Steel damper

Abstract

To provide a steel damper which can sufficiently attenuate earthquake energy at the occurrence of an earthquake, can easily confirm a degree of elastic deformation, and can properly determine whether or not the damper is in a state capable of exerting a vibration control function.SOLUTION: A steel damper 10A is formed of first and second connection panels 11, 12, and a damper panel 13a extending between the connection panels 11, 12. The damper panel 13a has a first front-recessed curved face part to a fourth front-recessed curved face part 23a to 23d which are recessed toward a rear face from a front face, and extending in a circular shape in a center region of the front face while drawing a circular arc with a prescribed curvature radius toward a center, and a first rear-recessed curved face part to a fourth rear-recessed curved face part 25a to 25d which are recessed toward the front face from the rear face, and extending in a circular shape in a center region of the rear face while drawing a circular arc with a prescribed curvature radius toward a center, and at the occurrence of an earthquake, the first front-recessed curved face part to the fourth front-recessed curved face part 23a to 23d and the first rear-recessed curved face part to the fourth rear-recessed curved face part 25a to 25d are elastically deformed, thus exerting a vibration control function.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a steel damper that exhibits a vibration control function by plastically deforming a damper panel when vibrations occur due to an earthquake or the like. [Background technology]

[0002] A support structure for a fixed bearing in a bridge is disclosed (see Patent Document 1), which is formed from a movable bearing installed between the upper and lower structures to support the vertical load of the superstructure, and a displacement restraint device installed between the upper and lower structures in combination with the movable bearing to restrain horizontal displacement of the superstructure and allow the movable bearing to function as a fixed bearing, wherein the displacement restraint device comprises a steel damper made of low yield point steel installed on one of the upper and lower structures, and a pair of stoppers installed on the other of the upper and lower structures that are constantly in contact with both ends of the steel damper to fix the damper between the upper and lower structures.

[0003] The steel damper used in this support structure is made from H-shaped steel, and is formed of a panel-like web of a specified thickness and a pair of flanges connected to both sides of the web to prevent deformation of the web. When an earthquake occurs and a horizontal load acts on it, the steel damper undergoes plastic deformation to exert its vibration control function, but because the web and flanges are difficult to plastically deform, they are unable to sufficiently attenuate vibration energy (earthquake energy) when vibrations occur due to earthquakes, etc.

[0004] A variable thickness shear panel type control device for bridges made of low yield point steel material that has been improved to solve the problems of the steel damper disclosed in Patent Document 1 has been disclosed (see Patent Document 2). This variable thickness shear panel type control device for bridges includes a lower connecting part that is connected to the part of the bridge substructure that faces the bridge superstructure, an upper connecting part that is connected to the part of the bridge superstructure that faces the bridge substructure, a plastic deformation part that connects the lower connecting part and the upper connecting part, and a curved recess that is circular in front view and has an increasing recession amount toward the center that is recessed on both the front and back sides of the plastic deformation part. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 3755886 [Patent Document 2] JP 2008-179950 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] In the variable thickness shear panel type control device for bridges disclosed in the above-mentioned Patent Document 2, when an earthquake occurs and a horizontal load acts on it, the plastic deformation part undergoes plastic deformation to exert a seismic control function, thereby attenuating seismic energy when an earthquake occurs. When the plastic deformation part undergoes plastic deformation when an earthquake occurs, the variable thickness shear panel type control device for bridges is replaced, but it is difficult to determine the degree of deformation of the plastic deformation part, and it is not possible to accurately determine whether the control device is still in a state where it can exert its seismic control function, and there is a risk that the appropriate replacement time for the panel type control device that has lost its seismic control function will be missed. Furthermore, there are cases where the control device is replaced even though it is in a state where it can exert its seismic control function, and the variable thickness shear panel type control device for bridges may be wasted.

[0007] The object of the present invention is to provide a steel damper that can adequately attenuate vibration energy (earthquake energy) when vibration occurs by reliably plastically deforming the damper panel when vibration occurs due to an earthquake or the like, thereby minimizing deformation and damage to buildings due to vibration, and that can easily check the degree of plastic deformation and accurately determine whether the damper is in a state in which it can exert its vibration control function. Another object of the present invention is to provide a steel damper that can accurately determine whether it should be continued to be used or replaced after vibration occurs due to an earthquake or the like, and that can prevent unnecessary replacement, prevent wasteful disposal, and prevent deviation from the replacement time of a damper that has lost its vibration control function. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The premise of the present invention to solve the above problem is a steel damper which is formed from a first connecting panel having a predetermined thickness, a second connecting panel having a predetermined thickness and located on the opposite side of the first connecting panel, and a damper panel having a predetermined thickness and extending between the first and second connecting panels, and which exerts a seismic control function by plastically deforming the damper panel when vibration occurs.

[0009] The feature of the present invention based on the above premise is that the damper panel has a front concave area molded in a central region of its front surface and concave from the front surface toward the rear surface of the damper panel, and a rear concave area molded in a central region of the rear surface and concave from the rear surface toward the front surface, the front concave area has first front concave portion to nth front concave portion which have a concave dimension that increases stepwise from its outer peripheral edge toward the center and which form an arc in the central region of the front surface, and the rear concave area has first rear concave portion to nth rear concave portion which have a concave dimension that increases stepwise from its outer peripheral edge toward the center and which form an arc in the central region of the rear surface.

[0010] As one example of the present invention, the first front concave surface portion to the nth front concave surface portion are first front concave curved surface portion to nth front concave curved surface portion that are concave from the front surface toward the rear surface, and arc toward the center with a predetermined radius of curvature, while being shaped into a circle, an ellipse, or an oval shape in the central region of the front surface, and the first rear concave surface portion to the nth rear concave surface portion are concave from the rear surface toward the front surface, and arc toward the center with a predetermined radius of curvature, while being shaped into a circle, an ellipse, or an oval shape in the central region of the rear surface. The first to nth rear concave curved surface portions are formed into a rectangular or oval shape, and in the steel damper, the first to nth front concave curved surface portions and the first to nth rear concave curved surface portions have the same shape and size and are arranged symmetrically in the front-to-rear direction of the damper panel, and the thickness dimension of the damper panel between the first front concave curved surface portion and the first rear concave curved surface portion is the largest, and the thickness dimension of the damper panel between the nth front concave curved surface portion and the nth rear concave curved surface portion is the smallest.

[0011] In another example of the present invention, the radial width dimensions of the first to nth front concave curved surface portions extending in a circular, elliptical or oval shape in the central region of the front surface are uniform from the first to nth front concave curved surface portions, or are random from the first to nth front concave curved surface portions, or are gradually smaller from the first to nth front concave curved surface portions, or are gradually larger from the first to nth front concave curved surface portions. The radial width dimensions of the first to nth rear concave curved surface portions, which extend in a circular, elliptical or oval shape in the central region of the rear surface, are uniform from the first to nth rear concave curved surface portions or random from the first to nth rear concave curved surface portions, or gradually decrease from the first rear concave curved surface portion to the nth rear concave curved surface portion, or gradually increase from the first rear concave curved surface portion to the nth rear concave curved surface portion.

[0012] In another example of the present invention, the first front concave surface portion to the nth front concave surface portion are first front concave flat surface portion to nth front concave flat surface portion which are concave from the front surface toward the rear surface and are formed in a circular, elliptical or oval shape in a central region of the front surface while being parallel to the front surface of the damper panel excluding the first front concave surface portion to the nth front concave surface portion, and the first rear concave surface portion to the nth rear concave surface portion are concave from the rear surface toward the front surface and are formed in a circular, elliptical or oval shape in a central region of the rear surface while being parallel to the rear surface of the damper panel excluding the first rear concave surface portion to the nth rear concave surface portion. The first to nth rear concave flat surface portions are shaped into a circle, an ellipse or an oval, and in the steel damper, the first to nth front concave flat surface portions and the first to nth rear concave flat surface portions have the same shape and size and are arranged symmetrically in the front-to-back direction of the damper panel, and the thickness dimension of the damper panel between the first front concave flat surface portion and the first rear concave flat surface portion is the largest, and the thickness dimension of the damper panel between the nth front concave flat surface portion and the nth rear concave flat surface portion is the smallest.

[0013] In another example of the present invention, the radial width dimensions of the first front concave flat surface portion to the nth front concave flat surface portion, which extend in a circular, elliptical or oval shape in the central region of the front surface, are the same in the first front concave flat surface portion to the nth front concave flat surface portion, or are random in the first front concave flat surface portion to the nth front concave flat surface portion, or are gradually smaller from the first front concave flat surface portion to the nth front concave flat surface portion, or are gradually larger from the first front concave flat surface portion to the nth front concave flat surface portion. The radial width dimensions of the first rear concave flat surface portion to the nth rear concave flat surface portion, which extend in a circular, elliptical or oval shape in the central region of the rear surface, are uniform from the first rear concave flat surface portion to the nth rear concave flat surface portion, or are random from the first rear concave flat surface portion to the nth rear concave flat surface portion, or are gradually smaller from the first rear concave flat surface portion to the nth rear concave flat surface portion, or are gradually larger from the first rear concave flat surface portion to the nth rear concave flat surface portion.

[0014] In another example of the present invention, the first front concave surface portion to the nth front concave surface portion are first front concave slope portion to nth front concave slope portion which are concave from the front surface toward the rear surface, and slope downward from the outer circumferential edge toward the center, and are formed into a circular, elliptical, or oval shape in the central region of the front surface, and the first rear concave surface portion to the nth rear concave surface portion are concave from the rear surface toward the front surface, and slope downward from the outer circumferential edge toward the center, and are formed into a circular, elliptical, or oval shape in the central region of the rear surface. The first to nth rear concave slope portions are shaped into an ellipse or an oval, and in the steel damper, the first to nth front concave slope portions and the first to nth rear concave slope portions have the same shape and size and are arranged symmetrically in the front-to-back direction of the damper panel, with the thickness dimension of the damper panel being largest between the first front concave slope portion and the first rear concave slope portion, and the thickness dimension of the damper panel being smallest between the nth front concave slope portion and the nth rear concave flat slope portion.

[0015] In another example of the present invention, the radial width dimensions of the first to nth front concave slope portions extending in a circular, elliptical or oval shape in the central region of the front surface are the same for the first to nth front concave slope portions, or are random for the first to nth front concave slope portions, or are gradually smaller from the first to nth front concave slope portions, or are gradually larger from the first to nth front concave slope portions. The radial width dimensions of the first to nth rear concave slope portions, which extend in a circular, elliptical or oval shape in the central region of the rear surface, are uniform from the first to nth rear concave slope portions or random from the first to nth rear concave slope portions, or gradually decrease from the first rear concave slope portion to the nth rear concave slope portion, or gradually increase from the first rear concave slope portion to the nth rear concave slope portion.

[0016] In another example of the present invention, a first connecting panel is connected by a specified connecting means to a free end of a first mounting member extending from a first structural member that constitutes a building, a second connecting panel is connected by a specified connecting means to a free end of a second mounting member extending from a second structural member that constitutes the building and faces the first structural member in the vertical or width direction, and a damper panel is positioned in the space between the free end of the first mounting member and the free ends of the second mounting members that are spaced apart in the vertical or width direction.

[0017] In another example of the present invention, a first connecting panel is connected by a predetermined connecting means to opposing sides of a first mounting member extending between a first structural member that constitutes a building and a second structural member that is spaced apart in the vertical direction from the first structural member, a second connecting panel is connected by a predetermined connecting means to opposing sides of a second mounting member that extends between the first structural member and the second structural member and is spaced apart in the width direction from the first mounting member, and a damper panel is positioned in the space between the opposing sides of the first mounting member and the opposing sides of the second mounting member that are spaced apart in the width direction. Effect of the Invention

[0018] The steel damper according to the present invention has a front concave area formed in a central region of the front surface of the damper panel and recessed from the front surface toward the rear surface of the damper panel, and a rear concave area formed in a central region of the rear surface of the damper panel and recessed from the rear surface toward the front surface of the damper panel, the front concave area has first to nth front concave portions whose recess dimension increases stepwise from its outer periphery toward the center and forms an arc in the central region of the front surface, and the rear concave area has first to nth rear concave portions whose recess dimension increases stepwise from its outer periphery toward the center and forms an arc in the central region of the rear surface. Therefore, when an external force acting during vibration due to an earthquake or the like is transmitted to the steel damper as a shear force, an axial force, or a bending moment, the first to nth front concave portions of the damper panel are gradually increased in recession dimension. The front concave portion and the first to nth rear concave portions reliably undergo plastic deformation, allowing the damper panel of the steel damper to efficiently absorb vibration energy (earthquake energy). The vibration energy (earthquake energy) can be sufficiently attenuated by utilizing the plastic deformation of the first to nth front concave portions and the first to nth rear concave portions. Not only this, but deformation and damage to the building caused by vibration (earthquake) can be minimized. By forming the first to nth front concave portions and the first to nth rear concave portions on the damper panel, plastic deformation such as distortion, bending, breakage, and damage that occurs in the front concave portions and the rear concave portions after vibration due to an earthquake or the like can be easily found, and the degree of deformation of the front concave portions and the rear concave portions can be easily confirmed. Since it is easy to check the degree of deformation of the first to nth front concave portions and the first to nth rear concave portions of a steel damper that have been plastically deformed after vibrations caused by an earthquake or the like, it is possible to accurately determine whether or not the damper is in a state where it can exert its seismic control function, and it is also possible to predict the energy absorption capacity of the panel damper until the end of its lifespan. This makes it possible to determine the continued usability of the building and the durability of the panel damper against repeated earthquakes. As a result, the dampers will not be replaced unnecessarily, which prevents unnecessary disposal and prevents delays in the replacement schedule of steel dampers that have lost their seismic control function.

[0019] In the case of a steel damper, when both side edges extending between the first and second connecting panels of the damper panel are narrowed to draw an arc toward the center of the damper panel, the external forces (shear force, axial force, bending moment) acting during vibration due to an earthquake or the like do not act in a concentrated manner at a specific point on both side edges of the damper panel, but the external forces (shear force, axial force, bending moment) are transmitted evenly to the narrowed both side edges of the damper panel and are transmitted from both side edges of the damper panel to the first front concave portion to the nth front concave portion. The vibration energy (earthquake energy) is transmitted evenly to the concave portion and the first rear concave portion to the nth rear concave portion, so that the first front concave portion to the nth front concave portion and the first rear concave portion to the nth rear concave portion reliably undergo plastic deformation, allowing the steel damper to efficiently absorb the vibration energy (earthquake energy).The vibration energy (earthquake energy) can be sufficiently damped by utilizing the plastic deformation of the first front concave portion to the nth front concave portion and the first rear concave portion to the nth rear concave portion, and deformation and damage to the building due to vibration (earthquake) can be minimized.

[0020] The first front concave curved surface portion to the nth front concave curved surface portion are formed in a circular, elliptical or oval shape in the central region of the front surface while the first front concave curved surface portion to the nth front concave curved surface portion are concave from the front surface of the damper panel toward the rear surface and draw an arc with a predetermined radius of curvature toward the center, and the first rear concave curved surface portion to the nth rear concave curved surface portion are concave from the rear surface of the damper panel toward the front ... form a circular, elliptical or oval shape in the central region of the rear surface. In a steel damper in which the first front concave curved surface portion to the nth front concave curved surface portion and the first rear concave curved surface portion to the nth rear concave curved surface portion have the same shape and size and are arranged symmetrically in the front-to-rear direction of the damper panel, and the thickness dimension of the damper panel between the first front concave curved surface portion and the first rear concave curved surface portion is the largest and the thickness dimension of the damper panel between the nth front concave curved surface portion and the nth rear concave curved surface portion is the smallest, when an external force acting during vibration due to an earthquake or the like is transmitted to the steel damper as a shear force, axial force, or bending moment, the damper panels are displaced from each other. The first to n-th front concave curved surface portions and the first to n-th rear concave curved surface portions, which are the same shape and size, arranged symmetrically in the front-to-rear direction, and formed into a circular, elliptical, or oval shape, are uniformly and reliably plastically deformed by an external force (shear force, axial force, bending moment), and vibration energy (earthquake energy) can be efficiently absorbed by the damper panel of the steel damper, and vibration energy (earthquake energy) can be efficiently absorbed by utilizing the plastic deformation of the first to n-th front concave curved surface portions and the first to n-th rear concave curved surface portions. Not only can the vibration (energy) be sufficiently damped to minimize deformation and damage to the building due to vibration (earthquake), but also because the damper panel is formed with the first front concave curved surface portion to the nth front concave curved surface portion and the first rear concave curved surface portion to the nth rear concave curved surface portion, it can easily detect plastic deformation such as distortion, warping, bending, breakage, and damage that occurs in those front concave curved surface portions and those rear concave curved surface portions after vibration due to an earthquake, etc., and the degree of deformation of those front concave curved surface portions and those rear concave curved surface portions can be easily confirmed.Since it is easy to check the degree of deformation of the first to nth front concave curved surface portions and the first to nth rear concave curved surface portions that have been plastically deformed after vibrations caused by an earthquake or the like, it is possible to accurately determine whether or not the steel damper is in a state where it can exert its seismic control function, and it is also possible to predict the energy absorption capacity of the panel damper until the end of its lifespan. This makes it possible to determine the continued usability of the building and the durability of the panel damper against repeated earthquakes, and it is possible to prevent unnecessary replacement and prevent unnecessary disposal, as well as to prevent delays in the replacement time of steel dampers that have lost their seismic control function.

[0021] The radial width dimensions of the first front concave curved surface portion to the nth front concave curved surface portion, which extend in a circular, elliptical or oval shape in the central region of the front surface of the damper panel, are uniform from the first front concave curved surface portion to the nth front concave curved surface portion, or are random from the first front concave curved surface portion to the nth front concave curved surface portion, or are gradually smaller from the first front concave curved surface portion to the nth front concave curved surface portion, or are gradually larger from the first front concave curved surface portion to the nth front concave curved surface portion, A steel damper in which the radial width dimensions of the first to nth rear concave curved surface portions, which extend in a circular, elliptical or oval shape in the central region of the rear surface of the panel, are uniform from the first to nth rear concave curved surface portions, or are random from the first to nth rear concave curved surface portions, or are gradually smaller from the first rear concave curved surface portion to the nth rear concave curved surface portion, or are gradually larger from the first rear concave curved surface portion to the nth rear concave curved surface portion, is When the width dimensions in the direction are the same for the first front concave curved surface portion to the nth front concave curved surface portion and the same for the first rear concave curved surface portion to the nth rear concave curved surface portion, there will be no difference in the ease of plastic deformation due to the width dimensions, and when an external force acting during vibration due to an earthquake or the like is transmitted to the steel damper as a shear force, axial force, or bending moment, the first front concave curved surface portion to the nth front concave curved surface portion and the first rear concave curved surface portion to the nth rear concave curved surface portion, which are shaped into a circular, elliptical, or oval shape, of the damper panel, will reliably plastically deform due to the external force (shear force, axial force, bending moment), allowing the damper panel of the steel damper to efficiently absorb vibration energy (earthquake energy). The vibration energy (earthquake energy) can be sufficiently attenuated by utilizing the plastic deformation of the first front concave curved surface portion to the nth front concave curved surface portion and the first rear concave curved surface portion to the nth rear concave curved surface portion, and thereby minimizing deformation and damage to buildings caused by earthquakes.In the case where the radial width dimension of the steel damper is random (the width dimension is set arbitrarily) in the first front concave curved surface portion to the nth front concave curved surface portion and random (the width dimension is set arbitrarily) in the first rear concave curved surface portion to the nth rear concave curved surface portion, by arbitrarily setting the width dimension, it is possible to set a concave curved surface portion that is easy to elastically deform in any of the first front concave curved surface portion to the nth front concave curved surface portion or the first rear concave curved surface portion to the nth rear concave curved surface portion, and when an external force acting during vibration due to an earthquake or the like is transmitted to the steel damper as a shear force, axial force, or bending moment, the circular or The first front concave curved portion to the nth front concave curved portion and the first rear concave curved portion to the nth rear concave curved portion, which are shaped into an ellipse or oval, undergo plastic deformation as set by external forces (shear force, axial force, bending moment), allowing the damper panel of the steel damper to efficiently absorb vibration energy (earthquake energy).The plastic deformation of the first front concave curved portion to the nth front concave curved portion and the first rear concave curved portion to the nth rear concave curved portion can be used to sufficiently attenuate vibration energy (earthquake energy), thereby minimizing deformation and damage to buildings caused by earthquakes. In the case of a steel damper, when the radial width dimension gradually decreases from the first front concave curved surface portion or the first rear concave curved surface portion toward the nth front concave curved surface portion or the nth rear concave curved surface portion, many of the front concave curved surface portions and the rear concave curved surface portions are formed in the center of the damper panel, which is most susceptible to plastic deformation. When an external force acting upon vibration caused by an earthquake or the like is transmitted to the steel damper as a shear force, axial force, or bending moment, the first front concave curved surface portion to the nth front concave curved surface portion and the first concave curved surface portion formed in a circular, elliptical, or oval shape of the damper panel are deformed. The rear concave curved surface portion to the nth rear concave curved surface portion undergo plastic deformation evenly and reliably due to external forces (shear force, axial force, bending moment), allowing the damper panel of the steel damper to efficiently absorb vibration energy (earthquake energy).The plastic deformation of the first front concave curved surface portion to the nth front concave curved surface portion and the first rear concave curved surface portion to the nth rear concave curved surface portion can be used to sufficiently dampen vibration energy (earthquake energy), thereby minimizing deformation and damage to the building caused by earthquakes.In the case of a steel damper, when the radial width dimension gradually increases from the first front concave curved surface portion or the first rear concave curved surface portion toward the nth front concave curved surface portion or the nth rear concave curved surface portion, the plastic deformation durability of the front concave curved surface portion or the rear concave curved surface portion toward the center of the damper panel can be increased, and when an external force acting upon occurrence of vibration due to an earthquake or the like is transmitted to the steel damper as a shear force, an axial force, or a bending moment, the first front concave curved surface portion to the nth front concave curved surface portion or the first concave curved surface portion formed into a circular, elliptical, or oval shape of the damper panel can be increased. The rear concave curved portion to the nth rear concave curved portion are reliably plastically deformed from one of the concave curved portions due to an external force (shear force, axial force, bending moment), allowing the damper panel of the steel damper to efficiently absorb vibration energy (earthquake energy).The plastic deformation of the first front concave curved portion to the nth front concave curved portion and the first rear concave curved portion to the nth rear concave curved portion can be utilized to sufficiently attenuate vibration energy (earthquake energy), thereby minimizing deformation and damage to the building due to an earthquake. Since it is easy to check the degree of deformation of the first to nth front concave curved surface portions and the first to nth rear concave curved surface portions that have been plastically deformed after vibrations caused by an earthquake or the like, it is possible to accurately determine whether or not the steel damper is in a state where it can exert its seismic control function, and it is also possible to predict the energy absorption capacity of the panel damper until the end of its lifespan. This makes it possible to determine the continued usability of the building and the durability of the panel damper against repeated earthquakes, and it is possible to prevent unnecessary replacement and prevent unnecessary disposal, as well as to prevent delays in the replacement time of steel dampers that have lost their seismic control function.

