The present invention is directed to a brace apparatus having a core member configured to absorb energy generated by seismic or other forces by undergoing plastic deformation. A buckling restraining assembly is included for maintaining the structural integrity of the brace after the core member has undergone plastic deformation. The buckling restraining assembly includes one or more bearings is located proximal the core member. The bearings are adapted to minimize friction between the core member and the buckling restraining apparatus. An air gap is positioned between the core member and the one or more bearings of the buckling restraining apparatus are adapted to prevent bonding of the core member and buckling restraining assembly. Projections are included in the core member of the brace apparatus to minimize movement of the middle portion of the core member relative to the buckling restraining assembly.

Bearing brace apparatus

The present invention generally relates to a self-centering energy dissipative brace apparatus. A bracing system is often needed to stabilize, strengthen or stiffen structures such as buildings which are subjected to severe or extreme conditions. The brace apparatus may be installed in a structure to dissipate input energy and minimize residual deformations related to exceptional loading imposed on the structure by winds, earthquakes, impacts or explosions. The apparatus integrates self-centering properties and energy, dissipative capacities which help minimize structural damage.

Self-centering energy dissipative brace apparatus with tensioning elements

A seismic brace includes an elongated central brace unit and a rigid restraining member The central brace unit has two ends adapted to be connected fixedly to a framework of a building, and a middle portion interconnecting the ends and having a cross-sectional area that is smaller than those of the ends The restraining member is disposed around the middle portion of the central brace unit in a tight fit manner so as to prevent buckling of the central brace unit when the building is subjected to an earthquake, and includes two halves that are interconnected removably

Seismic brace with a removable restraining member disposed around a middle portion of an elongated central brace unit

The present invention relates to structural braces More particularly, the present invention relates to a brace apparatus that has an effective length capable of undergoing plastic deformation that is greater than the length of the brace apparatus The brace apparatus has a first core member having a deformable region of an effective deformable length and a second core member having a deformable region of an effective deformable length The total effective deformable length of the brace apparatus is the sum of the effective deformable length of the first core member and the second core member This allows the brace apparatus to have a greater deformable length relative to the length and size of the brace Additionally, the greater deformable length reduces the strain on the core members enabling the brace apparatus to undergo a greater amount of deformation for a larger number of total cycles without buckling the brace

Double core brace

A yielding fuse device is provided for use in association with a brace member in a bracing assembly for a structural frame. The device includes arms or elements that yield flexurally when a bracing member moves in an axial direction, with the bracing assembly under either tension or compression loading conditions. The device of the present invention is particularly useful as a mass customized cast device. The device is well suited for seismic bracing applications.

Cast structural yielding fuse

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent the local buckling of a brace core material by forming a slit on both the ends of a buckling restraint material, and inserting the rib of the brace core material into the slit. SOLUTION: A buckling restraint material 3 sandwiching the intermediate part of a brace core material 2 in the plate thickness direction is assembled on the brace core material 2 projecting a rib 22 on both the ends, and the deformation of the plate thickness direction of the brace core material 2 is restrained. Then, a slit 33 whose end face side is opened is formed on both the ends of the buckling restraint material 3, and the rib 22 of the brace core material 2 is inserted in the slit 33. A cover plate and a stiffner are welded around the slit 33 to be reinforced around the slit 33. In addition, a sheet-like cushioning material 4 is provided between the brace core material 2 and the buckling restraint material 3, and the transmission of friction force is cut off between the brace core material 2 and the buckling restraint material 3. Thereby a reinforcing section due to the rib 22 and a restraint section due to the buckling restraint material 3 are overlapped, and the local buckling of the brace core material 3 can be prevented.

Buckling restraint brace

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an elasto-plastic, visco-elastic brace of a low cost which can reduce response of a structure effectively for both seismic load and wind load. SOLUTION: A buckling constraint material 2 is arranged around the section of a core material 1 constituting brace. The core material 1 does not buckle, but makes elasto-plastic deformation for external force, and functions as an elasto-plastic damper. A longitudinal rib 3 extending in axial direction is established in an end of the core material 1, and gets into a slit 4 of an end of the buckling constraint material 2. Between this longitudinal rib 3 and a connecting member 8 for visco-elastic damper provided on the buckling restriction member 2, the visco-elastic damper 6 made of lamination of a visco-elastic material 7 and the connecting member 8 is attached. COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Elasto-plastic, visco-elastic brace

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vibration control device and vibration control structure for a joint part, having a very large capacity of absorbing vibration energy in the case of an earthquake or a gale. SOLUTION: The vibration control device 4 is fitted to the inside of a joint part (connection part) of a column 1 and a beam 2 of a wooden framework. The vibration control device 4 is formed by fixed parts 4b fixed to the side parts of the column 1 and the beam 2, respectively, and a deforming part provided between the fixed parts 4b, 4b on both sides to be bent in the direction of the in-plane of structure or the out of plane of structure of the framework, whereby the displacement of the joint is absorbed by deformation in the direction of the in-plane of structure or the out-of-plane of structure of the framework.

Vibration control device and vibration control structure of joint part

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an earthquake damper having stable hysteresis characteristics at a low price and to replace easily after a large deformation due to a great earthquake, which has a small space required for installation and can be built in the main framing without projecting into an occupancy room in the earthquake damper to be built in a principle framing of a structure. SOLUTION: This damping device has a plurality of openings as plastic deformation section 2a at one end side in material axis direction of a web 2, other end side being an attaching portion 2c through a deformation absorbing portion 2b, an outer side flange 3 is provided at the plastic deformation portion 2a and attaching portion 2c, two sets of steel earthquake dampers 1 having inner side flanges 4 at the plastic deformation portion 2a are arranged so as to clamp a beam web near the jointing portion of the steel column and beam by the inner side flanges 4, 4, the inner side flange is spliced to a beam web and fixed with bolts and the attaching portions 2c, 2c and outer side flange 3 of two sets of steel earthquake damper are fixed to a steel column through an attaching bracket.

Steel earthquake damper and damping device using the same

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a submerged arc weld metal of high tensile strength steel having a tensile strength of ≥900 MPa, which is subjected to multilayer build up welding by submerged arc welding in the combination of solid wire and bond flux, from which satisfactory strength and stable toughness can be obtained, and whose working property in welding is satisfactory, and which is free from welding defects. SOLUTION: The submerged arc weld metal of high tensile strength steel obtained by being subjected to multilayer build up welding by submerged arc welding in the combination of solid wire and bond flux has a composition comprising per total mass of the weld metal, by mass, 0.04 to 0.09% C, 0.20 to 0.35% Si, 1.6 to 2.3% Mn, 2.5 to 3.0% Ni, 0.55 to 1.0% Cr and 0.55 to 1.0% Mo, and comprising ≤0.20% Cu, ≤0.022% O and ≤0.006% N, and the balance Fe with inevitable impurities. COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

康生一戸

Papers

Buckling restraint brace

Elasto-plastic, visco-elastic brace

Vibration control device and vibration control structure of joint part

Steel earthquake damper and damping device using the same

Submerged arc weld metal of high tensile strength steel

康生 一戸

Papers

Buckling restraint brace

Elasto-plastic, visco-elastic brace

Vibration control device and vibration control structure of joint part

Steel earthquake damper and damping device using the same

Submerged arc weld metal of high tensile strength steel

康生一戸