Self-resetting three-dimensional damping rubber support based on SMA tows

Abstract

The utility model relates to a self-resetting three-dimensional damping rubber support based on SMA tows, and belongs to the field of damping of civil engineering structures. The support comprises an upper connecting plate, a lower connecting plate and a shock insulation rubber support, I-shaped sliding rails are fixed to the upper connecting plate and the lower connecting plate respectively, sliding pieces are connected to the sliding rails in a buckled mode, and multidirectional displacement is coordinated through sliding piece connecting rods; the SMA tow system is composed of a fixing rod, a push-pull rod and an annular tow, the two ends of the SMA tow system are anchored to the sliding rail and the connecting rod respectively, and energy consumption and self-resetting are achieved by stretching the tow through a sliding piece. When an earthquake causes horizontal deformation of the support, the SMA tows utilize the hyperelastic hysteretic characteristic to efficiently dissipate energy, automatically recover deformation after the earthquake and drive the sliding piece to reset. According to the invention, the vertical tensile function, the horizontal bidirectional free deformation function and the self-resetting function are integrated, the structure is simplified through the sliding rail-sliding piece module, a complex mechanical device is avoided, and the energy consumption efficiency and the engineering applicability are remarkably improved. And the problems of large residual deformation, poor multidirectional coordination and material fatigue are solved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model belongs to the field of vibration reduction in civil engineering structures, and relates to a self-resetting three-dimensional vibration-damping rubber bearing based on SMA filament bundles. Background Technology

[0002] In the field of building and bridge engineering, seismic isolation rubber bearings are widely used as important damping devices to reduce the impact of earthquakes on structures. Traditional seismic isolation rubber bearings achieve horizontal energy dissipation through the shear deformation and damping characteristics of the rubber layer, but they still have significant shortcomings in terms of vertical tensile capacity, horizontal bidirectional energy dissipation efficiency, and post-earthquake self-setting performance. Studies have shown that the tensile stiffness and compressive properties of rubber materials differ greatly, making seismic isolation bearings prone to tensile failure when subjected to seismic overturning moments or strong vertical earthquakes. To solve this problem, engineering projects often use the addition of tensile limiting devices or improvements to bearing design, but these methods often sacrifice horizontal seismic isolation effects and are difficult to simultaneously meet multi-directional seismic resistance requirements.

[0003] While traditional rubber bearings possess a certain shear deformation capacity for horizontal bidirectional energy dissipation, their energy dissipation efficiency is limited due to their damping characteristics, making it difficult to meet the seismic reduction requirements under high-intensity earthquakes. Furthermore, the insufficient coordination of longitudinal and lateral deformation under multi-directional seismic loading can easily lead to excessive deformation in one direction, affecting the overall energy dissipation effect. More significantly, the residual deformation of rubber bearings after an earthquake cannot automatically recover, requiring external intervention for resetting. This not only increases maintenance costs but can also damage structural function. Existing improved technologies include lead-core rubber bearings that enhance energy dissipation capacity through the plastic deformation of the lead core; however, the non-recoverable nature of the lead core makes it prone to failure in multiple earthquakes and cannot achieve self-resetting. While composite bearings based on shape memory alloys (SMA) can utilize the material's hyperelastic properties to achieve self-resetting, existing designs are mostly limited to single-directional resetting and rely on complex mechanical structures (such as springs and sliders), resulting in high manufacturing costs and limited durability.

[0004] Further research indicates that existing SMA composite bearings exhibit poor coordination under multi-directional seismic loading, making it difficult to simultaneously meet the synergistic requirements of vertical tensile strength, horizontal bidirectional energy dissipation, and self-resetting function. Furthermore, the high cost of SMA materials, the difficulty in applying prestress, and fatigue issues also limit their practical application. Although some literature proposes improving performance through structural layout optimization, these solutions still suffer from problems such as low matching accuracy between the slide rail and sliding components, and interference between the connecting rod and rubber deformation, failing to achieve stable and reliable three-dimensional vibration reduction effects in complex seismic scenarios. Utility Model Content