[0022] The first front concave surface portion to the nth front concave surface portion are first front concave flat surface portion to nth front concave flat surface portion which are concave from the front surface of the damper panel toward the rear surface and are formed in a circular, elliptical or oval shape in a central region of the front surface while being parallel to the front surface of the damper panel excluding the first front concave surface portion to the nth front concave surface portion, and the first rear concave surface portion to the nth rear concave surface portion are concave from the rear surface of the damper panel toward the front surface and are formed in a circular, elliptical or oval shape in a central region of the rear surface while being parallel to the rear surface of the damper panel excluding the first rear concave surface portion to the nth rear concave surface portion. A steel damper in which the first front concave flat surface portion to the nth rear concave flat surface portion and the first rear concave flat surface portion to the nth rear concave flat surface portion have the same shape and size and are arranged symmetrically in the front-to-rear direction of the damper panel, and the thickness dimension of the damper panel between the first front concave flat surface portion and the first rear concave flat surface portion is the largest and the thickness dimension of the damper panel between the nth front concave flat surface portion and the nth rear concave flat surface portion is the smallest, when an external force is transmitted to the steel damper as a shear force, an axial force, or a bending moment during vibration due to an earthquake or the like, the steel damper The first front concave flat surface portion to the nth front concave flat surface portion and the first rear concave flat surface portion to the nth rear concave flat surface portion of the panel, which are the same shape and size, arranged symmetrically in the front-to-rear direction, and formed into a circular, elliptical or oval shape, are uniformly and reliably plastically deformed by external forces (shear force, axial force, bending moment), allowing the damper panel of the steel damper to efficiently absorb vibration energy (earthquake energy), and the vibration energy (earthquake energy) is absorbed by utilizing the plastic deformation of the first front concave flat surface portion to the nth front concave flat surface portion and the first rear concave flat surface portion to the nth rear concave flat surface portion. Not only can the damper panel sufficiently attenuate the vibration (earthquake energy) and minimize deformation and damage to the building due to vibration (earthquake), but also because the damper panel is formed with the first front concave flat surface portion to the nth front concave flat surface portion and the first rear concave flat surface portion to the nth rear concave flat surface portion, it can easily detect plastic deformation such as distortion, warping, bending, breakage, and damage that occurs in those front concave flat surface portions and those rear concave flat surface portions after vibration due to an earthquake, etc., and the degree of deformation of those front concave flat surface portions and those rear concave flat surface portions can be easily confirmed.Since it is easy to check the degree of deformation of the first front concave flat surface portion to the nth front concave flat surface portion and the first rear concave flat surface portion to the nth rear concave flat surface portion that have been plastically deformed after vibrations caused by an earthquake or the like, it is possible to accurately determine whether or not the steel damper is in a state where it can exert its seismic control function, and it is also possible to predict the energy absorption capacity of the panel damper until the end of its lifespan. This makes it possible to determine the continued usability of the building and the durability of the panel damper against repeated earthquakes, and it is possible to prevent unnecessary replacement and prevent unnecessary disposal, as well as to prevent delays in the replacement time of steel dampers that have lost their seismic control function.

[0023] The radial width dimensions of the first front concave flat surface portion to the nth front concave flat surface portion, which extend in a circular, elliptical or oval shape in the central region of the front surface of the damper panel, are uniform from the first front concave flat surface portion to the nth front concave flat surface portion, or are random from the first front concave flat surface portion to the nth front concave flat surface portion, or are gradually smaller from the first front concave flat surface portion to the nth front concave flat surface portion, or are gradually larger from the first front concave flat surface portion to the nth front concave flat surface portion, A steel damper in which the radial width dimensions of the first rear concave flat surface portion to the nth rear concave flat surface portion, which extend in a circular, elliptical or oval shape in the central region of the rear surface of the panel, are uniform from the first rear concave flat surface portion to the nth rear concave flat surface portion, or are random from the first rear concave flat surface portion to the nth rear concave flat surface portion, or are gradually smaller from the first rear concave flat surface portion to the nth rear concave flat surface portion, or are gradually larger from the first rear concave flat surface portion to the nth rear concave flat surface portion. When the radial width dimensions are the same for the first front concave flat surface portion to the nth front concave flat surface portion and the same for the first rear concave flat surface portion to the nth rear concave flat surface portion, there is no difference in the ease of plastic deformation due to the width dimensions, and when an external force acting during vibration due to an earthquake or the like is transmitted to the steel damper as a shear force, axial force, or bending moment, the first front concave flat surface portion to the nth front concave flat surface portion and the first rear concave flat surface portion to the nth rear concave flat surface portion, which are shaped into a circular, elliptical, or oval shape, of the damper panel, are reliably plastically deformed by the external force (shear force, axial force, bending moment), allowing the damper panel of the steel damper to efficiently absorb vibration energy (earthquake energy), and the vibration energy (earthquake energy) can be sufficiently attenuated by utilizing the plastic deformation of the first front concave flat surface portion to the nth front concave flat surface portion and the first rear concave flat surface portion to the nth rear concave flat surface portion, thereby minimizing deformation and damage to buildings caused by earthquakes.In the case where the radial width dimension of the steel damper is random (the width dimension is set arbitrarily) in the first front concave flat surface portion to the nth front concave flat surface portion and random (the width dimension is set arbitrarily) in the first rear concave flat surface portion to the nth rear concave flat surface portion, by arbitrarily setting the width dimension, it is possible to set a concave flat surface portion that is easy to elastically deform in any of the first front concave flat surface portion to the nth front concave flat surface portion or the first rear concave flat surface portion to the nth rear concave flat surface portion, and when an external force acting during vibration due to an earthquake or the like is transmitted to the steel damper as a shear force, axial force, or bending moment, the circular shape of the damper panel is deformed. Or the first front concave flat surface portion to the nth front concave flat surface portion and the first rear concave flat surface portion to the nth rear concave flat surface portion, which are shaped into an ellipse or oval shape, undergo plastic deformity as set by external forces (shear force, axial force, bending moment), allowing the damper panel of the steel damper to efficiently absorb vibration energy (earthquake energy).The plastic deformation of the first front concave flat surface portion to the nth front concave flat surface portion and the first rear concave flat surface portion to the nth rear concave flat surface portion can be used to sufficiently dampen vibration energy (earthquake energy), thereby minimizing deformation and damage to buildings caused by earthquakes. In the case of a steel damper, when the radial width dimension gradually decreases from the first front concave flat surface portion or the first rear concave flat surface portion toward the nth front concave flat surface portion or the nth rear concave flat surface portion, many of the front concave flat surface portions and the rear concave flat surface portions are formed in the center of the damper panel, which is most susceptible to plastic deformation, and when an external force acting during vibration due to an earthquake or the like is transmitted to the steel damper as a shear force, axial force, or bending moment, the first front concave flat surface portion to the nth front concave flat surface portion and the The 1st rear concave flat surface portion to the nth rear concave flat surface portion undergo plastic deformation evenly and reliably due to external forces (shear force, axial force, bending moment), allowing the damper panel of the steel damper to efficiently absorb vibration energy (earthquake energy).The plastic deformation of the 1st front concave flat surface portion to the nth front concave flat surface portion and the 1st rear concave flat surface portion to the nth rear concave flat surface portion can be used to sufficiently dampen vibration energy (earthquake energy), thereby minimizing deformation and damage to buildings caused by earthquakes.In the case of a steel damper, when the radial width dimension gradually increases from the first front concave flat surface portion or the first rear concave flat surface portion toward the nth front concave flat surface portion or the nth rear concave flat surface portion, the plastic deformation durability of the front concave flat surface portion or the rear concave flat surface portion toward the center of the damper panel can be increased, and when an external force acting during vibration generation due to an earthquake or the like is transmitted to the steel damper as a shear force, axial force, or bending moment, the first front concave flat surface portion to the nth front concave flat surface portion or the The 1st rear concave flat surface portion to the nth rear concave flat surface portion are reliably plastically deformed from one of the concave flat surface portions due to external forces (shear force, axial force, bending moment), allowing the damper panel of the steel damper to efficiently absorb vibration energy (earthquake energy).The plastic deformation of the 1st front concave flat surface portion to the nth front concave flat surface portion and the 1st rear concave flat surface portion to the nth rear concave flat surface portion can be utilized to sufficiently damp vibration energy (earthquake energy), thereby minimizing deformation and damage to buildings caused by earthquakes. Since it is easy to check the degree of deformation of the first front concave flat surface portion to the nth front concave flat surface portion and the first rear concave flat surface portion to the nth rear concave flat surface portion that have been plastically deformed after vibrations caused by an earthquake or the like, it is possible to accurately determine whether or not the steel damper is in a state where it can exert its seismic control function, and it is also possible to predict the energy absorption capacity of the panel damper until the end of its lifespan. This makes it possible to determine the continued usability of the building and the durability of the panel damper against repeated earthquakes, and it is possible to prevent unnecessary replacement and prevent unnecessary disposal, as well as to prevent delays in the replacement time of steel dampers that have lost their seismic control function.

[0024] The first front concave slope portion to the nth front concave slope portion are formed in a circular, elliptical or oval shape in the central region of the front surface while the first front concave slope portion to the nth front concave slope portion are formed in a concave shape from the front surface of the damper panel toward the rear surface and inclined downward from the outer peripheral edge toward the center, and the first rear concave slope portion to the nth rear concave slope portion are formed in a circular, elliptical or oval shape in the central region of the rear surface while the first rear concave slope portion to the nth rear concave slope portion are formed in a concave shape from the rear surface of the damper panel toward the front surface and inclined downward from the outer peripheral edge toward the center, and In a steel damper in which the first front concave slope portion to the nth front concave slope portion and the first rear concave slope portion to the nth rear concave slope portion are of the same shape and size and are arranged symmetrically in the front-to-rear direction of the damper panel, and the thickness dimension of the damper panel between the first front concave slope portion and the first rear concave slope portion is the largest and the thickness dimension of the damper panel between the nth front concave slope portion and the nth rear concave flat slope portion is the smallest, when an external force is transmitted to the steel damper as a shear force, an axial force, or a bending moment during the occurrence of vibration due to an earthquake or the like, the damper panels are displaced in the same direction. The first to n-th front concave slope portions and the first to n-th rear concave slope portions, which are the same in shape, arranged symmetrically in the front-to-rear direction, and formed into a circular, elliptical, or oval shape, are uniformly and reliably plastically deformed by an external force (shear force, axial force, bending moment), and vibration energy (earthquake energy) can be efficiently absorbed by the damper panel of the steel damper, and vibration energy (earthquake energy) can be efficiently absorbed by utilizing the plastic deformation of the first to n-th front concave slope portions and the first to n-th rear concave slope portions. Not only can the vibration (energy) be sufficiently damped, minimizing deformation and damage to buildings due to vibrations (earthquakes), but by forming the first front concave slope portion to the nth front concave slope portion and the first rear concave slope portion to the nth rear concave slope portion on the damper panel, plastic deformation such as distortion, warping, bending, breakage, and damage that occurs in those front concave slope portions and those rear concave slope portions after vibrations due to an earthquake, etc., can be easily found, and the degree of deformation in those front concave slope portions and those rear concave slope portions can be easily confirmed.Since it is easy to check the degree of deformation of the first to nth front concave slope portions and the first to nth rear concave slope portions that have been plastically deformed after vibrations caused by an earthquake or the like, it is possible to accurately determine whether or not the steel damper is in a state where it can exert its seismic control function, and it is also possible to predict the energy absorption capacity of the panel damper until the end of its lifespan. This makes it possible to determine the continued usability of the building and the durability of the panel damper against repeated earthquakes, and it is possible to prevent unnecessary replacement and prevent unnecessary disposal, as well as to prevent delays in the replacement schedule of steel dampers that have lost their seismic control function.

[0025] The radial width dimensions of the first front concave slope portion to the nth front concave slope portion, which extend in a circular, elliptical or oval shape in the central region of the front surface of the damper panel, are uniform from the first front concave slope portion to the nth front concave slope portion, or are random from the first front concave slope portion to the nth front concave slope portion, or are gradually smaller from the first front concave slope portion to the nth front concave slope portion, or are gradually larger from the first front concave slope portion to the nth front concave slope portion, A steel damper in which the radial width dimensions of the first to nth rear concave slope portions extending in a circular, elliptical or oval shape in the central region of the rear surface of the damper are uniform from the first to nth rear concave slope portions, or random from the first to nth rear concave slope portions, or are gradually smaller from the first rear concave slope portion to the nth rear concave slope portion, or are gradually larger from the first rear concave slope portion to the nth rear concave slope portion, is When the width dimensions of the first to nth front concave slope portions are the same for the first to nth front concave slope portions and the first to nth rear concave slope portions, there will be no difference in the ease of plastic deformation due to the width dimensions, and when an external force acting during vibration due to an earthquake or the like is transmitted to the steel damper as a shear force, axial force, or bending moment, the first to nth front concave slope portions and the first to nth rear concave slope portions, which are shaped into a circular, elliptical, or oval shape, of the damper panel, will reliably undergo plastic deformity due to the external force (shear force, axial force, bending moment), allowing the damper panel of the steel damper to efficiently absorb vibration energy (earthquake energy). The plastic deformation of the first to nth front concave slope portions and the first to nth rear concave slope portions can be used to sufficiently attenuate the vibration energy (earthquake energy), thereby minimizing deformation and damage to buildings caused by earthquakes.In the case where the radial width dimension of the steel damper is random (the width dimension is set arbitrarily) in the first front concave slope portion to the nth front concave slope portion and random (the width dimension is set arbitrarily) in the first rear concave slope portion to the nth rear concave slope portion, by arbitrarily setting the width dimension, it is possible to set a concave slope portion that is easy to elastically deform in any of the first front concave slope portion to the nth front concave slope portion or the first rear concave slope portion to the nth rear concave slope portion, and when an external force acting during vibration due to an earthquake or the like is transmitted to the steel damper as a shear force, axial force, or bending moment, the circular or The first front concave slope portion to the nth front concave slope portion and the first rear concave slope portion to the nth rear concave slope portion, which are shaped into an ellipse or oval shape, undergo plastic deformity as set by external forces (shear force, axial force, bending moment), allowing the damper panel of the steel damper to efficiently absorb vibration energy (earthquake energy).The plastic deformation of the first front concave slope portion to the nth front concave slope portion and the first rear concave slope portion to the nth rear concave slope portion can be used to sufficiently dampen vibration energy (earthquake energy), thereby minimizing deformation and damage to buildings caused by earthquakes. In the case of a steel damper, when the radial width dimension gradually decreases from the first front concave slope portion or the first rear concave slope portion toward the nth front concave slope portion or the nth rear concave slope portion, many of the front concave slope portions and rear concave slope portions are formed in the center of the damper panel, which is most susceptible to plastic deformation, and when an external force acting during vibration due to an earthquake or the like is transmitted to the steel damper as a shear force, axial force, or bending moment, the first front concave slope portion to the nth front concave slope portion and the first rear concave slope portion formed in a circular, elliptical, or oval shape of the damper panel are deformed. The rear concave slope portion to the nth rear concave slope portion undergo plastic deformation evenly and reliably due to external forces (shear force, axial force, bending moment), allowing the damper panel of the steel damper to efficiently absorb vibration energy (earthquake energy).The plastic deformation of the first front concave slope portion to the nth front concave slope portion and the first rear concave slope portion to the nth rear concave slope portion can be used to sufficiently dampen vibration energy (earthquake energy), thereby minimizing deformation and damage to the building due to earthquakes.In the case of a steel damper, when the radial width dimension gradually increases from the first front concave slope portion or the first rear concave slope portion toward the nth front concave slope portion or the nth rear concave slope portion, the plastic deformation durability of the front concave slope portion or the rear concave slope portion toward the center of the damper panel can be increased, and when an external force acting during vibration due to an earthquake or the like is transmitted to the steel damper as a shear force, axial force, or bending moment, the first front concave slope portion to the nth front concave slope portion or the first rear concave slope portion formed into a circular, elliptical, or oval shape of the damper panel can be increased. The rear concave slope portion to the nth rear concave slope portion are reliably plastically deformed from one of the concave slope portions due to external forces (shear force, axial force, bending moment), allowing the damper panel of the steel damper to efficiently absorb vibration energy (earthquake energy).The plastic deformation of the first front concave slope portion to the nth front concave slope portion and the first rear concave slope portion to the nth rear concave slope portion can be used to sufficiently dampen vibration energy (earthquake energy), thereby minimizing deformation and damage to the building due to earthquakes. Since it is easy to check the degree of deformation of the first to nth front concave slope portions and the first to nth rear concave slope portions that have been plastically deformed after vibrations caused by an earthquake or the like, it is possible to accurately determine whether or not the steel damper is in a state where it can exert its seismic control function, and it is also possible to predict the energy absorption capacity of the panel damper until the end of its lifespan. This makes it possible to determine the continued usability of the building and the durability of the panel damper against repeated earthquakes, and it is possible to prevent unnecessary replacement and prevent unnecessary disposal, as well as to prevent delays in the replacement schedule of steel dampers that have lost their seismic control function.

[0026] In a steel damper in which a first connecting panel is connected by a predetermined connecting means to a free end of a first mounting member extending from a first structural member constituting the structure, a second connecting panel is connected by a predetermined connecting means to a free end of a second mounting member extending from a second structural member constituting the structure and facing the first structural member in a spaced apart position in the vertical or width direction, and a damper panel is located in the space between the free end of the first mounting member and the free end of the second mounting member which are spaced apart in the vertical or width direction, the external force acting on the structure when vibrations occur due to an earthquake or the like is transmitted from the structure to the free ends of the first and second mounting members as shear force, axial force, and bending moment, and the external force (shear force, axial force, bending moment) is transmitted to the first and second mounting members. Since the external force (shear force, axial force, bending moment) is transmitted from the attachment member to the steel damper, the external force (shear force, axial force, bending moment) can be reliably transmitted from the building to the steel damper, and the damper panel having the first front concave portion to the nth front concave portion (first front concave curved portion to the nth front concave curved portion, or the first front concave flat portion to the nth front concave flat portion, or the first front concave inclined portion to the nth front concave inclined portion) and the first rear concave portion to the nth rear concave portion (first rear concave curved portion to the nth rear concave curved portion, or the first rear concave flat portion to the nth rear concave flat portion, or the first rear concave inclined portion to the nth rear concave inclined portion) of the steel damper is plastically deformed by the external force (shear force, axial force, bending moment), allowing the damper panel of the steel damper to efficiently absorb vibration energy (earthquake energy). Steel dampers smoothly transmit the axial force (vibration energy) caused by vibrations (earthquakes) from the structure to the damper panel of the steel damper, and can sufficiently attenuate the vibration energy (earthquake energy) by utilizing the plastic deformation of the damper panel, thereby minimizing deformation and damage to structures caused by vibrations (earthquakes).

[0027] In a steel damper in which a first connecting panel is connected by a predetermined connecting means to the opposing sides of a first mounting member extending between a first structural member constituting a building and a second structural member facing and spaced apart in the vertical direction from the first structural member, and a second connecting panel is connected by a predetermined connecting means to the opposing sides of a second mounting member extending between the first structural member and the second structural member and facing and spaced apart in the width direction from the first mounting member, and a damper panel is located in the space between the opposing sides of the first mounting member and the opposing sides of the second mounting member spaced apart in the width direction, an external force acting on the building when vibrations occur due to an earthquake or the like is transmitted from the building to the opposing sides of the first and second mounting members as a shear force, axial force, and bending moment, and the external force (shear force, axial force, bending moment) is transmitted from the building to the opposing sides of the first and second mounting members. Since an external force (shear force, axial force, bending moment) is transmitted from the first and second mounting members to the steel damper, an external force (shear force, axial force, bending moment) can be reliably transmitted from the building to the steel damper, and the damper panel having the first front concave portion to the nth front concave portion (first front concave curved portion to the nth front concave curved portion, or the first front concave flat portion to the nth front concave flat portion, or the first front concave inclined portion to the nth front concave inclined portion) and the first rear concave portion to the nth rear concave portion (first rear concave curved portion to the nth rear concave curved portion, or the first rear concave flat portion to the nth rear concave flat portion, or the first rear concave inclined portion to the nth rear concave inclined portion) of the steel damper plastically deforms due to the external force (shear force, axial force, bending moment), allowing the damper panel of the steel damper to efficiently absorb vibration energy (earthquake energy). Steel dampers smoothly transmit the axial force (vibration energy) caused by vibrations (earthquakes) from the structure to the damper panel of the steel damper, and can sufficiently attenuate the vibration energy (earthquake energy) by utilizing the plastic deformation of the damper panel, thereby minimizing deformation and damage to structures caused by vibrations (earthquakes). [Brief description of the drawings]

[0028] [Figure 1] FIG. 4 is a front view of a steel damper shown as an example. [Diagram 2] Cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. [Diagram 3] 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the arrows similar to FIG. 2, showing another example. [Figure 4]FIG. 11 is a front view of a steel damper shown as another example. [Diagram 5] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 11 is a front view of a steel damper shown as another example. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line CC in FIG. 6. [Figure 8] FIG. 11 is a front view of a steel damper shown as another example. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line DD in FIG. [Figure 10] FIG. 11 is a front view of a steel damper shown as another example. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a front view of a steel damper shown as another example. [Figure 12] FIG. 11 is a front view of a steel damper shown as another example. [Figure 13] 13 is a cross-sectional view taken along line EE in FIG. 12 . [Figure 14] FIG. 11 is a front view of a steel damper shown as another example. [Figure 15] 15 is a cross-sectional view taken along line FF in FIG. 14 . [Figure 16] FIG. 11 is a front view of a steel damper shown as another example. [Figure 17] A cross-sectional view taken along line GG in Figure 16. [Figure 18] A partially enlarged view of Figure 17. [Figure 19] FIG. 11 is a front view of a steel damper shown as another example. [Figure 20] FIG. 20 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line HH in FIG. 19 . [Figure 21] A partially enlarged view of Figure 20. [Figure 22] FIG. 11 is a front view of a steel damper shown as another example. [Figure 23] FIG. 23 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line II in FIG. 22 . [Figure 24] FIG. 11 is a front view of a steel damper shown as another example. [Diagram 25] 25 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line JJ in FIG. 24 . [Figure 26] FIG. 1 is a front view of an example of a seismic control structure using steel dampers. [Figure 27]Side view of the vibration control structure in Figure 23. [Figure 28] FIG. 4 is a front view of first and second steel brackets shown as an example. [Figure 29] FIG. 2 is a top view of the first and second steel brackets. [Diagram 30] FIG. 4 is a front view of the steel damper shown in a state connected to first and second steel members. [Diagram 31] FIG. 4 is a side view of the steel damper shown connected to first and second steel members. [Diagram 32] FIG. 13 is a front view of another example of a seismic control structure using steel dampers. [Diagram 33] FIG. 13 is a front view of another example of a seismic control structure using steel dampers. [Diagram 34] FIG. 13 is a front view of another example of a seismic control structure using steel dampers. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0029] The steel damper according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the attached drawings such as Fig. 1, which is a front view of a steel damper 10A shown as an example. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the same line as Fig. 2, which shows another example. In Figs. 1 to 3, the up-down direction is indicated by arrow X, the width direction (lateral direction) is indicated by arrow Y, and the front-rear direction is indicated by arrow Z.

[0030] The steel damper 10A (including the steel dampers 10B to 10J) is made of low-yield-point steel, which has a lower yield strength and higher plastic deformation function than ordinary steel (low-yield-point steel dampers 10A to 10J). The steel damper 10A (including the steel dampers 10B to 10J) has a yield strength of 100 to 230 N / mm 2 The dampers may be made of extremely soft iron or ordinary steel having a yield point of 10A to 10J (extremely soft iron dampers 10A to 10J, ordinary steel dampers 10A to 10J).

[0031] The steel damper 10A is formed of a first connecting panel 11, a second connecting panel 12, and a damper panel 13a extending between the first and second connecting panels 11, 12. The first connecting panel 11 is formed in a rectangular shape with a predetermined thickness that is long in the width direction, and is detachably connected to a first structural member (upper structural member or first side structural member) that constitutes a building by a predetermined connecting means. The second connecting panel 12 is the same shape and size as the first connecting panel 11, formed in a rectangular shape with a predetermined thickness that is long in the width direction, and is detachably connected to a second structural member (lower structural member or second side structural member) that constitutes a building by a predetermined connecting means. The first and second connecting panels 11, 12 have a front surface 14 and a rear surface 15, and the front surfaces 14 of the panels 11, 12 are flush with each other, and the rear surfaces 15 of the panels 11, 12 are flush with each other.

