Building structure configured to exhibit a prescribed load-deflection relationship when a force is applied thereto
AssigneeEi-Land Corporation
InventorsJohn Hulls, Rory R. Davis
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A structure, including: at least two structural members; a joining element connected to the at least two structural members; and at least one active element within the joining element, or between the joining element and at least one of the structural members, wherein a force applied to one structural member passes at least partially through the active element and into the other structural member, the active element being configured such that the structure exhibits a prescribed load-deflection relationship when a force is applied thereto.
Claims76
A structure, comprising:
- at least two structural members;
- a joining element connected to the at least two structural members;
- and
- at least one active element within the joining element, or between the joining element and at least one of the structural members, wherein a force applied to one structural member passes at least partially through the active element and into the other structural member, the active element being configured such that the structure exhibits a prescribed load-deflection relationship when a force is applied thereto,
- wherein the prescribed load-deflection relationship includes energy dissipation from cyclically repeatable hysteretic plastic flexing of the at least one active element.
A method of configuring a structure to exhibit a prescribed load-deflection relationship when a force is applied thereto, comprising:
- joining at least two structural members with a joining element having at least one active element therein, the active element at least partially passing a force therethrough, wherein the active element is configured such that the structure exhibits a prescribed load-deflection relationship when a force is applied thereto, and wherein the prescribed load-deflection relationship includes energy dissipation from cyclically repeatable hysteretic plastic flexing of the at least one active element.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.