[0005] In view of this, the purpose of this utility model is to provide a new type of support with simple structure, controllable cost, and the ability to simultaneously improve vertical load-bearing capacity, horizontal energy dissipation and self-resetting capacity, so as to break through the limitations of the existing technology and meet the needs of modern engineering for high-efficiency seismic performance.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, this utility model provides the following technical solution:

[0007] A self-resetting three-dimensional vibration-damping rubber bearing based on SMA filament bundles, comprising:

[0008] An upper connecting plate and a lower connecting plate; a seismic isolation rubber bearing, disposed between the upper connecting plate and the lower connecting plate; an upper slide rail and a lower slide rail made of I-beams, respectively fixed to the lower surface of the upper connecting plate and the upper surface of the lower connecting plate; an upper sliding member and a lower sliding member composed of C-shaped steel components, respectively fastened to the upper slide rail and the lower slide rail; a sliding member connecting rod, connecting the intersection of the upper sliding member and the lower sliding member; and an SMA module connected between the sliding member connecting rod and the upper slide rail and the lower slide rail, wherein the SMA module utilizes hyperelastic properties to provide self-resetting force and enhance the energy dissipation capacity of the support.

[0009] Optionally, the SMA module includes a first SMA bundle fixing rod, a second first SMA bundle fixing rod, an SMA bundle push-pull rod, and an annular SMA bundle, wherein:

[0010] The first SMA filament fixing rod is fixed to the upper or lower slide rail, the second SMA filament fixing rod is fixed to the sliding member connecting rod, and the SMA filament push-pull rod is fixed to the upper or lower sliding member. The two ends of the annular SMA filament are respectively connected to the first SMA filament fixing rod and the second SMA filament fixing rod, and the tensile deformation is achieved by the SMA filament push-pull rod sliding with the sliding member.

[0011] The superelastic properties of the SMA filaments are used to provide self-resetting force and enhance the energy dissipation capacity of the support.

[0012] Optionally, the sliding connecting rods are located at the four corners of the support.

[0013] Optionally, the upper slide rail and the lower slide rail are fixed to the upper connecting plate and the lower connecting plate respectively by bolts or welding.

[0014] Optionally, the sliding connecting rod is spaced apart from the deformation area of ​​the rubber support.

[0015] Optionally, the I-shaped cross-sectional dimensions of the upper and lower slide rails are adapted to the snap-fit ​​structure of the C-shaped sliding member.

[0016] Optionally, the SMA filaments are arranged in a ring.

[0017] The beneficial effects of this utility model are as follows:

[0018] The self-resetting three-dimensional damping rubber bearing based on SMA filament bundle proposed in this utility model significantly improves the overall performance of traditional seismic isolation bearings through innovative structural design and material application, specifically in the following aspects:

[0019] High efficiency in self-resetting capability and energy dissipation performance

[0020] The hyperelastic properties of SMA (Superelastic Molecular Weighted Abrasive) filaments are the core driving force for support displacement recovery. When an earthquake causes horizontal deformation in the support, the sliding member slides along the track and stretches the SMA filaments, inducing them into a hyperelastic deformation stage. During this process, the SMA filaments convert seismic energy into heat energy through their hysteretic energy dissipation characteristics under large strain, significantly improving the support's energy dissipation efficiency. After the earthquake, the hyperelastic restoring force of the SMA filaments drives the sliding member to move in the opposite direction along the track, causing the support to automatically return to its initial position. Compared to traditional lead-core rubber bearings that rely on irreversible plastic deformation for energy dissipation, the cyclic stability of the SMA filaments can support reliable reset under multiple earthquakes, effectively avoiding the impact of residual deformation on structural function.

[0021] Coordinated control of vertical tensile strength and horizontal multi-directional deformation

[0022] Traditional seismic isolation rubber bearings have a tensile strength far lower than their compressive strength, making them prone to tensile failure under strong vertical earthquakes or overturning moments. This design utilizes an I-shaped structure of upper and lower sliding rails, combined with a C-shaped sliding member connection, to create a rigid vertical constraint, ensuring the bearing can still slide freely horizontally while bearing tensile forces. Sliding member connecting rods are located at the four corners of the bearing, and through rigid connections, coordinate the displacement of the longitudinal and transverse sliding members, enabling the bearing to evenly distribute deformation under multi-directional seismic loading and avoiding the risk of failure due to localized stress concentration.