[0032] The minimum length dimension L2 of the damper panel 13a in the width direction is shorter than that of the first and second connecting panels 11, 12, and both side edges 16 thereof are arched toward the center (inward in the width direction) of the damper panel 13a, and both side edges 16 are narrowed toward the inside in the width direction. Compared to a case in which both side edges 16 of the damper panel 13a are connected in a row (flush) with both side edges 16 of the first and second connecting panels 11, 12 and both side edges 16 are not narrowed, the narrowed both side edges 16 of the damper panel 13a are not concentrated in a predetermined location on both side edges 16 of the damper panel 13a as shear force, axial force, and bending moment when vibrations occur due to earthquakes, etc., and the external force (shear force, axial force, bending moment) is transmitted evenly to the narrowed both side edges 16 of the damper panel 13a. The length dimension L2 in the width direction of the damper panel 13a (including the damper panels 13b to 13l) may be the same as that of the first and second connecting panels 11, 12.

[0033] The damper panel 13a and the first and second connecting panels 11, 12 are molded integrally. The damper panel 13a has a front surface 17 and a rear surface 18. A front concave surface area 20 of a predetermined area recessed from the front surface 17 toward the rear surface 18 is formed in a central region 19 of the front surface 17 of the damper panel 13a. A rear concave surface area 21 of a predetermined area recessed from the rear surface 18 toward the front surface 17 is formed in the central region 19 of the rear surface 18 of the damper panel 13a.

[0034] In the front concave area 20, first to fourth front concave surface portions 23a to 23d (first to nth front concave surface portions) are molded (formed) in a circular (perfect circle) shape whose concave dimension increases stepwise from the outer circumferential edge 22 toward the center. The first to fourth front concave surface portions 23a to 23d are first to fourth front concave curved surface portions 23a to 23d (first to nth front concave curved surface portions) that are concave from the front surface 17 toward the rear surface 18 and form an arc with a predetermined radius of curvature toward the center of the front concave surface area 20 (from the front surface 17 (front concave area 20) toward the rear surface 18 (rear concave area 21)). The first to third front concave curved surface portions 23a to 23c extend in an annular (circular) shape while drawing concentric circles in the central region 19 (front concave area 20) of the front surface 17, and the fourth front concave curved surface portion 23d extends in a circular shape while drawing concentric circles in the central region 19 (front concave area 20) of the front surface 17.

[0035] In the cross section of the steel damper 10A shown in Fig. 2, the first to third front concave curved surface portions 23a to 23c are formed in a shape in which the lower halves of a circle are lined up from the outer circumferential edge 22 toward the center. In the cross section of the steel damper 10A shown in Fig. 3, the first to fourth front concave curved surface portions 23a to 23d are formed in a shape in which the circumferences of spheres with different diameters are lined up from the outer circumferential edge 24 toward the center.

[0036] The first to fourth front concave curved surface portions 23a to 23d have the same radial width dimension. Among the first to fourth front concave curved surface portions 23a to 23d, the first front concave curved surface portion 23a has the smallest recess dimension from the front surface 17 of the damper panel 13a, the second front concave curved surface portion 23b has a larger recess dimension from the front surface 17 of the damper panel 13b than the first front concave curved surface portion 23a, the third front concave curved surface portion 23c has a larger recess dimension from the front surface 17 of the damper panel 13a than the second front concave curved surface portion 23b, and the fourth front concave curved surface portion 23d has a larger recess dimension from the front surface 17 of the damper panel 13a than the third front concave curved surface portion 23c.

[0037] In the front concave surface area 20, the first front concave curved surface portion 23a, the second front concave curved surface portion 23b, the third front concave curved surface portion 23c, and the fourth front concave curved surface portion 23d are arranged in this order from the outer peripheral edge 22 toward the center (inward in the width direction). Therefore, the second front concave curved surface portion 23b, which is annular (circular) and describes an arc with a predetermined radius of curvature toward the center of the front concave surface area 20 (from the front surface 17 (front concave surface area 20) toward the rear surface 18 (rear concave surface area 21)), is adjacently arranged toward the center of the front concave surface area 20 (from the front surface 17 (front concave surface area 20) toward the rear surface 18 (rear concave surface area 21)). A third front concave curved surface portion 23c having an annular shape (circular shape) and describing an arc with a predetermined radius of curvature is adjacently arranged toward the center of the front concave surface area 20 (from the front surface 17 (front concave surface area 20) toward the rear surface 18 (rear concave surface area 21)) toward the center of the front concave surface area 20, and a fourth front concave curved surface portion 23d having a circular shape and describing an arc with a predetermined radius of curvature is adjacently arranged toward the center of the front concave surface area 20 (from the front surface 17 (front concave surface area 20) toward the rear surface 18 (rear concave surface area 21)) radially inward of the third front concave curved surface portion 23c. Note that, although four front concave curved surface portions 23a to 23d are formed in the front concave surface area 20, there is no particular limit to the number of front concave curved surface portions, and five or more front concave curved surface portions may be formed in the front concave surface area 20.

[0038] In the rear concave surface area 21, first to fourth rear concave surface portions 25a to 25d (first to nth rear concave surface portions) are molded (formed) in a circular (perfect circle) shape whose recess dimension increases stepwise from the outer circumferential edge 24 toward the center. The first to fourth rear concave surface portions 25a to 25d are first to fourth rear concave curved surface portions 25a to 25d (first to nth rear concave curved surface portions) that are recessed from the rear surface 18 toward the front surface 17 and form arcs with a predetermined radius of curvature toward the center of the rear concave surface area 21 (from the rear surface 18 (rear concave surface area 21) toward the front surface 17 (front concave surface area 20)). The first to third rear concave curved surface portions 25a to 25c extend in an annular (circular) shape while describing concentric circles in the central region 19 (rear concave surface area 21) of the rear surface 18. The fourth rear concave curved surface portion 25d extends in a circular shape while describing concentric circles in the central region 19 (rear concave surface area 21) of the rear surface 18.

[0039] In the cross section of the steel damper 10A shown in Fig. 2, the first to third rear concave curved surface portions 25a to 25c are formed in a shape in which the lower halves of a circle are lined up from the outer circumferential edge 22 toward the center. In the cross section of the steel damper 10A shown in Fig. 3, the first to fourth rear concave curved surface portions 25a to 25d are formed in a shape in which the circumferences of spheres with different diameters are lined up from the outer circumferential edge 24 toward the center.

[0040] The first to fourth rear concave curved surface portions 25a to 25d have the same radial width dimension. Among the first to fourth rear concave curved surface portions 25a to 25d, the first rear concave curved surface portion 25a has the smallest recess dimension from the rear surface 18 of the damper panel 13a, the second rear concave curved surface portion 25b has a larger recess dimension from the rear surface 18 of the damper panel 13a than the first rear concave curved surface portion 25a, the third rear concave curved surface portion 25c has a larger recess dimension from the rear surface 18 of the damper panel 13a than the second rear concave curved surface portion 25b, and the fourth rear concave curved surface portion 25d has a larger recess dimension from the rear surface 18 of the damper panel 13a than the third rear concave curved surface portion 25c.

[0041] In the rear concave surface area 21, the first rear concave curved surface portion 25a, the second rear concave curved surface portion 25b, the third rear concave curved surface portion 25c, and the fourth rear concave curved surface portion 25d are arranged in this order from the outer peripheral edge 24 toward the center (inward in the width direction). Therefore, the second rear concave curved surface portion 25b, which is an annular (circular) shape that describes an arc with a predetermined radius of curvature toward the center of the rear concave surface area 21 (from the rear surface 18 (rear concave surface area 21) toward the front surface 17 (front concave surface area 20)), is adjacently arranged radially inward of the first rear concave curved surface portion 25a, which is an annular (circular) shape that describes an arc with a predetermined radius of curvature toward the center of the rear concave surface area 21 (from the rear surface 18 (rear concave surface area 21) toward the front surface 17 (front concave surface area 20)). A third rear concave curved surface portion 25c having an annular shape (circular shape) and describing an arc with a predetermined radius of curvature is adjacently arranged toward the center of the rear concave surface area 21 (from the rear surface 18 (rear concave surface area 21) toward the front surface 17 (front concave surface area 20)) toward the center of the rear concave surface area 21, and a fourth rear concave curved surface portion 25d having a circular shape and describing an arc with a predetermined radius of curvature is adjacently arranged toward the center of the rear concave surface area 21 (from the rear surface 18 (rear concave surface area 21) toward the front surface 17 (front concave surface area 20)) radially inward of the third rear concave curved surface portion 25c. Note that, although four rear concave curved surface portions 25a to 25d are formed in the rear concave surface area 21, there is no particular limit to the number of rear concave curved surface portions, and five or more rear concave curved surface portions may be formed in the rear concave surface area 21.

[0042] The front concave surface area 20 and the rear concave surface area 21 are of the same shape and size and are arranged symmetrically in the front-rear direction of the damper panel 13a. Therefore, the first front concave curved surface portion 23a and the first rear concave curved surface portion 25a are of the same shape and size and are arranged symmetrically in the front-rear direction of the damper panel 13a, the second front concave curved surface portion 23b and the second rear concave curved surface portion 25b are of the same shape and size and are arranged symmetrically in the front-rear direction of the damper panel 13a. The third front concave curved surface portion 23c and the third rear concave curved surface portion 25c are of the same shape and size and are arranged symmetrically in the front-rear direction of the damper panel 13a, and the fourth front concave curved surface portion 23d and the fourth rear concave curved surface portion 25d are of the same shape and size and are arranged symmetrically in the front-rear direction of the damper panel 13a.

[0043] In the damper panel 13a, the thickness dimension of the damper panel 13a at the first front concave curved surface portion 23a and the first rear concave curved surface portion 25a is the largest, and the thickness dimension of the damper panel 13a at the second front concave curved surface portion 23b and the second rear concave curved surface portion 25b is smaller than that of the damper panel 13a at the first front concave curved surface portion 23a and the first rear concave curved surface portion 25a. The thickness dimension of the damper panel 13a at the third front concave curved surface portion 23c and the third rear concave curved surface portion 25c is smaller than that of the damper panel 13a at the second front concave curved surface portion 23b and the second rear concave curved surface portion 25b, the thickness dimension of the damper panel 13a at the fourth front concave curved surface portion 23c and the fourth rear concave curved surface portion 25c is smaller than that of the damper panel 13a at the third front concave curved surface portion 23c and the third rear concave curved surface portion 25c, and the thickness dimension of the damper panel 13a at the fourth front concave curved surface portion 23d and the fourth rear concave curved surface portion 25d is the smallest.

[0044] In the steel damper 10A (including the steel dampers 10B to 10J), the thickness dimension of the damper panel 13a at the first front concave curved surface portion 23a and the first rear concave curved surface portion 25a (the thickness dimension in the front-rear direction between the first front concave curved surface portion 23a and the first rear concave curved surface portion 25a), the thickness dimension of the damper panel 13a at the second front concave curved surface portion 23b and the second rear concave curved surface portion 25b (the thickness dimension in the front-rear direction between the second front concave curved surface portion 23b and the second rear concave curved surface portion 25b), the thickness dimension of the damper panel 13a at the third front concave curved surface portion 23c and the third rear concave curved surface portion 25c The thickness dimension of the damper panel 13a at the fourth front concave curved surface portion 23c and the fourth rear concave curved surface portion 25d (the thickness dimension in the front-to-rear direction between the fourth front concave curved surface portion 23d and the fourth rear concave curved surface portion 25d) can be freely set (for example, in the range of 5 mm to 50 mm), and the damping force (vibration (earthquake) resistance force) can be arbitrarily set, for example, in the range of 50 kN to 3000 kN.

[0045] The steel damper 10A exerts a seismic control function when the first to fourth front concave curved surface portions 23a to 23d (the first to nth front concave curved surface portions) formed in circular (perfect circles) shapes of the damper panel 13a and the first to fourth rear concave curved surface portions 25a to 25d (the first to nth rear concave curved surface portions) formed in circular (perfect circles) shapes of the damper panel 13a undergo plastic deformation due to relative displacement between the first structural member (upper structural member or first side structural member) and the second structural member (lower structural member or second side structural member) of the building when vibrations occur due to an earthquake or the like. For example, when the vibration (earthquake) is small, the fourth front concave curved surface portion 23d and the fourth rear concave curved surface portion 25d of the damper panel 13a having a small thickness dimension undergo plastic deformity, and when the vibration (earthquake) is medium, in addition to the fourth front concave curved surface portion 23d and the fourth rear concave curved surface portion 25d of the damper panel 13a having a small thickness dimension undergo plastic deformity, the third front concave curved surface portion 23c and the third rear concave curved surface portion 25c and the second front concave curved surface portion 23b and the second rear concave curved surface portion 25b of the damper panel 13a having a medium thickness dimension also undergo plastic deformity. When the vibration (earthquake) is large, the fourth front concave curved surface portion 23d and the fourth rear concave curved surface portion 25d of the damper panel 13a with a small thickness dimension undergo plastic deformity, and the third front concave curved surface portion 23c and the third rear concave curved surface portion 25c and the second front concave curved surface portion 23b and the second rear concave curved surface portion 25b of the damper panel 13a with a medium thickness dimension undergo plastic deformity, and in addition, the first front concave curved surface portion 23a and the first rear concave curved surface portion 25a of the damper panel 13a with a large thickness dimension undergo plastic deformity.

[0046] Although not shown in the figure, a transparent plastic deformation confirmation first sheet is prepared in advance for the steel damper 10A, which shows (models) the boundary lines of the first front concave curved surface portion 23a (first rear concave curved surface portion 25a) to the fourth front concave curved surface portion 23d (fourth rear concave curved surface portion 25d) before the damper panel 13a of the steel damper 10A is plastically deformed. In the steel damper 10A, when the first front concave curved surface portion to the fourth front concave curved surface portion 23a to 23d or the first rear concave curved surface portion to the fourth rear concave curved surface portion 25a to 25d of the damper panel 13a are plastically deformed due to the occurrence of vibration (earthquake), the vibration damping function of the steel damper 10A is lost depending on the degree of plastic deformation. After the occurrence of vibration (earthquake), the steel damper 10A that has lost its vibration damping function due to a large degree of plastic deformation is replaced. Even after the occurrence of vibration (earthquake), if the degree of plastic deformation is small and the steel damper 10A is still capable of exerting its vibration control function, it can be used continuously without being replaced.

[0047] Plastic deformation such as distortion, warping, bending, breakage, and damage of the first front concave curved surface portion 23a to 23d and the first rear concave curved surface portion 25a to 25d of the damper panel 13a after the occurrence of vibration (earthquake) is visually confirmed to determine the degree of plastic deformation, or the first front concave curved surface portion 23a (first rear concave curved surface portion 25a) to the fourth front concave curved surface portion 23d (fourth rear concave curved surface portion 25d) are visually confirmed to determine the degree of plastic deformation. A transparent plastic deformation confirmation first sheet showing the boundaries of the first front concave curved surface portion 23a (first rear concave curved surface portion 25a) to the fourth front concave curved surface portion 23d (fourth rear concave curved surface portion 25d) of the damper panel 13a is placed over the front concave surface area 20 (rear concave surface area 21) of the damper panel 13a, and the boundaries shown on the first plastic deformation confirmation sheet are compared with the boundaries of the first front concave curved surface portion 23a (first rear concave curved surface portion 25a) to the fourth front concave curved surface portion 23d (fourth rear concave curved surface portion 25d) of the damper panel 13a to determine the degree of plastic deformation. Note that the degree of plastic deformation may be determined by photographing the damper panel 13a (including damper panels 13b to 13l) and analyzing the digital image.

[0048] When an external force acting upon vibration due to an earthquake or the like is transmitted to the steel damper 10A as a shear force, an axial force, or a bending moment, the first to fourth front concave curved surface portions 23a to 23d (the first to n-th front concave curved surface portions) formed into a circular shape (perfect circle) of the damper panel 13a and the first to fourth rear concave curved surface portions 25a to 25d (the first to n-th rear concave curved surface portions) formed into a circular shape (perfect circle) are evenly and reliably plastically deformed. The vibration energy (earthquake energy) can be efficiently absorbed in the damper panel 13a of the steel damper 10A by utilizing the plastic deformation of the first to fourth front concave curved surface portions 23a to 23d and the first to fourth rear concave curved surface portions 25a to 25d of the damper panel 13a, and the vibration energy (earthquake energy) can be sufficiently damped, thereby minimizing deformation and damage to the building due to vibration (earthquake).

[0049] The steel damper 10A has the first to fourth front concave curved surface portions 23a to 23d which are circular (perfect circles) and the first to fourth rear concave curved surface portions 25a to 25d which are circular (perfect circles) formed on the damper panel 13a, so that plastic deformation such as distortion, warping, bending, breakage, and damage that occurs in the front concave curved surface portions 23a to 23d and the rear concave curved surface portions 25a to 25d after vibrations due to an earthquake or the like occur can be easily found, and the degree of deformation of the front concave curved surface portions 23a to 23d and the rear concave curved surface portions 25a to 25d can be easily confirmed.

[0050] The steel damper 10A can easily check the degree of deformation of the first to fourth front concave curved surface portions 23a to 23d (the first to nth front concave curved surface portions) formed into a circle (perfect circle) of the damper panel 13a that has been plastically deformed after vibration due to an earthquake or the like has occurred, and the first to fourth rear concave curved surface portions 25a to 25d (the first to nth rear concave curved surface portions) formed into a circle (perfect circle). This makes it possible to accurately determine whether the steel damper 10A is in a state in which it can exert its vibration control function, and also makes it possible to predict the energy absorption capacity of the steel damper 10A until the end of its life. This makes it possible to determine the continued usability of the building and the durability of the steel damper 10A against repeated earthquakes, and the steel damper 10A will not be replaced unnecessarily, thereby preventing wasteful disposal and preventing the steel damper 10A that has lost its vibration control function from being out of date for replacement.

[0051] Fig. 4 is a front view of a steel damper 10B shown as another example, and Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in Fig. 4. In Figs. 4 and 5, the vertical direction is indicated by an arrow X, the width direction is indicated by an arrow Y, and the front-rear direction is indicated by an arrow Z. The steel damper 10B shown in Fig. 4 is different from that shown in Fig. 1 in that the vertical length dimension L1 of the damper panel 13b is greater than the minimum width dimension L2 of the damper panel 13b, and that the first front concave curved surface portion to the fourth front concave curved surface portion 23a to 23d (the first front concave curved surface portion to the nth front concave curved surface portion) are formed into an ellipse elongated in the vertical direction, and the first rear concave curved surface portion to the fourth rear concave curved surface portion 25a to 25d (the first rear concave curved surface portion to the nth rear concave curved surface portion) are formed into an ellipse elongated in the vertical direction. The other configurations are the same as those of the steel damper 10A shown in Fig. 1.

[0052] The steel damper 10B is formed of a first connecting panel 11, a second connecting panel 12, and a damper panel 13b extending between the first and second connecting panels 11, 12. In the steel damper 10B, the vertical length dimension L1 of the damper panel 13b is greater than the minimum width dimension L2 of the damper panel 13b. A front concave surface area 20 having a predetermined area recessed from the front surface 17 toward the rear surface 18 is formed in a central region 19 on the front surface 17 of the damper panel 13b. A rear concave surface area 21 having a predetermined area recessed from the rear surface 18 toward the front surface 17 is formed in a central region 19 on the rear surface 18 of the damper panel 13b. The front concave surface area 20 and the rear concave surface area 21 are formed (formed) into an elliptical shape that is long in the vertical direction, and have a major axis Z1 extending in the vertical direction and a minor axis Z2 extending in the width direction.

[0053] The front concave surface area 20 is formed with first to fourth front concave curved surface portions 23a to 23d (first to nth front concave curved surface portions) whose concave dimensions increase stepwise from the outer circumferential edge 22 toward the center. The first to fourth front concave curved surface portions 23a to 23d are formed in an elliptical shape that is long in the vertical direction. The rear concave surface area 21 is formed with first to fourth rear concave curved surface portions 25a to 25d (first to nth rear concave curved surface portions) whose concave dimensions increase stepwise from the outer circumferential edge 24 toward the center. The first to fourth rear concave curved surface portions 25a to 25d are formed in an elliptical shape that is long in the vertical direction.

[0054] In the steel damper 10B, although not shown, the first to fourth front concave curved surface portions 23a to 23d may be formed into ellipses elongated in the width direction, and the first to fourth rear concave curved surface portions 25a to 25d may be formed into ellipses elongated in the width direction. In this case, the minimum length dimension L2 in the width direction of the damper panel 13b is larger than the length dimension L1 in the up-down direction of the damper panel 13b, and the front concave surface area 20 and the rear concave surface area 21 are formed (formed) into ellipses elongated in the width direction, with a major axis Z1 extending in the width direction and a minor axis Z2 extending in the up-down direction. Furthermore, as shown in the cross-sectional view of Figure 3, the first to fourth front concave curved surface portions 23a to 23d may be molded in shapes in which the circumferences of spheres of different diameters are lined up from the outer peripheral edge 22 toward the center, and the first to fourth rear concave curved surface portions 25a to 25d may be molded in shapes in which the circumferences of spheres of different diameters are lined up from the outer peripheral edge 24 toward the center.

[0055] When an external force acting upon the occurrence of vibration due to an earthquake or the like is transmitted to the steel damper 10B as a shear force, an axial force, or a bending moment, the first to fourth front concave curved surface portions 23a to 23d (the first to n-th front concave curved surface portions) formed in an elliptical shape that is elongated in the vertical direction of the damper panel 13b and the first to fourth rear concave curved surface portions 25a to 25d (the first to n-th rear concave curved surface portions) formed in an elliptical shape that is elongated in the vertical direction are uniformly and uniformly arranged. Plastic deformation occurs reliably, allowing the damper panel 13b of the steel damper 10B to efficiently absorb vibration energy (earthquake energy). The vibration energy (earthquake energy) can be sufficiently damped by utilizing the plastic deformation of the first to fourth front concave curved surface portions 23a to 23d and the first to fourth rear concave curved surface portions 25a to 25d of the damper panel 13b, thereby minimizing deformation and damage to the building due to vibration (earthquake).

[0056] The steel damper 10B has the elliptical first to fourth front concave curved surface portions 23a to 23d and the elliptical first to fourth rear concave curved surface portions 25a to 25d formed on the damper panel 13b, so that plastic deformation such as distortion, warping, bending, breakage, and damage that occurs in the front concave curved surface portions 23a to 23d and the rear concave curved surface portions 25a to 25d after vibrations due to an earthquake or the like occur can be easily found, and the degree of deformation of the front concave curved surface portions 23a to 23d and the rear concave curved surface portions 25a to 25d can be easily confirmed.

[0057] The steel damper 10B can easily check the degree of deformation of the first to fourth front concave curved surface portions 23a to 23d (first to nth front concave curved surface portions) formed in an ellipse long in the vertical direction of the damper panel 13b that has been plastically deformed after vibration due to an earthquake or the like, and the first to fourth rear concave curved surface portions 25a to 25d (first to nth rear concave curved surface portions) formed in an ellipse long in the vertical direction. This makes it possible to accurately determine whether the steel damper 10B is in a state in which it can exert its vibration control function, and also makes it possible to predict the energy absorption capacity of the steel damper 10B until the end of its life. This makes it possible to determine the continued usability of the building and the durability of the steel damper 10B against repeated earthquakes, and the steel damper 10B will not be replaced unnecessarily, thereby preventing unnecessary disposal and preventing the steel damper 10B that has lost its vibration control function from being out of date for replacement.

