper by a distance that is greater than a lateral distance between the first and second ends of the damper. The lever is connected to the diagonal link so displacement of the diagonal link relative to the damper support is amplified and transferred to the second end of the damper by the lever. The damper support includes a diagonal leg. The diagonal link and diagonal leg are arranged for telescoping movement relative to one another.

Abstract: A damper frame includes a structural frame and a damper assembly secured to the structural frame. The damper assembly includes a damper support secured to the structural frame. A damper is secured to the damper support. A diagonal link is secured to the structural frame. A lever is secured to the damper support and the damper. The lever is pivotally connected to the diagonal link so displacement of the diagonal link is amplified and transferred to the damper. The damper support includes a laterally-extending cantilevered portion and the damper is secured to the damper support at the cantilevered portion.

Abstract: A multi-story boxed wall frame system for reinforcement of multi-story structures includes first and second boxed wall frames disposed one on top of the other and connected together. Each boxed wall frame includes first and second columns, and first and second panel zones attached to the respective first and second columns at their top ends. Each of the panel zones includes yielding members and reinforcing structure at least partially bounding the yielding members. The reinforcing structure is configured to concentrate stresses to within the yielding member. A beam extends between the first and second panel zones in each of the boxed wall frames. The boxed wall frame is configured to resolve external forces into shear force in the yielding member such that the yielding members will yield prior to yielding of the beam and the columns.

Abstract: A multi-story boxed wall frame system for reinforcement of multi-story structures includes first and second boxed wall frames disposed one on top of the other and connected together. Each boxed wall frame includes first and second columns, and first and second panel zones attached to the respective first and second columns at their top ends. Each of the panel zones includes yielding members and reinforcing structure at least partially bounding the yielding members. The reinforcing structure is configured to concentrate stresses to within the yielding member. A beam extends between the first and second panel zones in each of the boxed wall frames. The boxed wall frame is configured to resolve external forces into shear force in the yielding member such that the yielding members will yield prior to yielding of the beam and the columns.

Abstract: A beam-to-column joint includes a beam having first and second longitudinal ends and a column including a bottom end and a top end. A panel zone is located adjacent to the first end of the beam, and the top end of the column is attached to the panel zone. The panel zone includes a yielding member and reinforcing structure at least partially bounding the yielding member, the reinforcing structure being configured to concentrate stresses to within the yielding member. The panel zone is configured to resolve external lateral forces on the beam and column into shear force in the yielding member so that the yielding member will fail prior to failure of the beam and column.

Abstract: A beam-to-column joint includes a beam having first and second longitudinal ends and a column including a bottom end and a top end. A panel zone is located adjacent to the first end of the beam, and the top end of the column is attached to the panel zone. The panel zone includes a yielding member and reinforcing structure at least partially bounding the yielding member, the reinforcing structure being configured to concentrate stresses to within the yielding member. The panel zone is configured to resolve external lateral forces on the beam and column into shear force in the yielding member so that the yielding member will fail prior to failure of the beam and column.

Abstract: A joint connection structure of a building framework includes a column assembly including a column and a pair of gusset plates connected to the column on opposite sides of the column and extending laterally outward from the column. A full-length beam assembly includes a full-length beam having upper and lower flanges and an end portion received between the gusset plates. A connecting member is operatively attached by welding to at least one of the flanges of the full-length beam. The connecting member is bolted to at least one of the gusset plates of the column assembly to connect the full-length beam assembly to the column assembly.

Abstract: A joint connection structure of a building framework includes a column assembly including a column and a pair of gusset plates connected to the column on opposite sides of the column and extending laterally outward from the column. A full-length beam assembly includes a full-length beam having upper and lower flanges and an end portion received between the gusset plates. A connecting member is operatively attached by welding to at least one of the flanges of the full-length beam. The connecting member is bolted to at least one of the gusset plates of the column assembly to connect the full-length beam assembly to the column assembly.

Abstract: A joint connection structure of a building framework includes a column assembly including a column and a pair of gusset plates connected to the column on opposite sides of the column and extending laterally outward from the column. A full-length beam assembly includes a full-length beam having upper and lower flanges and an end portion received between the gusset plates. A connecting member is operatively attached by welding to at least one of the flanges of the full-length beam. The connecting member is bolted to at least one of the gusset plates of the column assembly to connect the full-length beam assembly to the column assembly.

Abstract: A building framework includes plural column assemblies supporting plural beams supporting floors of the building, with the union of the column assemblies and beams forming beam-to-column (or beam-to-column-to-beam) joint connection assemblies according to this invention. The joint connection assemblies inventively include novel features which remarkably and surprisingly improve the distribution of strain and plastic deformation in the joint connection structure when subjected to extreme load challenges to the building structure (as may occur during earthquake, explosion, progressive collapse load conditions, or massive impact.

Abstract: A building framework includes plural column assemblies supporting plural beams supporting floors of the building, with the union of the column assemblies and beams forming beam-to-column (or beam-to-column-to-beam) joint connection assemblies according to this invention. The joint connection assemblies inventively include novel features which remarkably and surprisingly improve the distribution of strain and plastic deformation in the joint connection structure when subjected to extreme load challenges to the building structure (as may occur during earthquake, explosion, progressive collapse load conditions, or massive impact.

Abstract: A joint connection structure of a building framework includes a column assembly including a column and a pair of gusset plates connected to the column on opposite sides of the column and extending laterally outward from the column. A full-length beams assembly includes a full-length beam having upper and lower flanges and an end portion received between the gusset plates. A connecting member is operatively attached by welding to at least one of the flanges of the full-length beam. The connecting member is bolted to at least one of the gusset plates of the column assembly to connect the full-length beam assembly to the column assembly.