Abstract: A buckling restrained brace includes an elongate, hollow sleeve, an elongate yielding core extending substantially through the length of the sleeve, and a buckling constraining element between the yielding core and the inner surface of the hollow sleeve and spaced apart from at least one surface of the yielding core, leaving a gap therebetween. The buckling constraining element may be spaced apart from and, thus, the gap may exist between two or more surfaces of the yielding core. Additionally, an inner sleeve, or liner, may be positioned between the buckling constraining element and the yielding core, with the liner being spaced apart from at least one surface of the yielding core. The buckling restrained brace is useful in absorbing loads, such as seismically induced loads, that are exerted upon a steel frame.

Abstract: Braces for bracing objects in structures against forces due to earthquakes are tested by subjecting components of the braces for attaching the braces to the object or structure to cyclic loading of approximately 15 cycles. The cyclic forces are applied to different samples of the components at differing angles, and a load rating is determined for each angle. Prior to cyclic testing, forces are applied monotonically to the components in both tension and compression, the flexible loading direction of the component is determined from the monotonic testing, and the deformation that the component can resist when a load is applied in cycles is estimated from the monotonic testing.

Abstract: A propeller controlled active tuned-liquid-column damper (TLCD), which can control and suppress the vibration thereof, such as building, tower, bridge, vehicle, ship, offshore platform, facilities, and instrument, etc. This invention is composed of a passive TLCD, one or more propellers, a gear-shaft unit, a servo-motor, and a computer-control system. One or more propellers are installed in a line along the gear-shaft unit inside the horizontal section of the U-shape vessel, the propellers are driven by a servo-motor controlled by the computer-control system which start the servo-motor to drive the propellers immediately. Both fluid (or water) acceleration and the propellers' thrust can yield the resistance force to increase the vibration-control ability significantly. The natural period of an open TLCD can be adjusted by only changing the wetted length, whereas a closed TLCD can be adjusted by changing the wetted length, air pressure and air volume in the air chamber.

Abstract: The Improved Aseismic System of the present invention isolates a structure from seismic forces, and wind forces and seismic forces combined. During an earthquake the structure will slide on seismic filters, while gas dampeners act as shock absorbers to absorb the tremors and keep the structure from impacting its foundation. Fluid flow control assemblies control the flow of incompressible fluid between the double-action ram assemblies and the gas dampeners. Seismic filters provide a frictionless base for the structure support pillars to isolate them from the foundation and any forces which would otherwise be transmitted from the foundation to the structure's support pillars.

Abstract: An inertial mass motion seismic power converter with single or multi-axis sensitivity, the output being used as a power or control input to the seismic protection system of a building or bridge, or other base-isolated or non-isolated structure. The power converter has an inertially free floating mass or piston in a chamber or hydraulic cylinder. The power converter is connected to at least one servomechanism or slave device that either facilitates relative motion of a base-isolated structure as to ground, or moves a counter motion mass in the structure in opposition to the seismic motion. The power converter is buried in the earth near the protected structure so it is reactive only to seismic motion. The size and density of the power converter mass is directly proportional to the amount of seismic energy that can be converted for protecting structures from seismic damage.

Abstract: An energy absorbing seismic brace for both retrofit and new construction. The brace comprises a central strut of either multi-legged or homogeneous section fabricated from low strength aluminum, whose characteristics maximize the seismic energy absorption for a building installation. This central strut absorbs energy at high weight-specific levels by virtue of the hysteresis in its load-deflection relationship. In order to eliminate the possibility of buckling of the energy absorbing strut when it passes through the compression portion of a load cycle, it is surrounded by a system of spacers and an external sleeve providing very high bending rigidity at low weight. The spacers may be fabricated from low-density foams, pseudo-concrete, fibrous composites, or metals, depending upon the application. The outer sleeve may also be fabricated from a variety of materials, depending upon whether the embodiment calls for the principal bending rigidity to be provided by the spacers or sleeve.

Abstract: The Improved Aseismic System of the present invention isolates a structure from seismic forces, and wind forces and seismic forces combined. During an earthquake the structure will slide on seismic filters, while gas dampeners act as shock absorbers to absorb the tremors and keep the structure from impacting its foundation. Fluid flow control assemblies control the flow of incompressible fluid between the double-action ram assemblies and the gas dampeners. Seismic filters provide a frictionless base for the structure support pillars to isolate them from the foundation and any forces which would otherwise be transmitted from the foundation to the structure's support pillars.

