Composite sleeve rod axial dampener for buildings and structures

• US 10,047,537 B2
• Filed: 05/19/2017
• Issued: 08/14/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wasatch Composite Analysis, LLC
• Original Assignee: Wasatch Composite Analysis, LLC
• Inventors: Douglas, Timothy A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Demuren, Babajide A
• Application Number:
  US15/600,376
• Publication Number:
  US 20170335588A1
• Time in Patent Office: 452 Days
• CPC Class Codes: E02D 27/34 Foundations for sinking or earthquake territories building constructions with protection arrangements against earthquakes E04H9/02
• CPC Class Codes: E04G 23/0218 Increasing or restoring the load-bearing capacity of building construction elements E04G23/0203 and E04G23/0266 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 9/0215 involving active or passive dynamic mass damping systems
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 9/0237 Structural braces with damping devices
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 9/027 Preventive constructional measures against earthquake damage in existing buildings
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 2224/0241 Fibre-reinforced plastics [FRP]
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 7/124 characterised by their special construction from fibre-reinforced plastics
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 7/125 Units with a telescopic-like action as one member moves into, or out of a second member F16F7/124, F16F7/127, F16F7/128 take precedence

Abstract

Axial buckling restrained braces are provided. In various embodiments, a device comprises a plurality of cylindrical sleeves arranged parallel to each other. Each of the plurality of sleeves has an interior surface defining an interior region. A plastically deformable rod is arranged within the interior region of each of the plurality of sleeves. The plastically deformable rod is adapted to assume a helical shape upon compression.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a plurality of cylindrical sleeves arranged parallel to each other, each of the plurality of sleeves having an interior surface defining an interior region;

a plastically deformable rod arranged within the interior region of each of the plurality of sleeves and adapted to assume a helical shape upon compression;

an end plate, the plurality of cylindrical sleeves being fixed to the end plate at a first end; and

a stiffening member disposed substantially parallel to the plurality of cylindrical sleeves and fixed to the end plate, each rod being connected to the stiffening member.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the surface of the interior region of each of the plurality of sleeves has a coefficient of friction of about 0.06 to about 0.45.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the surface of the interior region of each of the plurality of sleeves comprises a polymer liner.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of cylindrical sleeves is substantially fixed to each other of the plurality of cylindrical sleeves.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein each of the plurality of cylindrical sleeves is fixed by stiffeners.

6. The device of claim 4, wherein the plurality of cylindrical sleeves is overwrapped.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the overwrap comprises fiberglass cloth.

8. The device of claim 6, wherein the overwrap comprises epoxy resin.

9. The device of claim 4, wherein the stiffeners are substantially evenly spaced along the length of the plurality of cylindrical sleeves.

10. The device of claim 1, adapted to allow free motion of the plurality of sleeves relative to the rods at an end opposite the end plate.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the end plate is adapted to be fixed to a building.

12. The device of claim 1, the stiffening member having a substantially cruciform cross-section.

13. The device of claim 1, the stiffening member being adapted to substantially prevent yielding of the rods where attached thereto during compression.

14. The device of claim 1, each of the plurality of cylindrical sleeves having a slot therein, adapted to allow relative coaxial motion between the plurality of cylindrical sleeves and rods without obstruction by the stiffening member.

15. The device of claim 4, wherein the plurality of cylindrical sleeves has a stiffness (EI) of about 1.7×

10⁸ to about 2.0×

10⁶ lb-in².

16. The device of claim 1, the device not including a concrete exoskeleton.

17. The device of claim 1, the device not including a metal exoskeleton.

18. The device of claim 1, the plurality of cylindrical sleeves numbering from 2 to 10.

19. A method of bracing a structure, the method comprising affixing thereto a device comprising:

a plurality of cylindrical sleeves arranged parallel to each other, each of the plurality of sleeves having an interior surface defining an interior region;

a plastically deformable rod arranged within the interior region of each of the plurality of sleeves and adapted to assume a helical shape upon compression;

an end plate, the plurality of cylindrical sleeves being fixed to the end plate at a first end; and

a stiffening member disposed substantially parallel to the plurality of cylindrical sleeves and fixed to the end plate, each rod being connected to the stiffening member.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the surface of the interior region of each of the plurality of sleeves has a coefficient of friction of about 0.06 to about 0.45.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the surface of the interior region of each of the plurality of sleeves comprises a polymer liner.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein each of the plurality of cylindrical sleeves is substantially fixed to each other of the plurality of cylindrical sleeves.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein each of the plurality of cylindrical sleeves is fixed by stiffeners.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the plurality of cylindrical sleeves is overwrapped.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the overwrap comprises fiberglass cloth.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the overwrap comprises epoxy resin.

27. The method of claim 22, wherein the stiffeners are substantially evenly spaced along the length of the plurality of cylindrical sleeves.

28. The method of claim 19, adapted to allow free motion of the plurality of sleeves relative to the rods at an end opposite the end plate.

29. The method of claim 19, wherein the end plate is adapted to be fixed to a building.

30. The method of claim 19, the stiffening member having a substantially cruciform cross-section.

31. The method of claim 19, the stiffening member being adapted to substantially prevent yielding of the rods where attached thereto during compression.

32. The method of claim 19, each of the plurality of cylindrical sleeves having a slot therein, adapted to allow relative coaxial motion between the plurality of cylindrical sleeves and rods without obstruction by the stiffening member.

33. The method of claim 22, wherein the plurality of cylindrical sleeves has a stiffness (EI) of about 1.7×

10⁸ to about 2.0×

10⁶ lb-in².

34. The method of claim 19, the device not including a concrete exoskeleton.

35. The method of claim 19, the device not including a metal exoskeleton.

36. The method of claim 19, the plurality of cylindrical sleeves numbering from 2 to 10.