Self-centering impact energy dissipation mechanism

A self-centering mechanism for dissipating energy transmitted through an impact load, for mounting on ground, foundation or in a structure, applicable as a road, port, railway or passive safety element for protection of the respective vehicles or structures against a collision comprising:

• at least one rigid element arranged as a side of a triangle whose base side rests on said ground, foundation or structure, and is articulatedly assembled, with a first end at the apex of said triangle, a midpoint pivoted to an intermediate element, which is articulated in regard to a point on the base side of the triangle, and with a second end pivoted in regard to at least one friction element;
• wherein said at least one friction element has a longitudinally extended body and a free end which are arranged in a direction of the base side of the triangle, covering a distance greater than projection of the rigid element on said base side;
• a friction dissipation member, comprising rigid and stackably assembled elements or pressure plates having cavities defined therebetween for slidably receiving and fitting to said at least one friction element in a portion of its longitudinal extension, wherein a pressure element is fixedly supported against the ground, foundation or structure;
• at least one elastic element arranged with its axis in the direction of the degree of freedom of the mechanism and perpendicular to the base side of the triangle, is pivotally attached by a distal end at the apex of the triangle to a panel arranged to receive the impact load and to said at least one rigid element, and its proximal end is fixedly supported against the pressure element to transmit a pressure force to each friction element between the pressure elements;
• wherein said at least one friction element and at least one rigid element are attached by a coupling element that connects them with at least one sliding support that rests against the ground, foundation or structure allowing sliding of each friction element in the direction perpendicular to the impact load when it compresses the elastic element modifying the triangular geometry of the mechanism and allowing friction dissipation of the energy imposed by the impact load.