Abstract: To provide sufficient clearance for an entrance part of an elevator hall facing a non-seismic isolation building portion, the partition wall on the entrance side may be removed and an expansion floor provided between the non-seismic isolation building portion entrance and the elevator shaft landing. A movable wall is provided between partition members located on the right and left sides of the elevator shaft. The expansion floor can move in the front and back directions with the partition members on the right and left sides as a guide. Furthermore, the wall moves with the elevator shaft independently in the right and left directions and follows the non-seismic isolation building movement.

Abstract: An interconnected distributed network of actuator devices for the control of damping vibrations in mechanical structures. The network includes at least two actuators and at least two impedances arranged in parallel with respective actuators of the at least two actuators. A transmission line connects the parallel arrangement of the at least two actuators and the at least two impedances thereby forming a continuous distributed network.

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: Disclosed is a seismic load transmitting system based on impact mechanism for a multi-span continuous bridge. There are impact assemblies connected to a superstructure of the bridge for colliding with movable support piers according to a longitudinal displacement of the superstructure of the bridge caused by a seismic load. The seismic load is transmitted from the superstructure of the bridge to the movable support piers. These are impact receiving assemblies installed in the movable support piers for receiving an impact force generated when the movable support piers become collided with the impact assemblies and transmitting the seismic load transferred from the superstructure of the bridge through the impact assemblies to the movable support piers. The seismic load generated in the superstructure of the bridge is transmitted not only to the fixed support piers but also to the moving support piers due to the collision between the impact assemblies and the impact receiving assemblies.

Abstract: In order to design an infrastructure of an elevated bridge, first a target ductility factor &mgr;d and target natural period Td for the infrastructure are set in connection with an assumed earthquake motion. Subsequently, a yield seismic coefficient for the target ductility factor &mgr;d and target natural period Td is obtained from a yield seismic coefficient spectrum for the assumed earthquake motion as a design seismic coefficient Kh. On the other hand, a target yield rigidity Kd corresponding to the target natural period Td is obtained. Subsequently, the design seismic coefficient Kh is used to obtain a design horizontal load bearing capacity Hd and a displacement corresponding to the design horizontal load bearing capacity Hd is obtained as a design yield displacement &dgr;d from the target yield rigidity Kd. Subsequently, the design horizontal load bearing capacity Hd is distributed into a horizontal force Hf to be borne by the RC rigid frame and a horizontal force Hb to be borne by the damper-brace.

Abstract: In a structure for installing a viscous vibration-damping wall 1, the viscous vibration-damping wall 1 is constructed such that a housing 20 with its upper end open is formed by uprightly setting a pair of steel-made side plates on a base plate 8 and by disposing a pair of flange plates 11 on both sides of the pair of side plates, an intermediate plate 14 is inserted in said housing, and a viscous material is placed in its gap portion. The viscous vibration-damping wall 1 is connected to base-plate connecting hole portions 9 and a pair of flange-connecting gusset plates 7 of a rising metal plate 6 fixed on a lower-floor girder 3, and the intermediate plate 14 is directly connected to a gusset plate 13 fixed to an upper-floor girder 4.

Abstract: A multi-floor building is protected from seismic forces by coupling a damping system between a pair of truss columns of truss systems, each movable in a cantilever motion in response to the seismic forces to move opposite nodes of the damping system along an enhanced working stroke as compared to prior art frame constructions.

Abstract: An energy absorbing bearing with a primary application in the seismic isolation of structure from the ground or parts of other structures. It may also be used to dampen other forces on structures on which it is installed. The bearing consists of end plates separated by a laminate of resilient and stiffening layers. There is a plastically deformable insert within the laminate. The laminate interfaces with the end plates in each bearing and is secured near the central axis from end plate to end plate, but not near the peripheries. The advantage provided is allowing a wider range of forces to be absorbed than with known bearings of this type.

Abstract: A seismic isolation system is provided with a swing bearing ring consisting of an upper ring and a lower ring, which are rotatable relatively, between a crane body and a traveling means. A lower vertical shaft of a block pivotally supported on saddles of the crane body is supported by a swing bearing provided at an eccentric position on the upper ring. An automatic restoring mechanism is provided which restores the swing of a horizontal lever, whose proximal end is installed to the upper ring of the swing bearing ring, around the centerline C2.

Abstract: This invention is a modular anti-seismic protection device to be used in buildings and similar constructions. It discloses a modular base, which is to be laid on the ground below a building's foundation plate, to dampen, dissipate, and cancel out seismic waves.