[0058] Fig. 6 is a front view of a steel damper 10C shown as another example, and Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC in Fig. 6. In Figs. 6 and 7, the vertical direction is indicated by an arrow X, the width direction is indicated by an arrow Y, and the front-rear direction is indicated by an arrow Z. The steel damper 10C shown in Fig. 6 differs from that shown in Fig. 1 in that the minimum length dimension L2 in the width direction of the damper panel 13c is greater than the length dimension L1 in the vertical direction of the damper panel 13c, and that the first to fourth front concave curved surface portions 23a to 23d (the first to n-th front concave curved surface portions) are formed in oval shapes that are elongated in the width direction, and the first to fourth rear concave curved surface portions 25a to 25d (the first to n-th rear concave curved surface portions) are formed in oval shapes that are elongated in the width direction. The other configurations are the same as those of the steel damper 10A shown in Fig. 1.

[0059] The steel damper 10C is formed of a first connecting panel 11, a second connecting panel 12, and a damper panel 13c extending between the first and second connecting panels 11, 12. In the steel damper 10C, the minimum length dimension L2 in the width direction of the damper panel 13c is greater than the length dimension L1 in the up-down direction of the damper panel 13c. A front concave surface area 20 of a predetermined area recessed from the front surface 17 toward the rear surface 18 is formed in a central region 19 in the front surface 17 of the damper panel 13c. A rear concave surface area 21 of a predetermined area recessed from the rear surface 18 toward the front surface 17 is formed in the central region 19 in the rear surface 18 of the damper panel 13c. The front concave area 20 and the rear concave area 21 are shaped (formed) into an oval shape that is long in the width direction, and have both end edges 59 extending straight in the width direction and both side edges 60 extending in an arc in the vertical direction, as well as a long axis Z1 extending in the width direction and a short axis Z2 extending in the vertical direction.

[0060] The front concave surface area 20 is formed with a first to fourth front concave curved surface portion 23a to 23d (first to nth front concave curved surface portion) whose concave dimension increases stepwise from the outer peripheral edge 22 toward the center. The first to fourth front concave curved surface portions 23a to 23d are formed in an oval shape that is long in the width direction. The rear concave surface area 21 is formed with a first to fourth rear concave curved surface portion 25a to 25d (first to nth rear concave curved surface portion) whose concave dimension increases stepwise from the outer peripheral edge 24 toward the center. The first to fourth rear concave curved surface portions 25a to 25d are formed in an oval shape that is long in the width direction.

[0061] In the steel damper 10C, although not shown, the first to fourth front concave curved surface portions 23a to 23d may be formed into an oval shape elongated in the vertical direction, and the first to fourth rear concave curved surface portions 25a to 25d may be formed into an oval shape elongated in the vertical direction. In this case, the vertical length dimension L1 of the damper panel 13b is larger than the minimum length dimension L2 of the damper panel 13b in the width direction, and the front concave surface area 20 and the rear concave surface area 21 are formed (formed) into an oval shape elongated in the vertical direction, have both end edges 59 extending in an arc in the width direction and both side edges 60 extending straight in the vertical direction, and have a major axis Z1 extending in the vertical direction and a minor axis Z2 extending in the width direction. Furthermore, as shown in the cross-sectional view of Figure 3, the first to fourth front concave curved surface portions 23a to 23d may be molded in shapes in which the circumferences of spheres of different diameters are lined up from the outer peripheral edge 22 toward the center, and the first to fourth rear concave curved surface portions 25a to 25d may be molded in shapes in which the circumferences of spheres of different diameters are lined up from the outer peripheral edge 24 toward the center.

[0062] When an external force acting upon vibration due to an earthquake or the like is transmitted to the steel damper 10C as a shear force, an axial force, or a bending moment, the first to fourth front concave curved surface portions 23a to 23d (the first to n-th front concave curved surface portions) formed in an oval shape elongated in the width direction of the damper panel 13c and the first to fourth rear concave curved surface portions 25a to 25d (the first to n-th rear concave curved surface portions) formed in an oval shape elongated in the width direction are uniformly and securely fixed to the steel damper 10C. The steel damper 10C actually undergoes plastic deformation, allowing the damper panel 13c of the steel damper 10C to efficiently absorb vibration energy (earthquake energy). The vibration energy (earthquake energy) can be sufficiently damped by utilizing the plastic deformation of the first to fourth front concave curved surface portions 23a to 23d and the first to fourth rear concave curved surface portions 25a to 25d of the damper panel 13c, thereby minimizing deformation and damage to the building due to vibration (earthquake).

[0063] The steel damper 10C has the oval-shaped first to fourth front concave curved surface portions 23a to 23d and the oval-shaped first to fourth rear concave curved surface portions 25a to 25d formed on the damper panel 13c, so that plastic deformation such as distortion, warping, bending, breakage, and damage that occurs in the front concave curved surface portions 23a to 23d and the rear concave curved surface portions 25a to 25d after vibrations due to an earthquake or the like occur can be easily found, and the degree of deformation of the front concave curved surface portions 23a to 23d and the rear concave curved surface portions 25a to 25d can be easily confirmed.

[0064] The steel damper 10C can easily check the degree of deformation of the first to fourth front concave curved surface portions 23a to 23d (the first to nth front concave curved surface portions) formed into an oval shape elongated in the width direction of the damper panel 13c that has been plastically deformed after vibration due to an earthquake or the like, and the first to fourth rear concave curved surface portions 25a to 25d (the first to nth rear concave curved surface portions) formed into an oval shape elongated in the width direction. This makes it possible to accurately determine whether the steel damper 10C is in a state in which it can exert its vibration control function, and also makes it possible to predict the energy absorption capacity of the steel damper 10C until the end of its life. This makes it possible to determine the continued usability of the building and the durability of the steel damper 10C against repeated earthquakes, and the steel damper 10C will not be replaced unnecessarily, thereby preventing unnecessary disposal and preventing the steel damper 10C that has lost its vibration control function from being out of date for replacement.

[0065] Fig. 8 is a front view of a steel damper 10D shown as another example, and Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line DD in Fig. 8. In Figs. 8 and 9, the up-down direction is indicated by arrow X, the width direction is indicated by arrow Y, and the front-rear direction is indicated by arrow Z. The steel damper 10D shown in FIG. 8 differs from that shown in FIG. 1 in that the first to sixth front concave curved surface portions 23a to 23f (first to sixth front concave curved surface portions) are formed in the front concave surface area 20, and the first to sixth rear concave curved surface portions 25a to 25f (first to sixth rear concave curved surface portions) are formed in the rear concave surface area 21, and the radial width dimensions of the first to sixth front concave curved surface portions 23a to 23f gradually decrease from the first front concave curved surface portion 23a to the sixth front concave curved surface portion 23f, and the radial width dimensions of the first to sixth rear concave curved surface portions 25a to 25f gradually decrease from the first rear concave curved surface portion 25a to the sixth rear concave curved surface portion 25f. The other configurations are the same as those of the steel damper 10A shown in FIG. 1.

[0066] The steel damper 10D is formed from a first connecting panel 11, a second connecting panel 12, and a damper panel 13d extending between the first and second connecting panels 11, 12. The first connecting panel 11 and the second connecting panel 12 are the same as those of the steel damper 10A in Fig. 1. The minimum length dimension L2 of the damper panel 13d in the width direction is shorter than that of the first and second connecting panels 11, 12, and both side edges 16 thereof are arched toward the center of the damper panel 13d (inward in the width direction), and both side edges 16 are narrowed toward the inner side in the width direction, similar to the damper panel 13a in Fig. 1.

[0067] In the damper panel 13d, external forces acting during vibration (earthquake) are transmitted evenly to both narrowed side edges 16 of the damper panel 13d as shear force, axial force, and bending moment. The damper panel 13d has a front surface 17 and a rear surface 18. A front concave surface area 20 of a predetermined area recessed from the front surface 17 toward the rear surface 18 is formed in a central region 19 of the front surface 17 of the damper panel 13d. A rear concave surface area 21 of a predetermined area recessed from the rear surface 18 toward the front surface 17 is formed in the central region 19 of the rear surface 18 of the damper panel 13d.

[0068] In the front concave area 20, first to sixth front concave surface portions 23a to 23f (first to nth front concave surface portions) are formed, each of which is a circle (perfect circle) whose recess dimension increases stepwise from the outer circumferential edge 22 toward the center. The first to sixth front concave surface portions 23a to 23f are the first to sixth front concave curved surface portions 23a to 23f (first to nth front concave curved surface portions) that are recessed from the front surface 17 toward the rear surface 18 and form an arc with a predetermined radius of curvature toward the center of the front concave surface area 20 (from the front surface 17 (front concave area 20) toward the rear surface 18 (rear concave area 21)). The first to fifth front concave curved surface portions 23a to 23e extend in an annular (circular) shape while drawing concentric circles in the central region 19 (front concave surface area 20) of the front surface 17, and the sixth front concave curved surface portion 23f extends in a circular shape while drawing concentric circles in the central region 19 (front concave surface area 20) of the front surface 17. As shown in the cross-sectional view of Fig. 3, the first to sixth front concave curved surface portions 23a to 23f may be formed in a shape in which the circumferences of spheres with different diameters are lined up from the outer circumferential edge 22 toward the center.

[0069] Of the first to sixth front concave curved surface portions 23a to 23f, the first front concave curved surface portion 23a has the smallest recess dimension from the front surface 17 of the damper panel 13d, the second front concave curved surface portion 23b has a larger recess dimension from the front surface 17 of the damper panel 13d than that of the first front concave curved surface portion 23a, and the third front concave curved surface portion 23c has a larger recess dimension from the front surface 17 of the damper panel 13d than that of the second front concave curved surface portion 23b. The recess dimension of the fourth front concave curved surface portion 23d from the front surface 17 of the damper panel 13d is larger than that of the third front concave curved surface portion 23c, the recess dimension of the fifth front concave curved surface portion 23e from the front surface 17 of the damper panel 13d is larger than that of the fourth front concave curved surface portion 23d, and the recess dimension of the sixth front concave curved surface portion 23f from the front surface 17 of the damper panel 13d is larger than that of the fifth front concave curved surface portion 23e.

[0070] The radial width dimensions of the first to sixth front concave curved surface portions 23a to 23f gradually decrease from the first to sixth front concave curved surface portion 23a to 23f. Among the first to sixth front concave curved surface portions 23a to 23f, the radial width dimension of the first front concave curved surface portion 23a is the largest, the radial width dimension of the second front concave curved surface portion 23b is smaller than that of the first front concave curved surface portion 23a, and the radial width dimension of the third front concave curved surface portion 23c is smaller than that of the second front concave curved surface portion 23b. The radial width dimension of the fourth front concave curved surface portion 23d is smaller than that of the third front concave curved surface portion 23c, the radial width dimension of the fifth front concave curved surface portion 23e is smaller than that of the fourth front concave curved surface portion 23d, and the radial width dimension of the sixth front concave curved surface portion 23f is smaller than that of the fifth front concave curved surface portion 23e.

[0071] In the front concave surface area 20, the first front concave curved surface portion 23a, the second front concave curved surface portion 23b, the third front concave curved surface portion 23c, the fourth front concave curved surface portion 23d, the fifth front concave curved surface portion 23e, and the sixth front concave curved surface portion 23f are arranged in this order from the outer circumferential edge 22 toward the center (inward in the width direction). Therefore, the second front concave curved surface portion 23b, which is an annular (circular) first front concave curved surface portion 23a that describes an arc with a predetermined radius of curvature toward the center of the front concave surface area 20 (from the front surface 17 (front concave surface area 20) toward the rear surface 18 (rear concave surface area 21)), is adjacently arranged toward the center of the front concave surface area 20 (from the front surface 17 (front concave surface area 20) toward the rear surface 18 (rear concave surface area 21)). A circular (circular) third front concave curved surface portion 23c is adjacently arranged toward the center of the front concave area 20 (from the front surface 17 (front concave area 20) toward the rear surface 18 (rear concave area 21)), and a circular fourth front concave curved surface portion 23d is adjacently arranged radially inward of the third front concave curved surface portion 23c), describing an arc with a predetermined radius of curvature toward the center of the front concave area 20 (from the front surface 18 (front concave area 20) toward the rear surface 18 (rear concave area 21)).

[0072] A fifth front concave curved surface portion 23e, which is an annular (circular) shape and forms an arc with a predetermined radius of curvature, is arranged adjacent to the center of the front concave area 20 (from the front surface 17 (front concave area 20) to the rear surface 18 (rear concave area 21)) on the radial inward side of the fourth front concave curved surface portion 23d, and a sixth front concave curved surface portion 23f, which is a circular shape and forms an arc with a predetermined radius of curvature, is arranged adjacent to the center of the front concave area 20 (from the front surface 17 (front concave area 20) to the rear surface 18 (rear concave area 21)) on the radial inward side of the fifth front concave curved surface portion 23e. Note that, although six front concave curved surface portions 23a to 23f are formed in the front concave area 20, there is no particular limit to the number of front concave curved surface portions, and four or less or seven or more front concave curved surface portions may be formed in the front concave area 20.

[0073] In the rear concave surface area 21, first to sixth rear concave surface portions 25a to 25f (first to nth rear concave surface portions) are formed, each of which is a circle (perfect circle) whose recess dimension increases stepwise from the outer circumferential edge 24 toward the center. The first to sixth rear concave surface portions 25a to 25f are the first to sixth rear concave curved surface portions 25a to 25f (first to nth rear concave curved surface portions) that are recessed from the rear surface 18 toward the front surface 17 and form an arc with a predetermined radius of curvature toward the center of the rear concave surface area 21 (from the rear surface 18 (rear concave surface area 21) toward the front surface 17 (front concave surface area 20)). The first to fifth rear concave curved surface portions 25a to 25e extend in an annular (circular) shape while describing concentric circles in the central region 19 (rear concave surface area 21) of the rear surface 18, and the sixth rear concave curved surface portion 25f extends in a circular shape while describing concentric circles in the central region 19 (rear concave surface area 21) of the rear surface 18. As shown in the cross-sectional view of Fig. 3, the first to sixth rear concave curved surface portions 25a to 25f may be formed in a shape in which the circumferences of spheres with different diameters are lined up from the outer circumferential edge 24 toward the center.

[0074] Of the first to sixth rear concave curved surface portions 25a to 25f, the first rear concave curved surface portion 25a has the smallest recess dimension from the rear surface 18 of the damper panel 13d, the second rear concave curved surface portion 25b has a larger recess dimension from the rear surface 18 of the damper panel 13d than that of the first rear concave curved surface portion 25a, and the third rear concave curved surface portion 25c has a larger recess dimension from the rear surface 18 of the damper panel 13d than that of the second rear concave curved surface portion 25b. The recess dimension of the fourth rear concave curved surface portion 25d from the rear surface 18 of the damper panel 13d is larger than that of the third rear concave curved surface portion 25c, the recess dimension of the fifth rear concave curved surface portion 25e from the rear surface 18 of the damper panel 13d is larger than that of the fourth rear concave curved surface portion 25d, and the recess dimension of the sixth rear concave curved surface portion 25f from the rear surface 18 of the damper panel 13d is larger than that of the fifth rear concave curved surface portion 25e.

[0075] The radial width dimensions of the first to sixth rear concave curved surface portions 25a to 25f gradually decrease from the first to sixth rear concave curved surface portion 25a to 25f. Among the first to sixth rear concave curved surface portions 25a to 25f, the radial width dimension of the first rear concave curved surface portion 25a is the largest, the radial width dimension of the second rear concave curved surface portion 25b is smaller than that of the first rear concave curved surface portion 25a, and the radial width dimension of the third rear concave curved surface portion 25c is smaller than that of the second rear concave curved surface portion 25b. The radial width dimension of the fourth rear concave curved surface portion 25d is smaller than that of the third rear concave curved surface portion 25c, the radial width dimension of the fifth rear concave curved surface portion 25e is smaller than that of the fourth rear concave curved surface portion 25d, and the radial width dimension of the sixth rear concave curved surface portion 25f is smaller than that of the fifth rear concave curved surface portion 25e.

[0076] In the rear concave surface area 21, the first rear concave curved surface portion 25a, the second rear concave curved surface portion 25b, the third rear concave curved surface portion 25c, the fourth rear concave curved surface portion 25d, the fifth rear concave curved surface portion 25e, and the sixth rear concave curved surface portion 25d are arranged in this order from the outer peripheral edge 24 toward the center (inward in the width direction). Therefore, the second rear concave curved surface portion 25b, which is an annular (circular) first rear concave curved surface portion 25a that describes an arc with a predetermined radius of curvature toward the center of the rear concave surface area 21 (from the rear surface 18 (rear concave surface area 21) toward the front surface 17 (front concave surface area 20)), is adjacently arranged toward the center of the rear concave surface area 21 (from the rear surface 18 (rear concave surface area 21) toward the front surface 17 (front concave surface area 20)). A circular third rear concave curved surface portion 25c is adjacently arranged toward the center of the rear concave surface area 21 (from the rear surface 18 (rear concave surface area 21) toward the front surface 17 (front concave surface area 20)), and a circular fourth rear concave curved surface portion 25d is adjacently arranged radially inward of the third rear concave curved surface portion 25c), describing an arc with a predetermined radius of curvature toward the center of the rear concave surface area 21 (from the rear surface 18 (rear concave surface area 21) toward the front surface 17 (front concave surface area 20)).

[0077] A fifth concave rear curved portion 25e is arranged adjacent to the fourth concave rear curved portion 25d in the radial direction toward the center of the concave rear area 21 (from the rear surface 18 (rear concave area 21) toward the front surface 17 (front concave area 20)), and a sixth concave rear curved portion 25f is arranged adjacent to the fifth concave rear curved portion 25e in the radial direction toward the center of the concave rear area 21 (from the rear surface 18 (rear concave area 21) toward the front surface 17 (front concave area 20)). Note that six concave rear curved portions 25a to 25f are formed in the concave rear area 21, but there is no particular limit to the number of concave rear curved portions, and four or less or seven or more concave rear curved portions may be formed in the concave rear area 21.

[0078] The front concave surface area 20 and the rear concave surface area 21 are the same shape and size and are arranged symmetrically in the front-rear direction of the damper panel 13d. Therefore, the first front concave curved surface portion 23a and the first rear concave curved surface portion 25a are the same shape and size and are arranged symmetrically in the front-rear direction of the damper panel 13d, the second front concave curved surface portion 23b and the second rear concave curved surface portion 25b are the same shape and size and are arranged symmetrically in the front-rear direction of the damper panel 13d, and the third front concave curved surface portion 23c and the third rear concave curved surface portion 23d are the same shape and size and are arranged symmetrically in the front-rear direction of the damper panel 13d. The fourth front concave curved surface portion 23d and the fourth rear concave curved surface portion 25d have the same shape and size and are arranged symmetrically in the front-to-back direction of the damper panel 13d, the fifth front concave curved surface portion 23e and the fifth rear concave curved surface portion 25e have the same shape and size and are arranged symmetrically in the front-to-back direction of the damper panel 13d, and the sixth front concave curved surface portion 23f and the sixth rear concave curved surface portion 25f have the same shape and size and are arranged symmetrically in the front-to-back direction of the damper panel 13d.

[0079] In the damper panel 13d, the thickness dimension of the damper panel 13d at the first front concave curved surface portion 23a and the first rear concave curved surface portion 25a is the largest, the thickness dimension of the damper panel 13d at the second front concave curved surface portion 23b and the second rear concave curved surface portion 25b is smaller than that of the damper panel 13d at the first front concave curved surface portion 23a and the first rear concave curved surface portion 25a, the thickness dimension of the damper panel 13d at the third front concave curved surface portion 23c and the third rear concave curved surface portion 25c is smaller than that of the damper panel 13d at the second front concave curved surface portion 23b and the second rear concave curved surface portion 25b, and the thickness dimension of the damper panel 13d at the fourth front concave curved surface portion 23d and the fourth rear concave curved surface portion 25d is smaller than that of the damper panel 13d at the third front concave curved surface portion 23c and the third rear concave curved surface portion 25c. The thickness dimension of the damper panel 13d at the fifth front concave curved surface portion 23e and the fifth rear concave curved surface portion 25e is smaller than that of the damper panel 13d at the fourth front concave curved surface portion 23d and the fourth rear concave curved surface portion 25d, the thickness dimension of the damper panel 13d at the sixth front concave curved surface portion 23f and the sixth rear concave curved surface portion 25f is smaller than that of the damper panel 13d at the fifth front concave curved surface portion 23e and the fifth rear concave curved surface portion 25e, and the thickness dimension of the damper panel 13d at the sixth front concave curved surface portion 23f and the sixth rear concave curved surface portion 25f is the smallest.

[0080] In addition, in the steel damper 10D, the thickness dimension of the damper panel 13d at the first front concave curved surface portion 23a and the first rear concave curved surface portion 25a (the thickness dimension in the front-rear direction between the first front concave curved surface portion 23a and the first rear concave curved surface portion 25a), the thickness dimension of the damper panel 13d at the second front concave curved surface portion 23b and the second rear concave curved surface portion 25b (the thickness dimension in the front-rear direction between the second front concave curved surface portion 23b and the second rear concave curved surface portion 25b), the thickness dimension of the damper panel 13d at the third front concave curved surface portion 23c and the third rear concave curved surface portion 25c (the thickness dimension in the front-rear direction between the third front concave curved surface portion 23c and the third rear concave curved surface portion 25c), the thickness dimension of the damper panel 13d at the fourth front concave curved surface portion 23d and the fourth rear concave curved surface portion 25d The thickness dimension of the damper panel 13d at the fifth front concave curved surface portion 23e and the fifth rear concave curved surface portion 25e (the thickness dimension in the front-to-rear direction between the fifth front concave curved surface portion 23e and the fifth rear concave curved surface portion 25e), and the thickness dimension of the damper panel 13d at the sixth front concave curved surface portion 23f and the sixth rear concave curved surface portion 25f (the thickness dimension in the front-to-rear direction between the sixth front concave curved surface portion 23f and the sixth rear concave curved surface portion 25f) can be freely set (for example, in the range of 5 mm to 50 mm), and the damping force (vibration (earthquake) resistance force) can be arbitrarily set in the range of 50 kN to 3000 kN.

[0081] The steel damper 10D exerts a seismic control function when the first to sixth front concave curved surface portions 23a to 23f (the first to nth front concave curved surface portions) formed into circular (perfect circles) shapes of the damper panel 13d and the first to sixth rear concave curved surface portions 25a to 25f (the first to nth rear concave curved surface portions) formed into circular (perfect circles) shapes of the damper panel 13d undergo plastic deformation due to relative displacement between the first structural member (upper structural member or first side structural member) and the second structural member (lower structural member or second side structural member) of the building when vibrations occur due to an earthquake or the like. For example, when the vibration during vibration (earthquake) is small, the sixth front concave curved surface portion 23f and the sixth rear concave curved surface portion 25f and the fifth front concave curved surface portion 23e and the fifth rear concave curved surface portion 25e of the damper panel 13d, which has a small thickness dimension, undergo plastic deformity, and when the vibration during vibration (earthquake) is medium, in addition to the sixth front concave curved surface portion 23f and the sixth rear concave curved surface portion 25f and the fifth front concave curved surface portion 23e and the fifth rear concave curved surface portion 25e of the damper panel 13d, which has a small thickness dimension, the fourth front concave curved surface portion 23d and the fourth rear concave curved surface portion 25d and the third front concave curved surface portion 23c and the third rear concave curved surface portion 25c of the damper panel 13d, which has a medium thickness dimension, undergo plastic deformity. When the vibration (earthquake) is large, the sixth front concave curved surface portion 23f and the sixth rear concave curved surface portion 25f and the fifth front concave curved surface portion 23e and the fifth rear concave curved surface portion 25e of the damper panel 13d which has a small thickness dimension are plastically deformed, while the fourth front concave curved surface portion 23d and the fourth rear concave curved surface portion 25d and the third front concave curved surface portion 23c and the third rear concave curved surface portion 25c of the damper panel 13d which has a medium thickness dimension are plastically deformed, and in addition, the second front concave curved surface portion 23b and the second rear concave curved surface portion 25b and the first front concave curved surface portion 23a and the first rear concave curved surface portion 25a of the damper panel 13d which has a large thickness dimension are plastically deformed.