[0023] Structural simplification and improved engineering applicability

[0024] Existing SMA composite bearings often rely on complex mechanical structures such as springs and sliders to achieve the reset function, which not only increases manufacturing costs but also affects long-term reliability due to component wear. This solution eliminates redundant devices, achieving energy dissipation and reset functions solely through the synergistic action of the slide rail-slider module and the SMA wire bundles. The slide rail uses I-beam steel components, directly fixed to the connecting plate by bolts or welding, simplifying the installation process. The C-shaped sliding element's interlocking design ensures vertical tensile stiffness while reducing frictional losses. Furthermore, the SMA wire bundles are arranged in a ring and pre-tensioned, further optimizing the reset response speed and material utilization. This highly integrated design makes the bearing both lightweight and highly reliable, suitable for various scenarios such as bridges, high-rise buildings, and large-span spatial structures.

[0025] Comprehensive improvement of seismic performance in multiple dimensions

[0026] Improvements in energy dissipation or recovery capacity in traditional seismic isolation bearings often come at the expense of other performance aspects. For example, adding tensile limiting devices may restrict horizontal deformation capacity, while the introduction of lead cores can exacerbate residual displacement. This solution achieves bidirectional free deformation in the horizontal direction through a slide rail-slider module, while the symmetrical arrangement of SMA wire bundles ensures that both longitudinal and lateral deformations trigger energy dissipation and recovery mechanisms. Simultaneously, the core functions of the seismic isolation rubber bearing (vertical bearing capacity, shear deformation, and base isolation) remain unaffected by additional structures, thus fully preserving the seismic isolation advantages of traditional bearings while improving tensile and recovery capabilities.

[0027] Long lifespan and low maintenance costs

[0028] The high fatigue life and corrosion resistance of SMA material ensure stable performance during long-term seismic cycles, avoiding the problem of plastic cumulative damage associated with lead-core bearings. The steel surfaces of the slide rails and sliding components can be treated with anti-corrosion coatings, further extending their service life. Furthermore, the bearing's automatic reset characteristic significantly reduces the need for post-earthquake manual intervention, making it particularly suitable for projects in remote areas with poor transportation or difficult maintenance.

[0029] In summary, this solution achieves breakthrough optimizations in vertical tensile strength, horizontal bidirectional energy dissipation, self-resetting efficiency, and engineering applicability through structural innovation and material properties, providing reliable protection for structural safety in complex seismic environments.

[0030] Other advantages, objectives, and features of this invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following examination and study, or may be learned from practice of this invention. The objectives and other advantages of this invention can be realized and obtained through the following description. Attached Figure Description

[0031] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this utility model clearer, the preferred embodiments of this utility model will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0032] Figure 1 A schematic diagram showing the deformation of the SMA filament bundle to the left;

[0033] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of an undeformed SMA filament bundle.

[0034] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of SMA filament bundle deforming to the right;

[0035] Figure 4 This is a first-person perspective illustration of the proposed solution.

[0036] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram from another perspective of the proposed solution;

[0037] Figure 6 This is the isometric drawing of this scheme;

[0038] Figure 7 A schematic diagram showing the solution without the upper connecting plate;

[0039] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the slide rail configuration in this scheme;

[0040] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the sliding component structure in this design.

[0041] Reference numerals: 1 Upper connecting plate, 2 Lower connecting plate, 3 Vibration isolation rubber bearing, 4 Upper slide rail, 5 Lower slide rail, 6 Upper sliding member, 7 Lower sliding member, 8 Sliding member connecting rod, 9 First SMA filament fixing rod, 10 Second SMA filament fixing rod, 11 SMA filament push-pull rod, 12 SMA filament. Detailed Implementation

[0042] The following specific examples illustrate the implementation of this utility model. Those skilled in the art can easily understand other advantages and effects of this utility model from the content disclosed in this specification. This utility model can also be implemented or applied through other different specific embodiments, and various details in this specification can also be modified or changed based on different viewpoints and applications without departing from the spirit of this utility model. It should be noted that the illustrations provided in the following embodiments are only schematic representations of the basic concept of this utility model. Unless otherwise specified, the following embodiments and features can be combined with each other.