Abstract: In a structure for installing a viscous vibration-damping wall, high-strength bolt hole portions are provided for connecting a lower-floor girder and a base plate forming part of the wall. Gusset plates are disposed on both sides of the group of the high-strength bolt hole portions. A pair of flange plates are respectively provided with a pair of gusset plates. High-strength bolt hole portions and a pair of gusset plates for connection to opposing gusset plates are embedded in a flange of the lower-floor girder, to connect the viscous vibration-damping wall and the lower-floor girder. The viscous vibration-damping wall is connected to an upper-floor girder by directly connecting a gusset plate fixed to the upper-floor girder and an intermediate plate of the viscous vibration-damping wall.

Abstract: An energy absorbing seismic brace for both retrofit and new construction. The brace comprises a central strut of either multi-legged or homogeneous section fabricated from low strength aluminum, whose characteristics maximize the seismic energy absorption for a building installation. This central strut absorbs energy at high weight-specific levels by virtue of the hysteresis in its load-deflection relationship. In order to eliminate the possibility of buckling of the energy absorbing strut when it passes through the compression portion of a load cycle, it is surrounded by a system of spacers and an external sleeve providing very high bending rigidity at low weight. The spacers may be fabricated from low-density foams, pseudo-concrete, fibrous composites, or metals, depending upon the application. The outer sleeve may also be fabricated from a variety of materials, depending upon whether the embodiment calls for the principal bending rigidity to be provided by the spacers or sleeve.

Abstract: The Improved Aseismic System of the present invention includes five major components which interact to isolate a structure from seismic forces and wind forces and seismic forces combined. These five components are: the double-action hydraulic ram assemblies, the gas dampeners, the fluid flow control assemblies, the wind-sensitive pressure generators, and the seismic filters. Each double-action hydraulic ram assembly includes a large cylindrical housing encasing a hydraulic ram with a single two-side piston centered axially on the ram. During an earthquake the structure will slide on the rams depending on the direction of the motion caused by the tremor. The gas dampeners act as shock absorbers to absorb the tremors and keep the structure from impacting its foundation. The fluid flow control assemblies control the flow of incompressible fluid between the double-action hydraulic ram assemblies and the gas dampeners.

Abstract: A base isolation device used for the purpose of absorbing a quake of the ground by, for example, an earthquake to thereby reduce the quake of a building, or used for the purpose of reducing a quake applied to a precision machinery and tool in transportation etc. of the precision machinery and tool. The base isolation device comprises 1st and 2nd track rails disposed orthogonally to each other, a 1st slide member freely linearly movable along the 1st track rail, a 2nd slide member connected to the 1st slide member and freely linearly movable along the 2nd track rail, a ball screw for converting a linear motion of the 2nd slide member into a rotary motion, a rotary sleeve to which a rotation is given by the ball screw, a stationary sleeve forming an action chamber of damping force between it and an outer periphery face of the rotary sleeve, and a viscous fluid sealed in the action chamber.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a friction resistance generator capable of always generating a stable frictional force even if the opposed surfaces of a rotary member and a passive member have a curved shape such as a circumferential surface or a spherical surface. In the present invention, when the rotary member is rotated in the predetermined direction while a load is applied to the passive member, the rollers supported rotatably on one of the rotary member and the passive member rotate while being in contact with the rotary member or the passive member, thereby generating a frictional force according to the load on the rollers. In this case, the rollers are installed rotatably on either one of the opposed surfaces of the rotary member and the passive member, and the rollers are arranged so as to be capable of coming into contact with the other of the opposed surfaces of the rotary member and the passive member.

Abstract: A first plate member and a second plate member are attached to a column member in such a manner as to be capable of undergoing relative displacement, and a viscoelastic material is disposed fixedly between the two plate members. As an alternative arrangement, a casing and a plate member inserted in the casing are attached to the column member in such a manner as to be capable of undergoing relative displacement, and a viscous material is filled in the casing. Drag occurs with respect to the plate member in conjunction with the vibration of the column member, thereby damping a structure.

Abstract: Device (1) able to limit the amplitude of the relative movement of two elements of a civil engineering structure and for absorbing the deformation energy of this structure when the latter is subjected to an accidental stress. The device (1) includes: at least one portion able to undergo a plastic deformation at the time of the relative movement of the two elements of said structure, means for guiding the plastic deformation of the portion able to undergo a plastic deformation, the portion able to undergo a plastic deformation and the guiding means forming a single piece element.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for protecting a structural object from the potentially harmful effects of a cyclic event such as an earthquake or high wind loads. A fluid spring is employed to stiffen the structural object and absorb kinetic energy stored by the spring. Fluid from the spring is exchanged with an accumulator where kinetic energy is dissipated as heat. A flow circuit regulates the exchange of fluid between the spring chamber and the accumulator chamber under controlled conditions to absorb the harmful effects of high external loads and to release the structural object when a high shock load is experienced.