Mechanical attenuator
AssigneeDevelopment Finance Corporation of New Zealand
InventorsRobert I. Skinner, Arnold J. Heine
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A mechanical attenuating system for preventing horizontal forces from being transmitted from a base such as the ground to a structure such as a building or a nuclear reactor resting on that base. The system has two components: a vertical support which allows free relative horizontal movement between structure and base, and horizontal damping. The two can be combined into a single instrument. When the two are used separately, the support may be supplied by rubber or rolling bearings, by flexible columns or by tendons.
Claims13
In a structure such as a building, a bridge or a nuclear reactor said structure resting on a base, the improvement comprising at least one support interposed between a first portion of said structure and said base, said support carrying at least a part of the weight of the structure and having flexibility in a horizontal direction of motion of at least a major portion of the structure and at least one hysteretic energy absorber connected between a further portion of said structure and a further portion of said base for absorbing horizontal accelerating forces originating from earthquakes and consequential motions, said hysteretic energy absorber being substantially unaffected by normal ambient accelerating foces.
A method for attenuating accelerating forces originating from earthquakes and consequential motions between a foundation and a structure such as a building, a bridge or a nuclear reactor resting thereon, comprising the steps of:
- (a) isolating the foundation from the structure by interposing a support between a first portion of said structure and a first portion of said foundation, said support allowing limited relative movement in a horizontal direction between said foundation and said structure, and
- (b) connecting a hysteretic energy absorber between a further portion of said structure and a further portion of said foundation, for absorbing horizontal accelerating forces originating from earthquakes and consequential forces imparted to said structure, said hysteretic energy absorber being substantially unaffected by normal ambient accelerating forces.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.