[0043] The accompanying drawings are for illustrative purposes only and are schematic diagrams, not actual pictures. They should not be construed as limiting the present invention. To better illustrate the embodiments of the present invention, some parts in the drawings may be omitted, enlarged, or reduced, and do not represent the actual product dimensions. It is understandable to those skilled in the art that some well-known structures and their descriptions may be omitted in the drawings.

[0044] In the accompanying drawings of this utility model, the same or similar reference numerals correspond to the same or similar components. In the description of this utility model, it should be understood that if terms such as "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "front," and "rear" indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the drawings, they are only for the convenience of describing this utility model and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, the terms used to describe positional relationships in the drawings are only for illustrative purposes and should not be construed as limiting this utility model. For those skilled in the art, the specific meaning of the above terms can be understood according to the specific circumstances.

[0045] Please see Figures 1-9 The implementation method of the self-resetting three-dimensional damping rubber bearing based on SMA filament bundle in this scheme is as follows:

[0046] Device assembly and core component connection

[0047] First, the upper connecting plate 1 is fixed to the superstructure (such as a bridge beam or building frame) with bolts, and the lower connecting plate 2 is connected to the foundation in the same way. A seismic isolation rubber bearing 3 is installed between the lower surface of the upper connecting plate 1 and the upper surface of the lower connecting plate 2. This bearing is bonded to the upper and lower connecting plates through a vulcanization process and is used to bear vertical loads and provide horizontal shear deformation capacity.

[0048] An I-shaped upper slide rail 4 is installed on the lower surface of the upper connecting plate 1, and a lower slide rail 5 is fixed to the upper surface of the lower connecting plate 2 by the same I-shaped steel component. Both are fastened to the connecting plate by bolts or welding. The I-shaped cross-section design of the upper slide rail 4 and the lower slide rail 5 is adapted to the snap-fit ​​structure of the C-shaped sliding component.

[0049] The upper sliding member 6 is composed of two C-shaped steel components, which are connected to the I-shaped flange of the upper sliding rail 4 by a snap-fit ​​mechanism, achieving vertical tensile constraint and horizontal unidirectional free sliding. The lower sliding member 7 adopts the same structure and is snapped to the lower sliding rail 5. The sliding member connecting rods 8 are arranged at the four corners of the support, connecting the intersection ends of the upper sliding member 6 and the lower sliding member 7 respectively. The rigid rods coordinate the longitudinal and lateral sliding displacements, ensuring the synchronization of multi-directional deformation.

[0050] Installation and configuration of SMA tow system

[0051] In each slide rail-slider module, the first SMA wire bundle fixing rod 9 is fixed to the end of the upper slide rail 4 or the lower slide rail 5, and the second SMA wire bundle fixing rod 10 is fixed to the end of the slider connecting rod 8 near the slider. The SMA wire bundle push-pull rod 11 is fixed to the side wall of the upper slider 6 or the lower slider 7 and moves synchronously with the slider. The two ends of the annular SMA wire bundle 12 are respectively connected to the first SMA wire bundle fixing rod 9 and the second SMA wire bundle fixing rod 10, and the middle part passes around the SMA wire bundle push-pull rod 11 to form an annular path.

[0052] Specifically, four sets of SMA filament systems are arranged in each horizontal direction (longitudinal and transverse), for a total of eight sets. During installation, a pre-tension is applied to the SMA filaments 12 to enhance their reset response speed. The hyperelastic material properties of the SMA filaments 12 enable them to generate hysteresis energy dissipation during tensile deformation and automatically return to their original length after unloading.

[0053] Workflow and Self-Reset Mechanism

[0054] When an earthquake induces horizontal forces, the seismic isolation rubber bearing 3 undergoes shear deformation, causing relative displacement between the upper connecting plate 1 and the lower connecting plate 2. At this time, the upper sliding member 6 and the lower sliding member 7 slide along the upper sliding rail 4 and the lower sliding rail 5, respectively, and the sliding member connecting rod 8 moves accordingly, pushing the SMA wire bundle push-pull rod 11 to stretch the annular SMA wire bundle 12. The SMA wire bundle 12 enters the hyperelastic deformation stage, dissipating seismic energy through large strain hysteresis.