[0082] Although not shown in the figure, a transparent plastic deformation confirmation second sheet is prepared in advance for the steel damper 10D, which shows (models) the boundary lines of the first front concave curved surface portion 23a (first rear concave curved surface portion 25a) to the sixth front concave curved surface portion 23f (sixth rear concave curved surface portion 25f) before the damper panel 13d of the steel damper 10D is plastically deformed. In the steel damper 10D, when the first front concave curved surface portion to the sixth front concave curved surface portion 23a to 23f or the first rear concave curved surface portion to the sixth rear concave curved surface portion 25a to 25f of the damper panel 13d are plastically deformed due to the occurrence of vibration (earthquake), the vibration damping function of the steel damper 10D is lost depending on the degree of plastic deformation. After the occurrence of vibration due to an earthquake or the like, the steel damper 10D that has lost its vibration damping function due to a large degree of plastic deformation is replaced. Even after vibrations due to an earthquake or the like occur, if the degree of plastic deformation is small and the steel damper 10D is still capable of exerting its vibration control function, it can continue to be used without being replaced.

[0083] Plastic deformation such as distortion, warping, bending, breakage, and damage occurring in the first to sixth front concave curved surface portions 23a to 23f and the first to sixth rear concave curved surface portions 25a to 25f of the damper panel 13d after vibration due to an earthquake or the like is visually confirmed to determine the degree of plastic deformation, or when the first front concave curved surface portion 23a (first rear concave curved surface portion 25a) to the sixth front concave curved surface portion 23f (sixth rear concave curved surface portion In some cases, a transparent plastic deformation confirmation second sheet showing the boundaries of the first front concave curved surface portion 23a (first rear concave curved surface portion 25a) to the sixth front concave curved surface portion 23f (sixth rear concave curved surface portion 25f) of the damper panel 13d is placed over the front concave surface area 20 (rear concave surface area 21) of the damper panel 13d, and the boundaries shown on the plastic deformation confirmation second sheet are compared with the boundaries of the first front concave curved surface portion 23a (first rear concave curved surface portion 25a) to the sixth front concave curved surface portion 23f (sixth rear concave curved surface portion 25f) of the damper panel 13d to determine the degree of plastic deformation.

[0084] The steel damper 10D has a radial width dimension that gradually decreases from the first front concave curved surface portion 23a to the sixth front concave curved surface portion 23f (nth front concave curved surface portion) and gradually decreases from the first rear concave curved surface portion 25a to the sixth rear concave curved surface portion 25f (nth rear concave curved surface portion). This results in many circular (perfect circle) front and rear concave curved surface portions being formed in the center of the damper panel 13d, which is most susceptible to plastic deformation. When an external force acting upon the occurrence of vibration due to an earthquake or the like is transmitted to the steel damper 10D as a shear force, an axial force, or a bending moment, the first front concave curved surface portion to the sixth front concave curved surface portion 23a to 23f (first front concave curved surface portion to the sixth front concave curved surface portion 23a to 23f) formed in a circular (perfect circle) shape of the damper panel 13d, the first front concave curved surface portion to the sixth front concave curved surface portion 23a to 23f (first rear concave curved surface portion to the sixth front concave curved surface portion 23a to 23f) formed in a circular (perfect circle) shape of the damper panel 13d, and the first rear concave curved surface portion to the sixth rear concave curved surface portion 25a to 25f (nth rear concave curved surface portion to the sixth rear concave curved surface portion) are gradually deformed. The first to sixth front concave curved surface portions 23a to 23f and the first to sixth rear concave curved surface portions 25a to 25f (first to nth rear concave curved surface portions) which are formed into a circle (perfect circle) uniformly and reliably undergo plastic deformation, allowing the damper panel 13d of the steel damper 10D to efficiently absorb vibration energy (earthquake energy).The vibration energy (earthquake energy) can be sufficiently damped by utilizing the plastic deformation of the first to sixth front concave curved surface portions 23a to 23f and the first to sixth rear concave curved surface portions 25a to 25f of the damper panel 13d, thereby minimizing deformation and damage to the building due to vibration (earthquake).

[0085] The steel damper 10D has the first to sixth front concave curved surface portions 23a to 23f which are circular (perfect circles) and the first to sixth rear concave curved surface portions 25a to 25f which are circular (perfect circles) formed on the damper panel 13d, so that plastic deformation such as distortion, warping, bending, breakage, and damage that occurs in the front concave curved surface portions 23a to 23f and the rear concave curved surface portions 25a to 25f after vibrations due to an earthquake or the like occur can be easily found, and the degree of deformation of the front concave curved surface portions 23a to 23f and the rear concave curved surface portions 25a to 25f can be easily confirmed.

[0086] The steel damper 10D can easily check the degree of deformation of the first to sixth front concave curved surface portions 23a to 23f (the first to nth front concave curved surface portions) formed into a circle (perfect circle) of the damper panel 13d that has been plastically deformed after vibration due to an earthquake or the like has occurred, and the first to sixth rear concave curved surface portions 25a to 25f (the first to nth rear concave curved surface portions) formed into a circle (perfect circle). This makes it possible to accurately determine whether the steel damper 10D is in a state in which it can exert its vibration control function, and also makes it possible to predict the energy absorption capacity of the steel damper 10D until the end of its life. This makes it possible to determine the continued usability of the building and the durability of the steel damper 10D against repeated earthquakes, and the steel damper 10D will not be replaced unnecessarily, thereby preventing unnecessary disposal and preventing the steel damper 10D that has lost its vibration control function from being out of date for replacement.

[0087] Fig. 10 is a front view of a steel damper 10E shown as another example. The steel damper 10E shown in Fig. 10 differs from that shown in Fig. 8 in that the radial width dimensions of the first to sixth front concave curved surface portions 23a to 23f gradually increase from the first front concave curved surface portion 23a to the sixth front concave curved surface portion 23f, and the radial width dimensions of the first to sixth rear concave curved surface portions 25a to 25f gradually increase from the first rear concave curved surface portion 23a to the sixth rear concave curved surface portion 25f. The other configurations are the same as those of the steel damper 10D shown in Fig. 8.

[0088] The steel damper 10E is formed from a first connecting panel 11, a second connecting panel 12, and a damper panel 13e extending between the first and second connecting panels 11, 12. A front concave surface area 20 of a predetermined area recessed from the front surface 17 toward the rear surface 18 is formed in a central region 19 of the front surface 17 of the damper panel 13e. A rear concave surface area 21 of a predetermined area recessed from the rear surface 18 toward the front surface 17 is formed in the central region 19 of the rear surface 18 of the damper panel 13e.

[0089] The front concave surface area 20 is formed with first to sixth front concave curved surface portions 23a to 23f (first to nth front concave curved surface portions) whose recess dimensions increase stepwise from the outer peripheral edge 22 toward the center. The first to sixth front concave curved surface portions 23a to 23f have radial width dimensions that increase gradually from the first front concave curved surface portion 23a toward the sixth front concave curved surface portion 23f. The rear concave surface area 21 is formed with first to sixth rear concave curved surface portions 25a to 25f (first to nth rear concave curved surface portions) whose recess dimensions increase stepwise from the outer peripheral edge 24 toward the center. The first to sixth rear concave curved surface portions 25a to 25f have radial widths that gradually increase from the first to sixth rear concave curved surface portions 25a to 25f. As shown in the cross-sectional view of Fig. 3, the first to sixth front concave curved surface portions 23a to 23f may be molded in a shape in which the circumferences of spheres having different diameters are lined up from the outer circumferential edge 22 toward the center, and the first to sixth rear concave curved surface portions 25a to 25f may be molded in a shape in which the circumferences of spheres having different diameters are lined up from the outer circumferential edge 24 toward the center.

[0090] The steel damper 10E has a radial width dimension that gradually increases from the first front concave curved surface portion 23a to the sixth front concave curved surface portion 23f (nth front concave curved surface portion) and gradually increases from the first rear concave curved surface portion 25a to the sixth rear concave curved surface portion 25f (nth rear concave curved surface portion). This makes it possible to increase the plastic deformation durability of the front concave curved surface portions 23a to 23f (the first front concave curved surface portion to the nth front concave curved surface portion) and the rear concave curved surface portions 25a to 25f (the first rear concave curved surface portion to the nth rear concave curved surface portion) toward the center of the damper panel 13e. When an external force acting upon occurrence of vibration due to an earthquake or the like is transmitted to the steel damper 10E as a shear force, an axial force, or a bending moment, the plastic deformation durability of the front concave curved surface portions 23a to 23f (the first front concave curved surface portion to the nth front concave curved surface portion) and the rear concave curved surface portions 25a to 25f (the first rear concave curved surface portion to the nth rear concave curved surface portion) toward the center of the damper panel 13e can be increased. Plastic deformation is reliably caused from any of the concave curved surface portions 23a-23f, 25a-25f of the first to sixth front concave curved surface portions 23a-23f and the first to sixth rear concave curved surface portions 25a-25f of the damper panel 13e of the steel damper 10E, so that the vibration energy (earthquake energy) can be efficiently absorbed in the damper panel 13e of the steel damper 10E. The vibration energy (earthquake energy) can be sufficiently attenuated by utilizing the plastic deformation of the first to sixth front concave curved surface portions 23a-23f and the first to sixth rear concave curved surface portions 25a-25f of the damper panel 13e, and deformation and damage to the building due to vibration (earthquake) can be minimized.

[0091] The steel damper 10E has the first to sixth front concave curved surface portions 23a to 23f which are circular (perfect circles) and the first to sixth rear concave curved surface portions 25a to 25f which are circular (perfect circles) formed on the damper panel 13e, so that plastic deformation such as distortion, warping, bending, breakage, and damage that occurs in the front concave curved surface portions 23a to 23f and the rear concave curved surface portions 25a to 25f after vibrations due to an earthquake or the like occur can be easily found, and the degree of deformation of the front concave curved surface portions 23a to 23f and the rear concave curved surface portions 25a to 25f can be easily confirmed.

[0092] The steel damper 10E allows easy confirmation of the degree of deformation of the first to sixth front concave curved surface portions 23a to 23f (the first to nth front concave curved surface portions) formed into a circle (perfect circle) of the damper panel 13e that has been plastically deformed after vibration due to an earthquake or the like has occurred, and the first to sixth rear concave curved surface portions 25a to 25f (the first to nth rear concave curved surface portions) formed into a circle (perfect circle). This makes it possible to accurately determine whether or not the steel damper 10E is in a state in which it can exert its vibration control function, and also makes it possible to predict the energy absorption capacity of the steel damper 10E until the end of its life. This makes it possible to determine the continued usability of the building and the durability of the steel damper 10E against repeated earthquakes, and the steel damper 10E will not be replaced unnecessarily, thereby preventing unnecessary disposal and preventing the steel damper 10E that has lost its vibration control function from being out of date for replacement.

[0093] Fig. 11 is a front view of a steel damper 10F shown as another example. The steel damper 10F shown in Fig. 11 differs from that shown in Fig. 8 in that the radial width dimensions of the first to sixth front concave curved surface portions 23a to 23f are set randomly (arbitrarily) in the first to sixth front concave curved surface portions 23a to 23f, and the radial width dimensions of the first to sixth rear concave curved surface portions 25a to 25f are set randomly (arbitrarily) in the first to sixth rear concave curved surface portions 25a to 25f. The other configurations are the same as those of the steel damper 10D shown in Fig. 8.

[0094] The steel damper 10F is formed from a first connecting panel 11, a second connecting panel 12, and a damper panel 13f extending between the first and second connecting panels 11, 12. A front concave area 20 of a predetermined area recessed from the front surface 17 toward the rear surface 18 is formed in a central region 19 of the front surface 17 of the damper panel 13f. A rear concave area 21 of a predetermined area recessed from the rear surface 18 toward the front surface 17 is formed in the central region 19 of the rear surface 18 of the damper panel 13f.

[0095] The front concave surface area 20 is formed with first to sixth front concave curved surface portions 23a to 23f (first to nth front concave curved surface portions) whose concave dimensions increase stepwise from the outer peripheral edge 22 toward the center. The first to sixth front concave curved surface portions 23a to 23f have radial width dimensions set randomly (arbitrarily) in the first to sixth front concave curved surface portions 23a to 23f. The rear concave surface area 21 is formed with first to sixth rear concave curved surface portions 25a to 25f (first to nth rear concave curved surface portions) whose concave dimensions increase stepwise from the outer peripheral edge 24 toward the center. The radial width dimensions of the first to sixth rear concave curved surface portions 25a to 25f are set randomly (arbitrarily). As shown in the cross-sectional view of Fig. 3, the first to sixth front concave curved surface portions 23a to 23f may be molded in a shape in which the circumferences of spheres having different diameters are arranged from the outer peripheral edge 22 toward the center, and the first to sixth rear concave curved surface portions 25a to 25f may be molded in a shape in which the circumferences of spheres having different diameters are arranged from the outer peripheral edge 24 toward the center.

[0096] In the steel damper 10F, the radial width dimensions are set randomly in the first to sixth front concave curved surface portions 23a to 23f (the first front concave curved surface portion to the nth front concave curved surface portion), and the radial width dimensions are set randomly in the first to sixth rear concave curved surface portions 25a to 25f (the first rear concave curved surface portion to the nth rear concave curved surface portion). This allows the concave curved surface portions 23a to 23f, 25a to 25f that are easily plastically deformed to be set in any of the first front concave curved surface portion 23a to the sixth front concave curved surface portion 23f or the first rear concave curved surface portion 25a to the sixth rear concave curved surface portion 25f, and the external force acting when vibration occurs due to an earthquake or the like is applied to the steel damper as a shear force, an axial force, and a bending moment. When the vibration energy is transmitted to the steel damper 10F, any of the concave curved portions 23a-23f, 25a-25f of the first to sixth front concave curved portion 23a-23f and the first to sixth rear concave curved portion 25a-25f of the damper panel 13f undergoes plastic deformation as set, allowing the damper panel 13f of the steel damper 10F to efficiently absorb the vibration energy (earthquake energy).The vibration energy (earthquake energy) can be sufficiently attenuated by utilizing the plastic deformation of the first to sixth front concave curved portion 23a-23f and the first to sixth rear concave curved portion 25a-25f of the damper panel 13f, and deformation and damage to the building due to vibration (earthquake) can be minimized.

[0097] The steel damper 10F has the first to sixth front concave curved surface portions 23a to 23f which are circular (perfect circles) and the first to sixth rear concave curved surface portions 25a to 25f which are circular (perfect circles) formed on the damper panel 13f, so that plastic deformation such as distortion, warping, bending, breakage, and damage that occurs in the front concave curved surface portions 23a to 23f and the rear concave curved surface portions 25a to 25f after vibrations due to an earthquake or the like occur can be easily found, and the degree of deformation of the front concave curved surface portions 23a to 23f and the rear concave curved surface portions 25a to 25f can be easily confirmed.

[0098] The steel damper 10F makes it easy to check the degree of deformation of the first to sixth front concave curved surface portions 23a to 23f (the first to nth front concave curved surface portions) formed into a circle (perfect circle) of the damper panel 13f that has been plastically deformed after vibration due to an earthquake or the like has occurred, and the first to sixth rear concave curved surface portions 25a to 25f (the first to nth rear concave curved surface portions) formed into a circle (perfect circle). This makes it possible to accurately determine whether the steel damper 10F is in a state in which it can exert its seismic control function, and also makes it possible to predict the energy absorption capacity of the steel damper 10F until the end of its lifespan. This makes it possible to determine the continued usability of the building and the durability of the steel damper 10F against repeated earthquakes, and the steel damper 10F will not be replaced unnecessarily, thereby preventing unnecessary disposal and preventing the steel damper 10F that has lost its seismic control function from being out of date for replacement.

[0099] Fig. 12 is a front view of a steel damper 10G shown as another example, and Fig. 13 is a cross-sectional view taken along line EE in Fig. 12. In Figs. 12 and 13, the vertical direction is indicated by an arrow X, the width direction is indicated by an arrow Y, and the front-rear direction is indicated by an arrow Z. The steel damper 10G shown in Fig. 12 differs from that shown in Fig. 8 in that the minimum length dimension L2 in the width direction of the damper panel 13g is greater than the length dimension L1 in the vertical direction of the damper panel 13g, and that the first to sixth front concave curved surface portions 23a to 23f (the first to nth front concave curved surface portions) are formed into ellipses elongated in the width direction, and the first to sixth rear concave curved surface portions 25a to 25f (the first to nth rear concave curved surface portions) are formed into ellipses elongated in the width direction. The other configurations are the same as those of the steel damper 10D shown in Fig. 8.

[0100] The steel damper 10G is formed of a first connecting panel 11, a second connecting panel 12, and a damper panel 13g extending between the first and second connecting panels 11, 12. In the steel damper 10G, the minimum length dimension L2 in the width direction of the damper panel 13g is greater than the length dimension L1 in the up-down direction of the damper panel 13g. A front concave surface area 20 of a predetermined area recessed from the front surface 17 toward the rear surface 18 is formed in a central region 19 in the front surface 17 of the damper panel 13g. A rear concave surface area 21 of a predetermined area recessed from the rear surface 18 toward the front surface 17 is formed in the central region 19 in the rear surface 18 of the damper panel 13g. The front concave surface area 20 and the rear concave surface area 21 are formed (formed) into an ellipse elongated in the width direction, and have a major axis Z1 extending in the width direction and a minor axis Z2 extending in the up-down direction.

[0101] In the front concave area 20, the first to sixth front concave curved surface portions 23a to 23f (first to nth front concave curved surface portions) are formed, the recess dimensions of which gradually increase from the outer peripheral edge 22 toward the center. The first to sixth front concave curved surface portions 23a to 23f are formed in an elliptical shape that is elongated in the width direction, and the radial width dimensions of the front concave curved surface portions 23a to 23f gradually decrease from the first front concave curved surface portion 23a to the sixth front concave curved surface portion 23f. As shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 3, the elliptical first to sixth front concave curved surface portions 23a to 23d (first to nth front concave curved surface portions) may be formed in a shape in which the circumferences of spheres with different diameters are arranged from the outer peripheral edge 22 toward the center. Furthermore, similar to the steel damper 10E shown in FIG. 10, the radial width dimensions of the elliptical first to sixth front concave curved surface portions 23a to 23f (first to nth front concave curved surface portions) may gradually increase from the first to sixth front concave curved surface portions 23a to 23f, and similar to the steel damper 10F shown in FIG. 11, the radial width dimensions of the elliptical first to sixth front concave curved surface portions 23a to 23f (first to nth front concave curved surface portions) may be set randomly (arbitrarily) in the first to sixth front concave curved surface portions 23a to 23f.

[0102] In the rear concave surface area 21, first to sixth rear concave curved surface portions 25a to 25f (first to nth rear concave curved surface portions) are formed, the concave dimensions of which increase stepwise from the outer peripheral edge 24 toward the center. The first to sixth rear concave curved surface portions 25a to 25f are formed in an elliptical shape elongated in the width direction, and the radial width dimensions of the rear concave curved surface portions 25a to 25f gradually decrease from the first rear concave curved surface portion 25a to the sixth rear concave curved surface portion 25f. As shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 3, the elliptical first to sixth rear concave curved surface portions 25a to 25d (first to nth rear concave curved surface portions) may be formed in a shape in which the circumferences of spheres with different diameters are arranged from the outer peripheral edge 22 toward the center. Furthermore, similar to the steel damper 10E shown in FIG. 10, the radial width dimensions of the elliptical first to sixth rear concave curved surface portions 25a to 25f (the first to nth rear concave curved surface portions) may gradually increase from the first rear concave curved surface portion 25a to the sixth rear concave curved surface portion 25f, and similar to the steel damper 10F shown in FIG. 11, the radial width dimensions of the elliptical first to sixth rear concave curved surface portions 25a to 25f (the first to nth rear concave curved surface portions) may be set randomly (arbitrarily) in the first to sixth rear concave curved surface portions 25a to 25f.

[0103] Although not shown, the first to sixth front concave curved surface portions 23a to 23f (first to nth front concave curved surface portions) may be formed into an ellipse elongated in the vertical direction, and the first to sixth rear concave curved surface portions 25a to 25f (first to nth rear concave curved surface portions) may be formed into an ellipse elongated in the vertical direction. In this case, the vertical length dimension L1 in the width direction of the damper panel 13g is larger than the minimum length dimension L2 in the width direction of the damper panel 13g, and the front concave surface area 20 and the rear concave surface area 21 are formed (formed) into an ellipse elongated in the vertical direction, with a major axis Z1 extending in the vertical direction and a minor axis Z2 extending in the width direction.

[0104] The steel damper 10G has a radial width dimension that gradually decreases from the first front concave curved surface portion 23a to the sixth front concave curved surface portion 23f (nth front concave curved surface portion) and gradually decreases from the first rear concave curved surface portion 25a to the sixth rear concave curved surface portion 25f (nth rear concave curved surface portion). This results in many elliptical front and rear concave curved surface portions being formed in the center of the damper panel 13g, which is most susceptible to plastic deformation. When an external force acting upon the occurrence of vibration due to an earthquake or the like is transmitted to the steel damper 10G as a shear force, an axial force, or a bending moment, the first front concave curved surface portion to the sixth front concave curved surface portion 23a to 23f (first front The first to sixth front concave curved surface portions 23a to 23f and the first to sixth rear concave curved surface portions 25a to 25f (first to nth rear concave curved surface portions) which are shaped into an ellipsoid are plastically deformed reliably, thereby enabling the damper panel 13g of the steel damper 10G to efficiently absorb vibration energy (earthquake energy). The vibration energy (earthquake energy) can be sufficiently damped by utilizing the plastic deformation of the first to sixth front concave curved surface portions 23a to 23f and the first to sixth rear concave curved surface portions 25a to 25f of the damper panel 13g, thereby minimizing deformation and damage to the building due to vibration (earthquake).

[0105] The steel damper 10G has an elliptical first to sixth front concave curved surface portions 23a to 23f and an elliptical first to sixth rear concave curved surface portions 25a to 25f formed on the damper panel 13g, so that plastic deformation such as distortion, warping, bending, breakage, and damage that occurs in the front concave curved surface portions 23a to 23f and the rear concave curved surface portions 25a to 25f after vibrations due to an earthquake or the like occur can be easily found, and the degree of deformation of the front concave curved surface portions 23a to 23f and the rear concave curved surface portions 25a to 25f can be easily confirmed.

[0106] The steel damper 10G makes it easy to check the degree of deformation of the elliptical first to sixth front concave curved surface portions 23a to 23f (first to nth front concave curved surface portions) and the elliptical first to sixth rear concave curved surface portions 25a to 25f (first to nth rear concave curved surface portions) of the damper panel 13g that have been plastically deformed after vibrations caused by an earthquake or the like have occurred. This makes it possible to accurately determine whether or not the steel damper 10G is in a state in which it can exert its vibration control function, and also makes it possible to predict the energy absorption capacity of the steel damper 10G until the end of its lifespan. This makes it possible to determine the continued usability of the building and the durability of the steel damper 10G against repeated earthquakes, and the steel damper 10G will not be replaced unnecessarily, thereby preventing unnecessary disposal and preventing the steel damper 10G that has lost its vibration control function from being out of date for replacement.