Abstract: Fiber-reinforced composite structures and applications that exhibit inherent damping with little or no sacrifice in strength and that make use of wavy fiber patterns in the plane of the composite laminate. The invention includes the methods and apparatus for manufacturing the wavy composite material, and the use of the material in the construction of practical structures and devices. The fabrication of a wavy fiber pre-preg (fibers preimpregnated with epoxy resin as an example) can be accomplished with an automated control system that permits the creation of non-periodic or mixed wave forms. Combined with conventional laminate structures and/or materials, these wavy composite materials allow the design engineer to “tune” the dynamics (e.g. damping, stiffness) of a structural member. The use of wavy patterns in the laminate is not limited to the use of traditional epoxies but may also be used in conjunction with specialized matrix materials having inherent viscoelastic properties.

Abstract: An apparatus for mitigating seismic load imposing an overturning bending moment upon a multi-level structure comprises a tensioned tendon having a first end fixedly connected to one of the levels proximate one side of the structure and a second end fixedly secured to another of the levels proximate an opposite side of the structure, wherein the tendon is oriented in space between its first and second ends along a predetermined curve selected to provide optimum reaction to said load by running the tendon through intermediate story levels at calculated locations. The apparatus further comprises a supplemental system for connecting the second end of the tendon to the structure. The supplemental system preferably includes a mechanical energy dissipating device and a sacrificially yielding fuse element arranged in parallel with the mechanical energy dissipating device.

Abstract: A composition for reducing vibrations, including both damping structureborne vibrations and reducing radiated airborne noise. The composition is either a mixture of at least two different granular materials, or is a granular material having a bulk sound speed of less than 90 m/s. The damping properties of a mixture can be calculated from the bulk densities and stiffnesses of its individual components.

Abstract: A damping top which comprises first and second L1 connection members (10, 20) connected to each other so as to connect two relatively displacing points (objects) (L1, L2) to each other, which connection members are fixed at one end thereof to the two points (L1, L2), respectively. The first connection member (10) is formed at its connection side with a guide screw portion (10a), on which is rotatably and slidably mounted a rotating top (integral rotating unit) (16) adapted to be driven by a guide nut (14) threaded onto the screw portion through a ball bearing (12). The second connection member (20) is formed at its connection side in a casing (24) for a chamber (22), which receives therein the rotating top (16), and a damping viscous body (26) is filled in the chamber (22). Thus it is possible to provide a damping device which is simple and small-sized, and provides great damping effects.

Abstract: An extrusion damper for interposing between two members to absorb energy of motion which may be induced between the two comprises an outer jacket (1) surrounding a body of plastically deformable energy absorbing material (3) such as lead and a shaft (2) which moves through the outer jacket to deform the lead during induced motion. The body of lead may be fixed relative to the outer jacket and the shaft has a portion of reduced diameter (2a) which moves through the lead. Alternatively the body of lead may be fixed to the shaft and the outer jacket has a portion of enlarged diameter (21a) through which the energy absorber passes. The body of energy absorbing material may optionally be subjected to approximately hydrostatic pressure preferably exceeding the shear yield stress of the energy absorbing material.

Abstract: A foot structure for an apparatus including a bolt member and a slide cup. The bolt member has a first end fixed to the apparatus and a second end. The slide cup has, at an upper portion, a recess for slidably supporting the second end of the bolt member, and a lower portion fixed to a floor surface. An elastic member surrounds the bolt member, and is fixed to the apparatus and the slide cup. Horizontal movement of the bolt member in the slide cup is limited within the recess, thereby limiting the range of displacement of the apparatus relative to the floor surface.

Abstract: A vibration damper is described. A vibration damper with a high dampening ability is required for a scanner because of the requirement of the 0.18 &mgr;m size devices. The vibration damper is placed between a machine and a floor. The vibration damper has an I-shaped girder structure and a material filling the space between the floor and I-shaped girder structure. A support element having two layers of latticed armatures is mounted on the I-shaped girder structure. The support element is filled with cement. A layer of vibration absorber is placed on the cement.

Abstract: A system and method is described by which the structural integrity of a building or other structure can be increased and made more resistant to earthquake damage. A structural member may be incorporated into a building structure. At least a portion of the structural member is made of a material that undergoes a shape or phase transformation in response to energy applied. This member can alter the natural frequency of the building structure from a first natural frequency to a second natural frequency when the material undergoes the transformation to make destructive resonance less likely to occur.