[0055] After the earthquake, the superelastic restoring force of the SMA wire bundle 12 drives the SMA wire bundle push-pull rod 11 to move in the opposite direction, causing the sliding member to reset along the slide rail. At the same time, the sliding member connecting rod 8 coordinates the displacement of the four corners, ensuring that the support as a whole uniformly returns to its initial position and avoids residual deformation.

[0056] Key parameters and optimization design

[0057] The I-shaped cross-sectional dimensions of the upper slide rail 4 and the lower slide rail 5 must match the interlocking gap of the C-shaped upper sliding member 6 and the lower sliding member 7 to ensure smooth sliding and meet the vertical tensile stiffness requirements.

[0058] The preload of SMA filament bundle 12 is determined according to the design displacement, and is usually 20%-30% of the ultimate tensile force of the filament bundle, in order to balance the reset efficiency and the fatigue life of the material.

[0059] The shear modulus of the seismic isolation rubber bearing 3 and the stiffness of the SMA filament bundle 12 need to be designed in coordination to avoid mutual interference between rubber deformation and filament stretching.

[0060] Application Scenarios and Extensions

[0061] This bearing is suitable for the seismic isolation requirements of bridges, high-rise buildings, and industrial plants. For long-span bridges, the energy dissipation capacity can be increased by increasing the number of SMA wire bundles; for building structures, the length of the sliding rail can be adjusted to accommodate different inter-story drift angle requirements.

[0062] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solution of this utility model and are not intended to limit it. Although this utility model has been described in detail with reference to preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications or equivalent substitutions can be made to the technical solution of this utility model without departing from the spirit and scope of this technical solution, and all such modifications or substitutions should be covered within the scope of the claims of this utility model.

Claims

1. A self-resetting three-dimensional vibration-damping rubber bearing based on SMA filament bundles, characterized in that, include: Upper connecting plate (1) and lower connecting plate (2); The seismic isolation rubber bearing (3) is disposed between the upper connecting plate (1) and the lower connecting plate (2); The upper slide rail (4) and lower slide rail (5) made of I-beams are fixed to the lower surface of the upper connecting plate (1) and the upper surface of the lower connecting plate (2), respectively. The upper sliding member (6) and the lower sliding member (7), which are composed of C-shaped steel components, are respectively connected to the upper slide rail (4) and the lower slide rail (5); The sliding member connecting rod (8) connects the intersection of the upper sliding member (6) and the lower sliding member (7); And an SMA module connected between the sliding connecting rod (8) and the upper slide rail (4) and the lower slide rail (5), the SMA module utilizing hyperelasticity to provide self-resetting force and enhance the energy dissipation capacity of the support.

2. The support according to claim 1, characterized in that, The SMA module includes a first SMA bundle fixing rod (9), a second SMA bundle fixing rod (10), an SMA bundle push-pull rod (11), and an annular SMA bundle (12), wherein: The first SMA filament fixing rod (9) is fixed to the upper slide rail (4) or the lower slide rail (5), the second SMA filament fixing rod (10) is fixed to the sliding member connecting rod (8), and the SMA filament push-pull rod (11) is fixed to the upper sliding member (6) or the lower sliding member (7). The two ends of the annular SMA filament (12) are respectively connected to the first SMA filament fixing rod (9) and the second SMA filament fixing rod (10), and the SMA filament push-pull rod (11) slides with the sliding member to achieve tensile deformation. The superelastic properties of the SMA filament bundle (12) are used to provide self-resetting force and enhance the energy dissipation capacity of the support.

3. The support according to claim 1, characterized in that, The sliding connecting rod (8) is located at the four corners of the support.

4. The support according to claim 1, characterized in that, The upper slide rail (4) and the lower slide rail (5) are fixed to the upper connecting plate (1) and the lower connecting plate (2) respectively by bolts or welding.

5. The support according to claim 1, characterized in that, The sliding connecting rod (8) and the deformation area of ​​the rubber support (3) are kept at a distance.

6. The support according to claim 1, characterized in that, The I-shaped cross-sectional dimensions of the upper slide rail (4) and the lower slide rail (5) are adapted to the snap-fit ​​structure of the C-shaped sliding component.

7. The support according to claim 1, characterized in that, The SMA filament bundle (12) is arranged in a ring.

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