[0107] Fig. 14 is a front view of a steel damper 10H shown as another example, and Fig. 15 is a cross-sectional view taken along line FF in Fig. 14. In Figs. 14 and 15, the vertical direction is indicated by an arrow X, the width direction is indicated by an arrow Y, and the front-rear direction is indicated by an arrow Z. The steel damper 10H shown in Fig. 14 differs from that shown in Fig. 8 in that the vertical length dimension L1 of the damper panel 13h is greater than the minimum width dimension L2 of the damper panel 13h, that the first front concave curved surface portion to the sixth front concave curved surface portion 23a to 23f (the first front concave curved surface portion to the nth front concave curved surface portion) are formed into an oval shape that is long in the vertical direction, and that the first rear concave curved surface portion to the sixth rear concave curved surface portion 25a to 25f (the first rear concave curved surface portion to the nth rear concave curved surface portion) are formed into an oval shape that is long in the vertical direction. The other configurations are the same as those of the steel damper 10D shown in Fig. 8.

[0108] The steel damper 10H is formed of a first connecting panel 11, a second connecting panel 12, and a damper panel 13h extending between the first and second connecting panels 11, 12. In the steel damper 10H, the vertical length dimension L1 of the damper panel 13h is greater than the minimum length dimension L2 of the damper panel 13h in the width direction. A front concave area 20 of a predetermined area recessed from the front surface 17 toward the rear surface 18 is formed in a central region 19 of the front surface 17 of the damper panel 13h. A rear concave area 21 of a predetermined area recessed from the rear surface 18 toward the front surface 17 is formed in the central region 19 of the rear surface 18 of the damper panel 13h. The front concave area 20 and the rear concave area 21 are shaped (formed) into an oval shape that is long in the vertical direction, and have both end edges 59 that extend in an arc in the width direction and both side edges 60 that extend straight in the vertical direction, as well as a long axis Z1 that extends in the vertical direction and a short axis Z2 that extends in the width direction.

[0109] In the front concave area 20, the first to sixth front concave curved surface portions 23a to 23f (first to nth front concave curved surface portions) are formed, the recess dimensions of which gradually increase from the outer peripheral edge 22 toward the center. The first to sixth front concave curved surface portions 23a to 23f are formed in an oval shape that is long in the vertical direction, and the radial width dimensions of the front concave curved surface portions 23a to 23f gradually decrease from the first front concave curved surface portion 23a to the sixth front concave curved surface portion 23f. As shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 3, the oval first to sixth front concave curved surface portions 23a to 23d (first to nth front concave curved surface portions) may be formed in a shape in which the circumferences of spheres with different diameters are arranged from the outer peripheral edge 22 toward the center. Furthermore, similar to the steel damper 10E shown in FIG. 10, the radial width dimensions of the oval-shaped first to sixth front concave curved surface portions 23a to 23f (the first to nth front concave curved surface portions) may gradually increase from the first to sixth front concave curved surface portions 23a to 23f, and similar to the steel damper 10F shown in FIG. 11, the radial width dimensions of the oval-shaped first to sixth front concave curved surface portions 23a to 23f (the first to nth front concave curved surface portions) may be set randomly (arbitrarily) in the first to sixth front concave curved surface portions 23a to 23f.

[0110] In the rear concave surface area 21, first to sixth rear concave curved surface portions 25a to 25f (first to nth rear concave curved surface portions) are formed, in which the concave dimensions gradually increase from the outer peripheral edge 24 toward the center. The first to sixth rear concave curved surface portions 25a to 25f are formed in an oval shape that is long in the vertical direction, and the radial width dimensions of the rear concave curved surface portions 25a to 25f gradually decrease from the first rear concave curved surface portion 25a to the sixth rear concave curved surface portion 25f. As shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 3, the oval first to sixth rear concave curved surface portions 25a to 25d (first to nth rear concave curved surface portions) may be formed in a shape in which the circumferences of spheres with different diameters are arranged from the outer peripheral edge 22 toward the center. Furthermore, similar to the steel damper 10E shown in FIG. 10, the radial width dimensions of the oval-shaped first to sixth rear concave curved surface portions 25a to 25f (the first to nth rear concave curved surface portions) may gradually increase from the first rear concave curved surface portion 25a to the sixth rear concave curved surface portion 25f, and similar to the steel damper 10F shown in FIG. 11, the radial width dimensions of the oval-shaped first to sixth rear concave curved surface portions 25a to 25f (the first to nth rear concave curved surface portions) may be set randomly (arbitrarily) in the first to sixth rear concave curved surface portions 25a to 25f.

[0111] Although not shown, the first to sixth front concave curved surface portions 23a to 23f (the first to n-th front concave curved surface portions) may be formed into oval shapes elongated in the width direction, and the first to sixth rear concave curved surface portions 25a to 25f (the first to n-th rear concave curved surface portions) may be formed into oval shapes elongated in the width direction. In this case, the minimum length dimension L2 in the width direction of the damper panel 13f is larger than the length dimension L1 in the vertical direction of the damper panel 13f, and the front concave surface area 20 and the rear concave surface area 21 are formed (formed) into oval shapes elongated in the width direction, have both end edges 59 extending straight in the width direction and both side edges 60 extending in an arc in the vertical direction, and have a major axis Z1 extending in the width direction and a minor axis Z2 extending vertically.

[0112] The steel damper 10H has a radial width dimension that gradually decreases from the first front concave curved surface portion 23a to the sixth front concave curved surface portion 23f (nth front concave curved surface portion) and gradually decreases from the first rear concave curved surface portion 25a to the sixth rear concave curved surface portion 25f (nth rear concave curved surface portion). This results in many oval front and rear concave curved surface portions being formed in the center of the damper panel 13h, which is most susceptible to plastic deformation. When an external force acting upon the occurrence of vibration due to an earthquake or the like is transmitted to the steel damper 10H as a shear force, an axial force, or a bending moment, the first front concave curved surface portion to the sixth front concave curved surface portion 23a to 23f (first front The first to sixth front concave curved surface portions 23a to 23f and the first to sixth rear concave curved surface portions 25a to 25f (first to nth rear concave curved surface portions) formed into an oval shape reliably undergo plastic deformation, allowing the damper panel 13h of the steel damper 10H to efficiently absorb vibration energy (earthquake energy).The vibration energy (earthquake energy) can be sufficiently damped by utilizing the plastic deformation of the first to sixth front concave curved surface portions 23a to 23f and the first to sixth rear concave curved surface portions 25a to 25f of the damper panel 13h, thereby minimizing deformation and damage to the building due to vibration (earthquake).

[0113] The steel damper 10H has the oval-shaped first to sixth front concave curved surface portions 23a to 23f and the oval-shaped first to sixth rear concave curved surface portions 25a to 25f formed on the damper panel 13h, so that plastic deformation such as distortion, warping, bending, breakage, and damage that occurs in the front concave curved surface portions 23a to 23f and the rear concave curved surface portions 25a to 25f after vibrations due to an earthquake or the like occur can be easily found, and the degree of deformation of the front concave curved surface portions 23a to 23f and the rear concave curved surface portions 25a to 25f can be easily confirmed.

[0114] The steel damper 10H makes it easy to check the degree of deformation of the first to sixth front concave curved surface portions 23a to 23f (the first to nth front concave curved surface portions) and the first to sixth rear concave curved surface portions 25a to 25f (the first to nth rear concave curved surface portions) formed into an oval shape of the damper panel 13h that has been plastically deformed after vibrations caused by an earthquake or the like have occurred. This makes it possible to accurately determine whether or not the steel damper 10H is in a state in which it can exert its vibration control function, and also makes it possible to predict the energy absorption capacity of the steel damper 10H until the end of its lifespan. This makes it possible to determine the continued usability of the building and the durability of the steel damper 10H against repeated earthquakes, and the steel damper 10H will not be replaced unnecessarily, thereby preventing unnecessary disposal and preventing the steel damper 10H that has lost its vibration control function from being out of date for replacement.

[0115] Fig. 16 is a front view of a steel damper 10I shown as another example, and Fig. 17 is a cross-sectional view taken along line GG in Fig. 16. Fig. 18 is a partially enlarged view of Fig. 17. In Figs. 16 and 17, the up-down direction is indicated by an arrow X, the width direction is indicated by an arrow Y, and the front-rear direction is indicated by an arrow Z. The steel damper 10I differs from that in Fig. 1 in that the first to fourth front concave slope portions 26a to 26d (first to fourth front concave portions) are formed in the front concave area 20, and the first to fourth rear concave slope portions 27a to 27d (first to fourth rear concave portions) are formed in the rear concave area 21. The other configurations are the same as those of the steel damper 10A in Fig. 1.

[0116] The steel damper 10I is formed of a first panel 11, a second connecting panel 12, and a damper panel 13i extending between the first and second connecting panels 11, 12. The first connecting panel 11 and the second connecting panel 12 are the same as those of the steel damper 10A in Fig. 1. The minimum length dimension L2 of the damper panel 13i in the width direction is shorter than that of the first and second connecting panels 11, 12, and both side edges 16 thereof form an arc toward the center of the damper panel 13i (inward in the width direction), and both side edges 16 are narrowed toward the inner side in the width direction, similar to the damper panel 13a in Fig. 1.

[0117] In the damper panel 13i, external forces acting during vibration (earthquake) are transmitted evenly to both narrowed side edges 16 of the damper panel 13i as shear force, axial force, and bending moment. The damper panel 13i has a front surface 17 and a rear surface 18. A front concave surface area 20 of a predetermined area recessed from the front surface 17 toward the rear surface 18 is formed in a central region 19 of the front surface 17 of the damper panel 13i. A rear concave surface area 21 of a predetermined area recessed from the rear surface 18 toward the front surface 17 is formed in the central region 19 of the rear surface 18 of the damper panel 13i.

[0118] The front concave area 20 is formed with first to fourth front concave portions 26a to 26d (first to n-th front concave portions) whose recess dimensions increase stepwise from the outer peripheral edge 22 toward the center. The first to fourth front concave portions 26a to 26d are first to fourth front concave slope portions 26a to 26d (first to n-th front concave slope portions) that are recessed from the front surface 17 toward the rear surface 18 and incline downward at a predetermined angle from the outer peripheral edge 22 toward the center (from the front surface 17 (front concave area 20) toward the rear surface 18 (rear concave area 21)). The first to third front concave slope portions 26a to 26c extend in an annular (circular) shape while drawing concentric circles in the central region 19 (front concave area 20) of the front surface 17. The fourth front concave slope portion 26d extends circularly while describing a concentric circle in the central region 19 (front concave area 20) of the front surface 17.

[0119] The first to fourth front concave slope portions 26a to 26d have the same radial width dimension. Among the first to fourth front concave slope portions 26a to 26d, the recess dimension of the first front concave slope portion 26a from the front surface 17 of the damper panel 13g is the smallest, the recess dimension of the second front concave slope portion 26b from the front surface 17 of the damper panel 13g is larger than that of the first front concave slope portion 26a, the recess dimension of the third front concave slope portion 26c from the front surface 17 of the damper panel 13g is larger than that of the second front concave slope portion 26b, and the recess dimension of the fourth front concave slope portion 26d from the front surface 17 of the damper panel 13g is larger than that of the third front concave slope portion 26c.

[0120] In the front concave area 20, the inclination angle of the front concave slope portion 26a-26d gradually decreases from the first front concave slope portion 26a to the fourth front concave slope portion 26d. Among the first front concave slope portion 26a-26d, the inclination angle of the first front concave slope portion 26a is the largest, the inclination angle of the second front concave slope portion 26b is smaller than that of the first front concave slope portion 26a, the inclination angle of the third front concave slope portion 26c is smaller than that of the second front concave slope portion 26b, and the inclination angle of the fourth front concave slope portion 26d is smaller than that of the third front concave slope portion 26c.

[0121] In the front concave area 20, the first front concave slope portion 26a, the second front concave slope portion 26b, the third front concave slope portion 26c, and the fourth front concave slope portion 26d are arranged in this order from the outer circumferential edge 22 toward the center (inward in the width direction). Therefore, the first front concave slope portion 26a is annular (circular) and slopes downward at a predetermined angle toward the center of the front concave area 20 (from the front surface 17 (front concave area 20) toward the rear surface 18 (rear concave area 21)). The second front concave slope portion 26b is annular (circular) and slopes downward at a predetermined angle toward the center of the front concave area 20 (from the front surface 17 (front concave area 20) toward the rear surface 18 (rear concave area 21)). A third annular (circular) front concave slope portion 26c is adjacently arranged on the radially inward side of the third front concave slope portion 26c, which slopes downward at a predetermined angle toward the center of the front concave area 20 (from the front surface 17 (front concave area 20) toward the rear surface 18 (rear concave area 21)), and a fourth circular front concave slope portion 26d is adjacently arranged on the radially inward side of the third front concave slope portion 26c, which slopes downward at a predetermined angle toward the center of the front concave area 20 (from the front surface 17 (front concave area 20) toward the rear surface 18 (rear concave area 21)). Note that, although four front concave slope portions 26a to 26d are formed in the front concave area 20, there is no particular limit to the number of front concave slope portions, and five or more front concave slope portions may be formed in the front concave area 20.

[0122] In the rear concave surface area 21, first to fourth rear concave surface portions 27a to 27d (first to nth rear concave surface portions) are formed in which the recess dimensions increase stepwise from the outer peripheral edge 24 toward the center. The first to fourth rear concave surface portions 27a to 27d are first to fourth rear concave slope portions 27a to 27d (first to nth rear concave slope portions) that are recessed from the rear surface 18 toward the front surface 17 and are inclined downward at a predetermined angle toward the center of the rear concave surface area 21 (from the rear surface 18 (rear concave surface area 21) toward the front surface 17 (front concave surface area 20)). The first to third rear concave slope portions 27a to 27c extend in an annular (circular) shape while drawing concentric circles in the central region 19 (rear concave area) 21 of the rear surface 18, and the fourth rear concave slope portion 27d extends in a circular shape while drawing concentric circles in the central region 19 (rear concave area 21) of the rear surface 18.

[0123] The first to fourth rear concave slope portions 27a to 27d have the same radial width dimension. Among the first to fourth rear concave slope portions 27a to 27d, the recess dimension of the first rear concave slope portion 27a from the rear surface 18 of the damper panel 13g is the smallest, the recess dimension of the second rear concave slope portion 27b from the rear surface 18 of the damper panel 13g is larger than that of the first rear concave slope portion 27a, the recess dimension of the third rear concave slope portion 27c from the rear surface 18 of the damper panel 13g is larger than that of the second rear concave slope portion 27b, and the recess dimension of the fourth rear concave slope portion 27d from the rear surface 18 of the damper panel 13g is larger than that of the third rear concave slope portion 27c.

[0124] In the rear concave surface area 21, the downward inclination angle of the rear concave slope portion 27a-27d gradually decreases from the first rear concave slope portion 27a to the fourth rear concave slope portion 27d. Among the first to fourth rear concave slope portions 27a-27d, the downward inclination angle of the first rear concave slope portion 27a is the largest, the downward inclination angle of the second rear concave slope portion 27b is smaller than that of the first rear concave slope portion 27a, the downward inclination angle of the third rear concave slope portion 27c is smaller than that of the second rear concave slope portion 27b, and the downward inclination angle of the fourth rear concave slope portion 27d is smaller than that of the third rear concave slope portion 27c.

[0125] In the rear concave surface area 21, the first rear concave slope portion 27a, the second rear concave slope portion 27b, the third rear concave slope portion 27c, and the fourth rear concave slope portion 27d are arranged in this order from the outer circumferential edge 24 toward the center (inward in the width direction). Therefore, the second rear concave slope portion 27b, which is annular (circular) and slopes downward at a predetermined angle toward the center of the rear concave surface area 21 (from the rear surface 18 (rear concave surface area 21) toward the front surface 17 (front concave surface area 20)), is adjacently arranged radially inward of the first rear concave slope portion 27a, which is annular (circular) and slopes downward at a predetermined angle toward the center of the rear concave surface area 21 (from the rear surface 18 (rear concave surface area 21) toward the front surface 17 (front concave surface area 20)). A third rear concave slope portion 27c having an annular shape (circular shape) and sloping downward at a predetermined angle toward the center of the rear concave area 21 (from the rear surface 18 (rear concave area 21) toward the front surface 17 (front concave area 20)) is adjacently arranged inward in the radial direction of the third rear concave slope portion 27c, and a fourth rear concave slope portion 27d having a circular shape and sloping downward at a predetermined angle toward the center of the rear concave area 21 (from the rear surface 18 (rear concave area 21) toward the front surface 17 (front concave area 20)) is adjacently arranged inward in the radial direction of the third rear concave slope portion 27c. Note that, although four rear concave slope portions 27a to 27d are formed in the rear concave area 21, there is no particular limit to the number of rear concave slope portions, and five or more rear concave slope portions may be formed in the rear concave area 21.

[0126] The front concave surface area 20 and the rear concave surface area 21 are of the same shape and size and are arranged symmetrically in the front-rear direction of the damper panel 13i. Therefore, the first front concave slope portion 26a and the first rear concave slope portion 27a are of the same shape and size and are arranged symmetrically in the front-rear direction of the damper panel 13i, the second front concave slope portion 26b and the second rear concave slope portion 27b are of the same shape and size and are arranged symmetrically in the front-rear direction of the damper panel 13i. The third front concave slope portion 26c and the third rear concave slope portion 27c are of the same shape and size and are arranged symmetrically in the front-rear direction of the damper panel 13i, and the fourth front concave slope portion 26d and the fourth rear concave slope portion 27d are of the same shape and size and are arranged symmetrically in the front-rear direction of the damper panel 13i.

[0127] In the damper panel 13i, the thickness dimension of the damper panel 13i at the first front concave inclined surface portion 26a and the first rear concave inclined surface portion 27a is the largest, and the thickness dimension of the damper panel 13i at the second front concave inclined surface portion 26b and the second rear concave inclined surface portion 27b is smaller than that of the damper panel 13i at the first front concave curved surface portion 26a and the first rear concave curved surface portion 27a. The thickness dimension of the damper panel 13i at the third front concave curved surface portion 26c and the third rear concave curved surface portion 27c is smaller than that of the damper panel 13i at the second front concave curved surface portion 26b and the second rear concave curved surface portion 27b, the thickness dimension of the damper panel 13i at the fourth front concave curved surface portion 26d and the fourth rear concave curved surface portion 27d is smaller than that of the damper panel 13i at the third front concave curved surface portion 26c and the third rear concave curved surface portion 27c, and the thickness dimension of the damper panel 13i at the fourth front concave curved surface portion 26d and the fourth rear concave curved surface portion 27d is the smallest.

[0128] In addition, in the steel damper 10I, the thickness dimension of the damper panel 13i at the first front concave slope portion 26a and the first rear concave slope portion 27a (the thickness dimension in the front-rear direction between the first front concave slope portion 26a and the first rear concave slope portion 27a), the thickness dimension of the damper panel 13i at the second front concave slope portion 26b and the second rear concave slope portion 27b (the thickness dimension in the front-rear direction between the second front concave slope portion 26b and the second rear concave slope portion 27b), the thickness dimension of the damper panel 13i at the third front concave slope portion 26c and the third rear concave slope portion 27c The thickness dimension of the damper panel 13i (the thickness dimension in the front-to-rear direction between the third front concave slope portion 26c and the third rear concave slope portion 27c) and the thickness dimension of the damper panel 13i at the fourth front concave slope portion 26d and the fourth rear concave slope portion 27d (the thickness dimension in the front-to-rear direction between the fourth front concave slope portion 26d and the fourth rear concave slope portion 27d) can be freely set (for example, in the range of 5mm to 50mm), and the damping force (vibration (earthquake) resistance force) can be set arbitrarily in the range of 50kN to 3000kN.

[0129] The steel damper 10I exerts its vibration control function when relative displacement occurs between the first structural member (upper structural member or first side structural member) and the second structural member (lower structural member or second side structural member) of the building due to an earthquake or the like, causing plastic deformation of the first to fourth front concave slope portions 26a to 26d (the first to nth front concave slope portions) which are molded into a circle (perfect circle) of the damper panel 13i, and the first to fourth rear concave slope portions 27a to 27d (the first to nth rear concave slope portions) which are molded into a circle (perfect circle). For example, when the vibration during an earthquake is small, the fourth front concave slope portion 26d and the fourth rear concave slope portion 27d of the damper panel 13i having a small thickness dimension undergo plastic deformity, and when the vibration during an earthquake is moderate, in addition to the fourth front concave slope portion 26d and the fourth rear concave slope portion 27d of the damper panel 13i having a small thickness dimension undergo plastic deformity, the third front concave slope portion 26c and the third rear concave slope portion 27c and the second front concave slope portion 26b and the second rear concave slope portion 27b of the damper panel 13g having a medium thickness dimension also undergo plastic deformity. When the vibration during an earthquake is large, the fourth front concave slope portion 26d and the fourth rear concave slope portion 27d of the damper panel 13i having a small thickness dimension undergo plastic deformity, and the third front concave slope portion 26c and the third rear concave slope portion 27c and the second front concave slope portion 26b and the second rear concave slope portion 27b of the damper panel 13g having a medium thickness dimension undergo plastic deformity, and in addition, the first front concave slope portion 26a and the first rear concave slope portion 27a of the damper panel 13g having a large thickness dimension undergo plastic deformity.

[0130] Although not shown, a transparent plastic deformation confirmation third sheet is prepared in advance for the steel damper 10I, which indicates (models) the boundary lines of the first front concave slope portion 26a (first rear concave slope portion 27a) to the fourth front concave slope portion 26d (fourth rear concave slope portion 27d) before the damper panel 13i of the steel damper 10I is plastically deformed. In the steel damper 10I, when the first front concave slope portion to the fourth front concave slope portion 26a to 26d or the first rear concave slope portion to the fourth rear concave slope portion 27a to 27d of the damper panel 13i are plastically deformed due to the occurrence of vibration (earthquake), the vibration damping function of the steel damper 10I is lost depending on the degree of plastic deformation. After the occurrence of vibration due to an earthquake or the like, the steel damper 10I that has been plastically deformed to a large degree and has lost its vibration damping function is replaced. Even after the occurrence of vibration (earthquake), if the degree of plastic deformation is small and the steel damper 10I is still capable of exerting its vibration control function, it can continue to be used without being replaced.

[0131] Plastic deformation such as warping, distortion, bending, breakage, and damage occurring in the first to fourth front concave slope portions 26a to 26d and the first to fourth rear concave slope portions 27a to 27d of the damper panel 13i after vibration due to an earthquake or the like is visually confirmed to determine the degree of plastic deformation, or the first front concave slope portion 26a (first rear concave slope portion 27a) to the fourth front concave slope portion 26d (fourth rear concave slope portion In some cases, a transparent third plastic deformation confirmation sheet showing the boundaries of the first front concave slope portion 26a (first rear concave slope portion 27a) to the fourth front concave slope portion 26d (fourth rear concave slope portion 27d) is placed over the front concave area 20 (rear concave area 21) of the damper panel 13i, and the boundary lines shown on the third plastic deformation confirmation sheet are compared with the boundary lines of the first front concave slope portion 26a (first rear concave slope portion 27a) to the fourth front concave slope portion 26d (fourth rear concave slope portion 27d) of the damper panel 13i to determine the degree of plastic deformation.

[0132] When an external force acting upon vibration due to an earthquake or the like is transmitted to the steel damper 10I as a shear force, an axial force, or a bending moment, the first to fourth front concave slope portions 26a to 26d (the first to n-th front concave slope portions) formed in a circular (perfect circle) shape of the damper panel 13i and the first to fourth rear concave slope portions 27a to 27d (the first to n-th rear concave slope portions) formed in a circular (perfect circle) shape are uniformly and uniformly aligned. The steel damper 10I undergoes plastic deformation reliably, allowing the damper panel 13i to efficiently absorb earthquake energy, and the vibration energy (earthquake energy) can be sufficiently damped by utilizing the plastic deformation of the first to fourth front concave slope portions 26a to 26d and the first to fourth rear concave slope portions 27a to 27d of the damper panel 13i, thereby minimizing deformation and damage to the building due to vibration (earthquake).

