Techniques for protection of structures from wind and earthquake type stresses

A method of pre-stressing a suspension bridge to prevent structural damage using cable that extends within the pylons of the bridge, comprising:

• setting an anchor in the ground below each pylon and extending cable to run from an anchor end through and along the vertical length of the pylon in a manner which prevents the cable from becoming fixed in position, the anchor being configured with blades that open against the sides of a hole drilled on the ground to pull the structure towards the ground in the presence of increased tensile stresses due to high winds or torque forces brought on seismic events in the ground;
• and
• connecting a protruding end of each cable, at a point at an upper surface of the bridge where the pylons converge, on to either a common tensioning bolt system or to a corresponding tensioning bolt system.

A method of pre-stressing a wood or brick framed building to prevent structural damage using sets of cables that extend vertically along associated columns of the building, comprising:

• setting an anchor in the ground below each column and extending cable to run from an anchor end through and along the vertical length of the respective column in a manner that prevents the cable from becoming fixed in position, the anchor being configured with blades that open against the sides of a hole drilled on the ground to pull the structure towards the ground in the presence of increased tensile stresses due to high winds or torque forces brought on seismic events in the ground;
• and
• connecting a protruding end of each cable above each column, at an upper surface of the building, to either a common tensioning bolt system or to a corresponding tensioning bolt system.