[0133] The steel damper 10I has the first to fourth front concave slope portions 26a to 26d, which are circular (perfect circles), and the first to fourth rear concave slope portions 27a to 27d, which are circular (perfect circles), formed on the damper panel 13i, so that plastic deformation such as distortion, warping, bending, breakage, and damage that occurs in the front concave slope portions 26a to 26d and the rear concave slope portions 27a to 27d after vibrations due to an earthquake or the like occur can be easily found, and the degree of deformation of the front concave slope portions 26a to 26d and the rear concave slope portions 27a to 27d can be easily confirmed.

[0134] Since the steel damper 10I makes it easy to check the degree of deformation of the first to fourth front concave slope portions 26a to 26d (first to nth front concave slope portions) and the first to fourth rear concave slope portions 27a to 27d (first to nth rear concave slope portions) of the damper panel 13i that have been plastically deformed after vibrations caused by an earthquake or the like, it is possible to accurately determine whether or not the steel damper 10I is in a state in which it can exert its seismic control function, and it is also possible to predict the energy absorption capacity of the steel damper 10I until the end of its lifespan, making it possible to determine the continued usability of the building and the durability of the steel damper 10I against repeated earthquakes, and it is not necessary to replace the steel damper 10I unnecessarily, preventing unnecessary disposal and preventing the replacement time of a steel damper 10G that has lost its seismic control function from exceeding the limit.

[0135] In the steel damper 10I, like the steel damper 10B shown in Figure 4, the first to fourth front concave slope portions 26a to 26d and the first to fourth rear concave slope portions 27a to 27d may be molded into an elliptical shape that is elongated in the vertical direction, or like the steel damper 10G shown in Figure 12, the first to fourth front concave slope portions 26a to 26d and the first to fourth rear concave slope portions 27a to 27d may be molded into an elliptical shape that is elongated in the width direction. Furthermore, similar to the steel damper 10C shown in Figure 6, the first to fourth front concave slope portions 26a to 26d and the first to fourth rear concave slope portions 27a to 27d may be formed into an oval shape that is long in the width direction, and similar to the steel damper 10H shown in Figure 14, the first to fourth front concave slope portions 26a to 26d and the first to fourth rear concave slope portions 27a to 27d may be formed into an oval shape that is long in the vertical direction.

[0136] Fig. 19 is a front view of a steel damper 10J shown as another example, and Fig. 20 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line HH in Fig. 19. Fig. 21 is a partially enlarged view of Fig. 20. In Figs. 19 and 20, the up-down direction is indicated by arrow X, the width direction is indicated by arrow Y, and the front-rear direction is indicated by arrow Z. The steel damper 10J differs from that in FIG. 1 in that the first to sixth front concave slope portions 26a to 26f (first to sixth front concave slope portions) are formed in the front concave area 20, and the first to sixth rear concave slope portions 27a to 27f (first to sixth rear concave slope portions) are formed in the rear concave area 21, and the radial width dimensions of the first to sixth front concave slope portions 26a to 26f gradually decrease from the first front concave slope portion 26a to the sixth front concave slope portion 26f, and the radial width dimensions of the first to sixth rear concave slope portions 27a to 27f gradually decrease from the first rear concave slope portion 27a to the sixth rear concave slope portion 25f. The other configurations are the same as those of the steel damper 10A in FIG. 1.

[0137] The steel damper 10J is formed of a first connecting panel 11, a second connecting panel 12, and a damper panel 13j extending between the first and second connecting panels 11, 12. The first connecting panel 11 and the second connecting panel 12 are the same as those of the steel damper 10A in Fig. 1. The minimum length dimension L2 of the damper panel 13j in the width direction is shorter than that of the first and second connecting panels, and both side edges 16 thereof are arched toward the center of the damper panel 13h (inward in the width direction), and both side edges 16 are narrowed toward the inner in the width direction, similar to the damper panel 13a in Fig. 1.

[0138] In the damper panel 13j, an external force acting upon vibration due to an earthquake or the like is transmitted evenly to both narrowed side edges 16 of the damper panel 13j as a shear force, an axial force, and a bending moment. The damper panel 13j has a front surface 17 and a rear surface 18. A front concave surface area 20 of a predetermined area recessed from the front surface 18 toward the rear surface 17 is formed in a central region 19 of the front surface 17 of the damper panel 13j. A rear concave surface area 21 of a predetermined area recessed from the rear surface 18 toward the front surface 17 is formed in the central region 19 of the rear surface 18 of the damper panel 13j.

[0139] In the front concave area 20, first to sixth front concave portions 26a to 26f (first to nth front concave portions) are formed in which the recess dimensions increase stepwise from the outer peripheral edge 22 toward the center. The first to sixth front concave portions 26a to 26f are first to sixth front concave slope portions 26a to 26f (first to nth front concave slope portions) that are recessed from the front surface 17 toward the rear surface 18 and are inclined downward at a predetermined angle toward the center of the front concave area 20 (from the front surface 17 (front concave area 20) toward the rear surface 18 (rear concave area 21)). The first to fifth front concave slope portions 26a to 26e extend in an annular (circular) shape while drawing concentric circles in the central region 19 (front concave area) 20 of the front surface 17, and the sixth front concave slope portion 26f extends in a circular shape while drawing concentric circles in the central region 19 (front concave area 20) of the front surface 17.

[0140] Of the first to sixth front concave slope portions 26a to 26f, the first front concave slope portion 26a has the smallest recessed dimension from the front surface 17 of the damper panel 13j, the second front concave slope portion 26b has a larger recessed dimension from the front surface 17 of the damper panel 13j than the first front concave slope portion 26a, and the third front concave slope portion 26c has a larger recessed dimension from the front surface 17 of the damper panel 13j than the second front concave slope portion 26b. The recessed dimension of the fourth front concave slope portion 26d from the front surface 17 of the damper panel 13j is larger than that of the third front concave slope portion 26c, the recessed dimension of the fifth front concave slope portion 26e from the front surface 17 of the damper panel 13j is larger than that of the fourth front concave slope portion 26d, and the recessed dimension of the sixth front concave slope portion 26f from the front surface 17 of the damper panel 13j is larger than that of the fifth front concave slope portion 26e.

[0141] The radial width dimensions of the first to sixth front concave slope portions 26a to 26f gradually decrease from the first to sixth front concave slope portions 26a to 26f. Among the first to sixth front concave slope portions 26a to 26f, the first front concave slope portion 26a has the largest radial width dimension, the second front concave slope portion 26b has a smaller radial width dimension than the first front concave slope portion 26a, and the third front concave slope portion 26c has a smaller radial width dimension than the second front concave slope portion 26b. The radial width dimension of the fourth front concave slope portion 26d is smaller than that of the third front concave slope portion 26c, the radial width dimension of the fifth front concave slope portion 26e is smaller than that of the fourth front concave slope portion 26d, and the radial width dimension of the sixth front concave slope portion 26f is smaller than that of the fifth front concave slope portion 26e.

[0142] In the front concave area 20, the downward inclination angle of the front concave slope portion 26a-26f gradually decreases from the first front concave slope portion 26a to the sixth front concave slope portion 26f. Among the first front concave slope portion 26a-26f, the downward inclination angle of the first front concave slope portion 26a is the largest, the downward inclination angle of the second front concave slope portion 26b is smaller than that of the first front concave slope portion 26a, and the downward inclination angle of the third front concave slope portion 26c is smaller than that of the second front concave slope portion 26b. The downward inclination angle of the fourth front concave slope portion 26d is smaller than that of the third front concave slope portion 26c, the downward inclination angle of the fifth front concave slope portion 26e is smaller than that of the fourth front concave slope portion 26d, and the downward inclination angle of the sixth front concave slope portion 26f is smaller than that of the fifth front concave slope portion 26e.

[0143] In the front concave area 20, the first front concave slope portion 26a, the second front concave slope portion 26b, the third front concave slope portion 26c, the fourth front concave slope portion 26d, the fifth front concave slope portion 26e, and the sixth front concave slope portion 26f are arranged in this order from the outer circumferential edge 22 toward the center (inward in the width direction). Therefore, the first front concave slope portion 26a is annular (circular) and slopes downward at a predetermined angle toward the center of the front concave area 20 (from the front surface 17 (front concave area 20) toward the rear surface 18 (rear concave area 21)). The second front concave slope portion 26b is annular (circular) and slopes downward at a predetermined angle toward the center of the front concave area 20 (from the front surface 17 (front concave area 20) toward the rear surface 17 (rear concave area 21)). A third front concave slope portion 26c having a circular ring shape (circular) and sloping downward at a predetermined angle toward the center of the concave area 20 (from the front surface 17 (front concave area 20) toward the rear surface 18 (rear concave area 21)) is adjacently arranged, and a fourth front concave slope portion 26d having a circular ring shape (circular) and sloping downward at a predetermined angle toward the center of the front concave area 20 (from the front surface 17 (front concave area 20) toward the rear surface 18 (rear concave area 21)) is adjacently arranged radially inward of the third front concave slope portion 26c.

[0144] A fifth annular (circular) front concave slope portion 26e is adjacently arranged radially inward of the fourth front concave slope portion 26d, and the fifth annular (circular) front concave slope portion 26e is adjacently arranged radially inward of the fifth front concave slope portion 26e, and the sixth annular front concave slope portion 26f ...d, and the sixth annular front concave slope portion 26f is adjacently arranged radially inward of the fifth front concave slope portion 26e. Although six front concave slope portions 26a to 26f are formed in the front concave area 20, there is no particular limit to the number of front concave slope portions, and four or less or seven or more front concave slope portions may be formed in the front concave area 20.

[0145] In the rear concave surface area 21, first to sixth rear concave surface portions 27a to 27f (first to nth rear concave surface portions) are formed in which the recess dimensions increase stepwise from the outer peripheral edge 24 toward the center. The first to sixth rear concave surface portions 27a to 27f are first to sixth rear concave slope portions 27a to 27f (first to nth rear concave slope portions) that are recessed from the rear surface 18 toward the front surface 17 and are inclined downward at a predetermined angle toward the center of the rear concave surface area 21 (from the rear surface 18 (rear concave surface area 21) toward the front surface 17 (front concave surface area 20)). The first to fifth rear concave slope portions 27a to 27e extend in an annular (circular) shape while drawing concentric circles in the central region 19 (rear concave area 21) of the rear surface 18, and the sixth rear concave slope portion 27f extends in a circular shape while drawing concentric circles in the central region 19 (rear concave area 21) of the rear surface 18.

[0146] Of the first to sixth rear concave slope portions 27a to 27f, the first rear concave slope portion 27a has the smallest recessed dimension from the rear surface 18 of the damper panel 13j, the second rear concave slope portion 27b has a larger recessed dimension from the rear surface 18 of the damper panel 13j than the first rear concave slope portion 27a, and the third rear concave slope portion 27c has a larger recessed dimension from the rear surface 18 of the damper panel 13j than the second rear concave slope portion 27b. The recess dimension of the fourth rear concave slope portion 27d from the rear surface 18 of the damper panel 13j is larger than that of the third rear concave slope portion 27c, the recess dimension of the fifth rear concave slope portion 27e from the rear surface 18 of the damper panel 13j is larger than that of the fourth rear concave slope portion 27d, and the recess dimension of the sixth rear concave slope portion 27f from the rear surface 18 of the damper panel 13j is larger than that of the fifth rear concave slope portion 27e.

[0147] The radial width dimensions of the first to sixth rear concave slope portions 27a to 27f gradually decrease from the first to sixth rear concave slope portion 27a to 27f. Among the first to sixth rear concave slope portions 27a to 27f, the radial width dimension of the first rear concave slope portion 27a is the largest, the radial width dimension of the second rear concave slope portion 27b is smaller than that of the first rear concave slope portion 27a, and the radial width dimension of the third rear concave slope portion 27c is smaller than that of the second rear concave slope portion 27b. The radial width dimension of the fourth rear concave slope portion 27d is smaller than that of the third rear concave slope portion 27c, the radial width dimension of the fifth rear concave slope portion 27e is smaller than that of the fourth rear concave slope portion 27d, and the radial width dimension of the sixth rear concave slope portion 27f is smaller than that of the fifth rear concave slope portion 27e.

[0148] In the rear concave surface area 21, the downward inclination angle of the rear concave slope portions 27a-27f gradually decreases from the first rear concave slope portion 27a to the sixth rear concave slope portion 27f. Among the first to sixth rear concave slope portions 27a-27f, the downward inclination angle of the first rear concave slope portion 27a is the largest, the downward inclination angle of the second rear concave slope portion 27b is smaller than that of the first rear concave slope portion 27a, and the downward inclination angle of the third rear concave slope portion 27c is smaller than that of the second rear concave slope portion 27b. The downward inclination angle of the fourth rear concave slope portion 27d is smaller than that of the third rear concave slope portion 27c, the downward inclination angle of the fifth rear concave slope portion 27e is smaller than that of the fourth rear concave slope portion 27d, and the downward inclination angle of the sixth rear concave slope portion 27f is smaller than that of the fifth rear concave slope portion 27e.

[0149] In the rear concave surface area 21, the first rear concave slope portion 27a, the second rear concave slope portion 27b, the third rear concave slope portion 27c, the fourth rear concave slope portion 27d, the fifth rear concave slope portion 27e, and the sixth rear concave slope portion 27f are arranged in this order from the outer peripheral edge 24 toward the center (inward in the width direction). Therefore, the second rear concave slope portion 27b, which is annular (circular) and slopes downward at a predetermined angle toward the center of the rear concave surface area 21 (from the rear surface 18 (rear concave surface area 21) toward the front surface 17 (front concave surface area 20)), is adjacently arranged radially inward of the first rear concave slope portion 27a, which is annular (circular) and slopes downward at a predetermined angle toward the center of the rear concave surface area 21 (from the rear surface 18 (rear concave surface area 21) toward the front surface 17 (front concave surface area 20)). A third rear concave slope portion 27c having a circular ring shape (circular) and sloping downward at a predetermined angle toward the center of the concave area 21 (from the rear surface 18 (rear concave area 21) toward the front surface 17 (front concave area 20)) is adjacently arranged, and a fourth rear concave slope portion 27d having a circular ring shape (circular) and sloping downward at a predetermined angle toward the center of the rear concave area 21 (from the rear surface 18 (rear concave area 21) toward the front surface 17 (front concave area 20)) is adjacently arranged radially inward of the third rear concave slope portion 27c.

[0150] A fifth rear concave slope portion 27e having an annular shape (circular shape) and inclining downward at a predetermined angle toward the center of the rear concave area 21 (from the rear surface 18 (rear concave area 21) toward the front surface 17 (front concave area 20)) is adjacently arranged radially inward of the fourth rear concave slope portion 27d, and a sixth rear concave slope portion 27f having a circular shape and inclining downward at a predetermined angle toward the center of the rear concave area 21 (from the rear surface 18 (rear concave area 21) toward the front surface 17 (front concave area 20)) is adjacently arranged radially inward of the fifth rear concave slope portion 27e. Note that, although six rear concave slope portions 27a to 27f are formed in the rear concave area 21, there is no particular limit to the number of rear concave slope portions, and four or less or seven or more rear concave slope portions may be formed in the rear concave area 21.

[0151] The front concave surface area 20 and the rear concave surface area 21 are mutually of the same shape and size and are arranged symmetrically in the front-rear direction of the damper panel 13j. Therefore, the first front concave slope portion 26a and the first rear concave slope portion 27a are of the same shape and size and are arranged symmetrically in the front-rear direction of the damper panel 13j, the second rear concave slope portion 26b and the second rear concave slope portion 27b are of the same shape and size and are arranged symmetrically in the front-rear direction of the damper panel 13j, and the third front concave slope portion 26c and the third rear concave slope portion 27c are of the same shape and size and are arranged symmetrically in the front-rear direction of the damper panel 13j. The fourth front concave slope portion 26d and the fourth rear concave slope portion 27d have the same shape and size and are arranged symmetrically in the fore-and-aft direction of the damper panel 13j, the fifth front concave slope portion 26e and the fifth rear concave slope portion 27e have the same shape and size and are arranged symmetrically in the fore-and-aft direction of the damper panel 13j, and the sixth front concave slope portion 16f and the sixth rear concave slope portion 27f have the same shape and size and are arranged symmetrically in the fore-and-aft direction of the damper panel 13j.

[0152] In the damper panel 13j, the thickness dimension of the damper panel 13j at the first front concave slope portion 26a and the first rear concave slope portion 27a is the largest, the thickness dimension of the damper panel 13j at the second front concave slope portion 26b and the second rear concave slope portion 27b is smaller than that of the damper panel 13j at the first front concave slope portion 26a and the first rear concave slope portion 27a, the thickness dimension of the damper panel 13j at the third front concave slope portion 26c and the third rear concave slope portion 27c is smaller than that of the damper panel 13j at the second front concave slope portion 26b and the second rear concave slope portion 27b, and the thickness dimension of the damper panel 13j at the fourth front concave slope portion 26d and the fourth rear concave slope portion 27d is smaller than that of the damper panel 13j at the third front concave slope portion 26c and the third rear concave slope portion 27c. The thickness dimension of the damper panel 13j at the fifth front concave slope portion 26e and the fifth rear concave slope portion 27e is smaller than that of the damper panel 13j at the fourth front concave slope portion 26d and the fourth rear concave slope portion 27d, the thickness dimension of the damper panel 13j at the sixth front concave slope portion 27f and the sixth rear concave slope portion 27f is smaller than that of the damper panel 13j at the fifth front concave slope portion 26e and the fifth rear concave slope portion 27e, and the thickness dimension of the damper panel 13j at the sixth front concave slope portion 26f and the sixth rear concave slope portion 27f is the smallest.

[0153] In addition, in the steel damper 10J, the thickness dimension of the damper panel 13j at the first front concave slope portion 26a and the first rear concave slope portion 27a (the thickness dimension in the front-rear direction between the first front concave slope portion 26a and the first rear concave slope portion 27a), the thickness dimension of the damper panel 13j at the second front concave slope portion 26b and the second rear concave slope portion 27b (the thickness dimension in the front-rear direction between the second front concave slope portion 26b and the second rear concave slope portion 27b), the thickness dimension of the damper panel 13j at the third front concave slope portion 26c and the third rear concave slope portion 27c (the thickness dimension in the front-rear direction between the third front concave slope portion 26c and the third rear concave slope portion 27c), the thickness dimension of the damper panel 13j at the fourth front concave slope portion 26d and the fourth rear concave slope portion 27d The thickness dimension of the damper panel 13j at the fifth front concave slope portion 26e and the fifth rear concave slope portion 27e (the thickness dimension in the front-to-rear direction between the fifth front concave slope portion 26e and the fifth rear concave slope portion 27e), and the thickness dimension of the damper panel 13j at the sixth front concave slope portion 26f and the sixth rear concave slope portion 27f (the thickness dimension in the front-to-rear direction between the sixth front concave slope portion 26f and the sixth rear concave slope portion 27f) can be freely set (for example, in the range of 5 mm to 50 mm), and the damping force (vibration (earthquake) resistance force) can be set arbitrarily in the range of 50 kN to 3000 kN.

[0154] The steel damper 10J exerts its seismic control function when relative displacement occurs between the first structural member (upper structural member or first side structural member) and the second structural member (lower structural member or second side structural member) of the building when vibrations occur due to an earthquake or the like, causing plastic deformation of the first to sixth front concave slope portions 26a to 26f (the first to nth front concave slope portions) which are molded into circles (perfect circles) of the damper panel 13j and the first to sixth rear concave slope portions 27a to 27f (the first to nth rear concave slope portions) which are molded into circles (perfect circles). For example, when the vibration during vibration (earthquake) is small, the sixth front concave slope portion 26f and the sixth rear concave slope portion 27f and the fifth front concave slope portion 26e and the fifth rear concave slope portion 27e of the damper panel 13j, which has a small thickness dimension, undergo plastic deformity, and when the vibration during vibration (earthquake) is medium, in addition to the sixth front concave slope portion 26f and the sixth rear concave slope portion 27f and the fifth front concave slope portion 26e and the fifth rear concave slope portion 27e of the damper panel 13j, which has a small thickness dimension, the fourth front concave slope portion 26d and the fourth rear concave slope portion 27d and the third front concave slope portion 26c and the third rear concave slope portion 27c of the damper panel 13h, which has a medium thickness dimension, undergo plastic deformity. When the vibration (earthquake) is large, the sixth front concave slope portion 26f and the sixth rear concave slope portion 27f and the fifth front concave slope portion 26e and the fifth rear concave slope portion 27e of the damper panel 13j, which has a small thickness dimension, undergo plastic deformity, and the fourth front concave slope portion 26d and the fourth rear concave slope portion 27d and the third front concave slope portion 26c and the third rear concave slope portion 27c of the damper panel 13h, which has a medium thickness dimension, undergo plastic deformity, and in addition, the second front concave slope portion 26b and the second rear concave slope portion 27b and the first front concave slope portion 26a and the first rear concave slope portion 27a of the damper panel 13h, which has a large thickness dimension, undergo plastic deformity.

[0155] Although not shown in the figure, a transparent plastic deformation confirmation fourth sheet is prepared in advance for the steel damper 10J, which indicates (models) the boundary lines of the first front concave slope portion 26a (first rear concave slope portion 27a) to the sixth front concave slope portion 26f (sixth rear concave slope portion 27f) before the damper panel 13j of the steel damper 10J is plastically deformed. In the steel damper 10J, when the first front concave slope portion to the sixth front concave slope portion 26a to 26f formed into a circle (perfect circle) of the damper panel 13j or the first rear concave slope portion to the sixth rear concave slope portion 27a to 27f formed into a circle (perfect circle) are plastically deformed due to the occurrence of vibration (earthquake), the vibration damping function of the steel damper 10J is lost depending on the degree of plastic deformation. After the occurrence of vibration (earthquake), the steel damper 10J that has lost its vibration damping function due to a large degree of plastic deformation is replaced. Even after vibration (earthquake) occurs, if the degree of plastic deformation is small and the steel damper 10J is still capable of performing its vibration control function, it can continue to be used without being replaced.

[0156] Plastic deformation such as warping, distortion, bending, breakage, and damage occurring in the first to sixth front concave slope portions 26a to 26f and the first to sixth rear concave slope portions 27a to 27f of the damper panel 13j after vibration due to an earthquake or the like is visually confirmed to determine the degree of plastic deformation, or when the first front concave slope portion 26a (first rear concave slope portion 27a) to the sixth front concave slope portion 26f (sixth rear concave slope portion In some cases, a transparent fourth plastic deformation confirmation sheet showing the boundaries of the first front concave slope portion 26a (first rear concave slope portion 27a) to the sixth front concave slope portion 26f (sixth rear concave slope portion 27f) of the damper panel 13j is placed over the front concave area 20 (rear concave area 21) of the damper panel 13j, and the degree of plastic deformation is determined by comparing the boundaries shown on the fourth plastic deformation confirmation sheet with the boundaries of the first front concave slope portion 26a (first rear concave slope portion 27a) to the sixth front concave slope portion 26f (sixth rear concave slope portion 27f) of the damper panel 13j.

[0157] The steel damper 10J has a radial width dimension that gradually decreases from the first front concave slope portion 26a to the sixth front concave slope portion 26f (nth front concave slope portion) and gradually decreases from the first rear concave slope portion 27a to the sixth rear concave slope portion 27f (nth rear concave slope portion). This causes many front and rear concave slope portions to be formed in the center of the damper panel 13j, which is most susceptible to plastic deformation. When an external force acting upon occurrence of vibration due to an earthquake or the like is transmitted to the steel damper as a shear force, an axial force, or a bending moment, the first front concave slope portion to the sixth front concave slope portion 26a to 26f (first front concave slope portion to The first to sixth front concave slope portions 26a to 26f and the first to sixth rear concave slope portions 27a to 27f (first to nth rear concave slope portions) which are formed into a circle (perfect circle) uniformly and reliably undergo plastic deformation, allowing the damper panel 13j of the steel damper 10J to efficiently absorb vibration energy (earthquake energy).The vibration energy (earthquake energy) can be sufficiently damped by utilizing the plastic deformation of the first to sixth front concave slope portions 26a to 26f and the first to sixth rear concave slope portions 27a to 27f of the damper panel 13j, thereby minimizing deformation and damage to the building due to vibration (earthquake).

[0158] The steel damper 10J has the first to sixth front concave slope portions 26a to 26f, which are circular (perfect circles), and the first to sixth rear concave slope portions 27a to 27f, which are circular (perfect circles), formed on the damper panel 13j. This makes it easy to find plastic deformation such as distortion, warping, bending, breakage, and damage that occurs in the front concave slope portions 26a to 26f and the rear concave slope portions 27a to 27f after vibrations occur due to an earthquake or the like, and makes it easy to check the degree of deformation of the front concave slope portions 26a to 26f and the rear concave slope portions 27a to 27f.

[0159] The steel damper 10J can easily check the degree of deformation of the first to sixth front concave slope portions 26a to 26f (first to nth front concave slope portions) formed into a circle (perfect circle) of the damper panel 13j that has been plastically deformed after the occurrence of vibration such as an earthquake, and the first to sixth rear concave slope portions 27a to 27f (first to nth rear concave slope portions) formed into a circle (perfect circle). This makes it possible to accurately determine whether the steel damper 10J is in a state in which it can exert its vibration control function, and also makes it possible to predict the energy absorption capacity of the steel damper 10J until the end of its life. This makes it possible to determine the continued usability of the building and the durability of the steel damper 10J against repeated earthquakes, and the steel damper 10J will not be replaced unnecessarily, thereby preventing unnecessary disposal and preventing the steel damper 10J that has lost its vibration control function from being out of date for replacement.

[0160] In the steel damper 10J, like the steel damper 10B shown in Figure 4, the first to sixth front concave slope portions 26a to 26f and the first to sixth rear concave slope portions 27a to 27f may be molded into an elliptical shape that is elongated in the vertical direction, or like the steel damper 10G shown in Figure 12, the first to sixth front concave slope portions 26a to 26f and the first to sixth rear concave slope portions 27a to 27f may be molded into an elliptical shape that is elongated in the width direction. Furthermore, similar to the steel damper 10C shown in Figure 6, the first to sixth front concave slope portions 26a to 26f and the first to sixth rear concave slope portions 27a to 27f may be formed into an oval shape that is long in the width direction, and similar to the steel damper 10H shown in Figure 14, the first to sixth front concave slope portions 26a to 26f and the first to sixth rear concave slope portions 27a to 27f may be formed into an oval shape that is long in the vertical direction.

[0161] In the steel damper 10J, similarly to the steel damper 10E shown in FIG. 10, the radial width dimensions of the first to sixth front concave slope portions 26a to 26f (the first to nth front concave slope portions) may gradually increase from the first front concave slope portion 26a to the sixth front concave slope portion 26f, and the radial width dimensions of the first to sixth rear concave slope portions 27a to 27f (the first to nth rear concave slope portions) may gradually increase from the first rear concave slope portion 27a to the sixth rear concave slope portion 27f. In the steel damper 10J, similarly to the steel damper 10F shown in FIG. 11, the radial width dimensions of the first to sixth front concave slope portions 26a to 26f (first to nth front concave slope portions) may be set randomly (arbitrarily) in the first to sixth front concave slope portions 26a to 26f, and the radial width dimensions of the first to sixth rear concave slope portions 27a to 27f (first to nth rear concave curved surface portions) may be set randomly (arbitrarily) in the first to sixth rear concave slope portions 27a to 27f.

[0162] Fig. 22 is a front view of a steel damper 10K shown as another example, and Fig. 23 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line II in Fig. 22. In Figs. 22 and 23, the up-down direction is indicated by arrow X, the width direction is indicated by arrow Y, and the front-rear direction is indicated by arrow Z. The steel damper 10K differs from that in Fig. 1 in that the front concave surface area 20 is provided with first to fourth front concave flat surface portions 28a to 28d (first to fourth front concave surface portions), and the rear concave surface area 21 is provided with first to fourth rear concave flat surface portions 29a to 29d (first to fourth rear concave surface portions). The other configurations are the same as those of the steel damper 10A in Fig. 1.

[0163] The steel damper 10K is formed of a first connecting panel 11, a second connecting panel 12, and a damper panel 13k extending between the first and second connecting panels 11, 12. The first connecting panel 11 and the second connecting panel 12 are the same as those of the steel damper 10A in Fig. 1. The minimum length dimension L2 of the damper panel 13k in the width direction is shorter than that of the first and second connecting panels, and both side edges 16 thereof are arched toward the center of the damper panel 13k (inward in the width direction), and both side edges 16 are narrowed toward the inner side in the width direction, similar to the damper panel 13a in Fig. 1.

[0164] In the damper panel 13k, external forces acting during vibration (earthquake) are transmitted evenly to both narrowed side edges 16 of the damper panel 13k as shear force, axial force, and bending moment. The damper panel 13k has a front surface 17 and a rear surface 18. A front concave area 20 of a predetermined area recessed from the front surface 17 toward the rear surface 18 is formed in a central region 19 of the front surface 17 of the damper panel 13k. A rear concave area 21 of a predetermined area recessed from the rear surface 18 toward the front surface 17 is formed in the central region 19 of the rear surface 18 of the damper panel 13k.

[0165] In the front concave area 20, first to fourth front concave portions 28a to 28d (first to nth front concave portions) are formed, the recess dimensions of which increase stepwise from the outer peripheral edge 22 toward the center. The first to fourth front concave portions 28a to 28d are first to sixth front concave flat surface portions 28a to 28d (first to nth front concave flat surface portions) that are recessed from the front surface 17 (front concave area 20) toward the rear surface 18 (rear concave area 21) and are parallel to the front surface 17 of the damper panel 13k excluding the first to fourth front concave portions 28a to 28d. The first to third front concave flat surface portions 28a to 28c extend in an annular (circular) shape while drawing concentric circles in the central region 19 (front concave area 20) of the front surface 17, and the fourth front concave flat surface portion 28d extends in a circular shape while drawing concentric circles in the central region 19 (front concave area 20) of the front surface 17.

[0166] The first to fourth front concave flat surface portions 28a to 28d have the same radial width. Among the first to fourth front concave flat surface portions 28a to 28d, the recess dimension of the first front concave flat surface portion 28a from the front surface 17 of the damper panel 13k is the smallest, the recess dimension of the second front concave flat surface portion 28b from the front surface 17 of the damper panel 13k is larger than that of the first front concave flat surface portion 28a, the recess dimension of the third front concave flat surface portion 28c from the front surface 17 of the damper panel 13k is larger than that of the second front concave flat surface portion 28b, and the recess dimension of the fourth front concave flat surface portion 28d from the front surface 17 of the damper panel 13k is larger than that of the third front concave flat surface portion 28c.

[0167] In the front concave surface area 20, the first front concave flat surface portion 28a, the second front concave flat surface portion 28b, the third front concave flat surface portion 28c, and the fourth front concave flat surface portion 28d are arranged in this order from the outer peripheral edge 22 toward the center (inward in the width direction). Therefore, the second front concave flat surface portion 28b, which is annular (circular) and concaves from the front surface 17 (front concave surface area 20) toward the rear surface 18 (rear concave surface area 21) and parallel to the front surface 17 of the damper panel 13k excluding the front concave surface portion, is arranged adjacent to the first front concave flat surface portion 28a, which is annular (circular) and concaves from the front surface 17 (front concave surface area 20) toward the rear surface 18 (rear concave surface area 21) and parallel to the front surface 17 of the damper panel 13k excluding the front concave surface portion. The third front concave flat surface portion 28c is annular (circular) and parallel to the front surface 17 of the damper panel 13k excluding the front concave portions while recessed from the front surface 17 (front concave area 20) toward the rear surface 18 (rear concave area 21). The fourth front concave flat surface portion 28d is circular and parallel to the front surface 17 of the damper panel 13k excluding the front concave portions while recessed from the front surface 17 (front concave area 20) toward the rear surface 18 (rear concave area 21). The front concave area 20 has four front concave flat surface portions 28a to 28d, but the number of the front concave flat surface portions is not particularly limited, and five or more front concave flat surface portions may be formed in the front concave area 20.

[0168] In the rear concave surface area 21, first to fourth rear concave surface portions 29a to 29d (first to nth rear concave surface portions) are formed whose recess dimensions increase stepwise from the outer peripheral edge 24 toward the center. The first to fourth rear concave surface portions 29a to 29d are first to sixth rear concave flat surface portions 29a to 29d (first to nth rear concave flat surface portions) that are recessed from the rear surface 18 toward the front surface 17 and are parallel to the rear surface 18 of the damper panel 13k excluding the first to fourth rear concave surface portions 29a to 29d. The first to third rear concave flat surface portions 29a to 29c extend in an annular (circular) shape while drawing concentric circles in the central region 19 (rear concave surface area 21) of the rear surface 18, and the fourth rear concave flat surface portion 29d extends in a circular shape while drawing concentric circles in the central region 19 (rear concave surface area 21) of the rear surface 18.

[0169] The first to fourth rear concave flat surface portions 29a to 29d have the same radial width dimension. Among the first to fourth rear concave flat surface portions 29a to 29d, the first rear concave flat surface portion 29a has the smallest recess dimension from the rear surface 18 of the damper panel 13k, the second rear concave flat surface portion 29b has a larger recess dimension from the rear surface 18 of the damper panel 13k than the first rear concave flat surface portion 29a, the third rear concave flat surface portion 29c has a larger recess dimension from the rear surface 18 of the damper panel 13k than the second rear concave flat surface portion 29b, and the fourth rear concave flat surface portion 29d has a larger recess dimension from the rear surface 18 of the damper panel 13k than the third rear concave flat surface portion 29c.

[0170] In the rear concave surface area 21, the first rear concave flat surface portion 29a, the second rear concave flat surface portion 29b, the third rear concave flat surface portion 29c, and the fourth rear concave flat surface portion 29d are arranged in this order from the outer peripheral edge 24 toward the center (inward in the width direction). Therefore, the second rear concave flat surface portion 29b, which is annular (circular) and concaves from the rear surface 18 (rear concave surface area 21) toward the front surface 17 (front concave surface area 20) and parallel to the rear surface 18 of the damper panel 13k excluding the rear concave surface portion, is arranged adjacent to the first rear concave flat surface portion 29a, which is annular (circular) and concaves from the rear surface 18 (rear concave surface area 21) toward the front surface 17 (front concave surface area 20) and parallel to the rear surface 18 of the damper panel 13k excluding the rear concave surface portion. The third rear concave flat surface portion 29c is annular (circular) and parallel to the rear surface 18 of the damper panel 13k excluding the rear concave portions, and is adjacent to the rear concave flat surface portion 29c. The fourth rear concave flat surface portion 29d is circular and parallel to the rear surface 18 of the damper panel 13k excluding the rear concave portions, and is adjacent to the rear concave flat surface portion 29c. The fourth rear concave flat surface portion 29d is circular and parallel to the rear surface 18 of the damper panel 13k excluding the rear concave portions, and is recessed from the rear surface 18 (rear concave area 21) to the front surface 17 (front concave area 20). Although the rear concave area 21 has four rear concave flat surface portions 29a to 29d, the number of rear concave flat surface portions is not particularly limited, and five or more rear concave flat surface portions may be formed in the rear concave area 21.

[0171] The front concave surface area 20 and the rear concave surface area 21 are of the same shape and size and are arranged symmetrically in the front-rear direction of the damper panel 13k. Therefore, the first front concave flat surface portion 28a and the first rear concave flat surface portion 29a are of the same shape and size and are arranged symmetrically in the front-rear direction of the damper panel 13k, the second front concave flat surface portion 28b and the second rear concave flat surface portion 29b are of the same shape and size and are arranged symmetrically in the front-rear direction of the damper panel 13k. The third front concave flat surface portion 28c and the third rear concave flat surface portion 29c are of the same shape and size and are arranged symmetrically in the front-rear direction of the damper panel 13k, and the fourth front concave flat surface portion 28d and the fourth rear concave flat surface portion 29d are of the same shape and size and are arranged symmetrically in the front-rear direction of the damper panel 13k.

[0172] In the damper panel 13k, the thickness dimension of the damper panel 13k at the first front concave flat surface portion 28a and the first rear concave flat surface portion 29a is the largest, and the thickness dimension of the damper panel 13k at the second front concave flat surface portion 28b and the second rear concave flat surface portion 29b is smaller than that of the damper panel 13k at the first front concave flat surface portion 28a and the first rear concave flat surface portion 29a. The thickness dimension of the damper panel 13k at the third front concave flat surface portion 28c and the third rear concave flat surface portion 29c is smaller than that of the damper panel 13k at the second front concave flat surface portion 28b and the second rear concave flat surface portion 29b, the thickness dimension of the damper panel 13k at the fourth front concave flat surface portion 28d and the fourth rear concave flat surface portion 29d is smaller than that of the damper panel 13k at the third front concave flat surface portion 28c and the third rear concave flat surface portion 29c, and the thickness dimension of the damper panel 13k at the fourth front concave flat surface portion 28d and the fourth rear concave flat surface portion 29d is the smallest.

[0173] In addition, in the steel damper 10K, the thickness dimension of the damper panel 13k at the first front concave flat surface portion 28a and the first rear concave flat surface portion 29a (the thickness dimension in the front-rear direction between the first front concave flat surface portion 28a and the first rear concave flat surface portion 29a), the thickness dimension of the damper panel 13k at the second front concave flat surface portion 28b and the second rear concave flat surface portion 29b (the thickness dimension in the front-rear direction between the second front concave flat surface portion 28b and the second rear concave flat surface portion 29b), the thickness dimension of the damper panel 13k at the third front concave flat surface portion 28c and the third rear concave flat surface portion 29c The thickness dimension of the damper panel 13k (the thickness dimension in the front-to-rear direction between the third front concave flat surface portion 28c and the third rear concave flat surface portion 29c) and the thickness dimension of the damper panel 13k at the fourth front concave flat surface portion 28d and the fourth rear concave flat surface portion 29d (the thickness dimension in the front-to-rear direction between the fourth front concave flat surface portion 28d and the fourth rear concave flat surface portion 29d) can be freely set (for example, in the range of 5mm to 50mm), and the damping force (vibration (earthquake) resistance force) can be set arbitrarily in the range of 50kN to 3000kN.

[0174] The steel damper 10K exerts a seismic control function when relative displacement between the first structural member (upper structural member or first side structural member) and the second structural member (lower structural member or second side structural member) of the building occurs due to an earthquake or the like, causing plastic deformation of the first to fourth front concave flat surface portions 28a to 28d (the first front concave flat surface portion to the nth front concave flat surface portion) and the first to fourth rear concave flat surface portions 29a to 29d (the first rear concave flat surface portion to the nth rear concave flat surface portion) of the damper panel 13k. For example, when the vibration during vibration (earthquake) is small, the fourth front concave flat surface portion 28d and the fourth rear concave flat surface portion 29d of the damper panel 13k having a small thickness dimension undergo plastic deformity, and when the vibration during vibration (earthquake) is medium, in addition to the fourth front concave flat surface portion 28d and the fourth rear concave flat surface portion 29d of the damper panel 13k having a small thickness dimension undergo plastic deformity, the third front concave flat surface portion 28c and the third rear concave flat surface portion 29c and the second front concave flat surface portion 28b and the second rear concave flat surface portion 28d of the damper panel 13i having a medium thickness dimension undergo plastic deformity. When the vibration (earthquake) is large, the fourth front concave flat surface portion 28d and the fourth rear concave flat surface portion 29d of the damper panel 13k having a small thickness dimension are plastically deformed, and the third front concave flat surface portion 28c and the third rear concave flat surface portion 29c and the second front concave flat surface portion 28b and the second rear concave flat surface portion 28d of the damper panel 13i having a medium thickness dimension are plastically deformed, and in addition, the first front concave flat surface portion 28a and the first rear concave flat surface portion 29a of the damper panel 13i having a large thickness dimension are plastically deformed.

[0175] Although not shown in the figure, a transparent plastic deformation confirmation fifth sheet is prepared in advance for the steel damper 10K, which shows (models) the boundary lines of the first front concave flat surface portion 28a (first rear concave flat surface portion 29a) to the fourth front concave flat surface portion 28d (fourth rear concave flat surface portion 29d) before the damper panel 13k of the steel damper 10K is plastically deformed. In the steel damper 10K, when the first front concave flat surface portion to the fourth front concave flat surface portion 28a to 28d or the first rear concave flat surface portion to the fourth rear concave flat surface portion 29a to 29d of the damper panel 13k are plastically deformed due to the occurrence of vibration (earthquake), the vibration damping function of the steel damper 10K is lost depending on the degree of plastic deformation. After the occurrence of vibration (earthquake), the steel damper 10K that has lost its vibration damping function due to a large degree of plastic deformation is replaced. Even after an earthquake occurs, if the degree of plastic deformation is small and the steel damper 10K is still able to perform its seismic control function, it can continue to be used without being replaced.

[0176] Plastic deformation such as distortion, warping, bending, breakage, and damage that occurs in the first front concave flat surface portion 28a to 28d and the first rear concave flat surface portion 29a to 29d formed into a circle (perfect circle) of the damper panel 13k after vibration due to an earthquake or the like is visually confirmed to determine the degree of plastic deformation, or the first front concave flat surface portion 28a (first rear concave flat surface portion 29a) to the fourth front concave flat surface portion 29a to 29d are visually confirmed to determine the degree of plastic deformation, or the first front concave flat surface portion 28a (first rear concave flat surface portion 29a) to the fourth front concave flat surface portion 29a to 29d are visually confirmed to determine the degree of plastic deformation. A transparent fifth plastic deformation confirmation sheet showing the boundary lines of the first front concave flat surface portion 28a (first rear concave flat surface portion 29a) to the fourth front concave flat surface portion 28d (fourth rear concave flat surface portion 29d) may be placed over the front concave area 20 (rear concave area 21) of the damper panel 13k, and the degree of plastic deformation may be determined by comparing the boundary lines shown on the fifth plastic deformation confirmation sheet with the boundary lines of the first front concave flat surface portion 28a (first rear concave flat surface portion 29a) to the fourth front concave flat surface portion 28d (fourth rear concave flat surface portion 29d) of the damper panel 13i.

[0177] When an external force acting upon vibration due to an earthquake or the like is transmitted to the steel damper 10K as a shear force, an axial force, or a bending moment, the first to fourth front concave flat surface portions 28a to 28d (the first to nth front concave flat surface portions) formed into a circular shape (perfect circle) of the damper panel 13k and the first to fourth rear concave flat surface portions 29a to 29d (the first to nth rear concave flat surface portions) formed into a circular shape (perfect circle) of the damper panel 13k are uniformly and reliably aligned. The vibration energy (earthquake energy) can be efficiently absorbed in the damper panel 13k of the steel damper 10K by plastically deforming the first to fourth front concave flat surface portions 28a to 28d and the first to fourth rear concave flat surface portions 29a to 29d of the damper panel 13k, and the vibration energy (earthquake energy) can be sufficiently damped by utilizing the plastic deformation of the first to fourth front concave flat surface portions 28a to 28d and the first to fourth rear concave flat surface portions 29a to 29d of the damper panel 13k, thereby minimizing deformation and damage to the building due to vibration (earthquake).

[0178] The steel damper 10K has the first to fourth front concave flat surface portions 28a to 28d which are circular (perfect circles) and the first to fourth rear concave flat surface portions 29a to 29d which are circular (perfect circles) formed on the damper panel 13k, so that plastic deformation such as distortion, warping, curvature, breakage, and damage that occurs in the front concave flat surface portions 28a to 28d and the rear concave flat surface portions 29a to 29d after vibrations due to an earthquake or the like occur can be easily found, and the degree of deformation of the front concave flat surface portions 28a to 28d and the rear concave flat surface portions 29a to 29d can be easily confirmed.

[0179] The steel damper 10K makes it easy to check the degree of deformation of the first to fourth front concave flat surface portions 28a to 28d (the first to nth front concave flat surface portions) which are formed into a circle (perfect circle) of the damper panel 13k that has been plastically deformed after vibration due to an earthquake or the like, and the first to fourth rear concave flat surface portions 29a to 29d (the first to nth rear concave flat surface portions) which are formed into a circle (perfect circle). This makes it possible to accurately determine whether the steel damper 10K is in a state in which it can exert its vibration control function, and makes it possible to predict the energy absorption capacity of the steel damper 10K until the end of its life, and makes it possible to determine the continued usability of the building and the durability of the steel damper 10K against repeated earthquakes. The steel damper 10K will not be replaced unnecessarily, preventing unnecessary disposal and preventing the steel damper 10I that has lost its vibration control function from being out of date.

[0180] In the steel damper 10K, like the steel damper 10B shown in Figure 4, the first front to fourth front concave flat surface portions 28a to 28d and the first rear to fourth rear concave flat surface portions 29a to 29d may be molded into an elliptical shape that is elongated in the vertical direction, or like the steel damper 10G shown in Figure 12, the first front to fourth front concave flat surface portions 28a to 28d and the first rear concave flat surface portion 29a to 29d may be molded into an elliptical shape that is elongated in the width direction. Furthermore, similar to the steel damper 10C shown in FIG. 6, the first to fourth front concave flat surface portions 28a to 28d and the first to fourth rear concave flat surface portions 29a to 29d may be formed into oval shapes that are long in the width direction, and similar to the steel damper 10F shown in FIG. 14, the first to fourth front concave flat surface portions 28a to 28d and the first to fourth rear concave flat surface portions 29a to 29d may be formed into oval shapes that are long in the vertical direction.

[0181] Fig. 24 is a front view of a steel damper 10L showing another example, and Fig. 25 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line JJ in Fig. 24. In Figs. 24 and 25, the up-down direction is indicated by arrow X, the width direction is indicated by arrow Y, and the front-rear direction is indicated by arrow Z. The steel damper 10L differs from that in Figure 1 in that the first to sixth front concave flat surface portions 28a to 28f (first to sixth front concave flat surface portions) are formed in the front concave surface area 20, and the first to sixth rear concave flat surface portions 29a to 29f (first to sixth rear concave flat surface portions) are formed in the rear concave surface area 21, the radial width dimensions of the first to sixth front concave flat surface portions 28a to 28f gradually decrease from the first front concave flat surface portion 28a to the sixth front concave flat surface portion 28f, and the radial width dimensions of the first to sixth rear concave flat surface portions 29a to 29f gradually decrease from the first rear concave flat surface portion 29a to the sixth rear concave flat surface portion 29f. The other configurations are the same as those of the low yield point steel damper 10A shown in FIG.

[0182] The steel damper 10L is formed of a first connecting panel 11, a second connecting panel 12, and a damper panel 13l extending between the first and second connecting panels 11, 12. The first connecting panel 11 and the second connecting panel 12 are the same as those of the steel damper 10A in Fig. 1. The minimum length dimension L2 of the damper panel 13l in the width direction is shorter than that of the first and second connecting panels, and both side edges 16 thereof are arched toward the center of the damper panel 13l (inward in the width direction), and both side edges 16 are narrowed toward the inner side in the width direction, similar to the damper panel 13a in Fig. 1.

[0183] In the damper panel 13l, an external force acting upon the occurrence of vibration due to an earthquake or the like is transmitted evenly to both narrowed side edges 16 of the damper panel 13l as a shear force, an axial force, and a bending moment. The damper panel 13l has a front surface 17 and a rear surface 18. A front concave surface area 20 of a predetermined area recessed from the front surface 17 toward the rear surface 18 is formed in a central region 19 of the front surface 17 of the damper panel 13l. A rear concave surface area 21 of a predetermined area recessed from the rear surface 18 toward the front surface 17 is formed in the central region 19 of the rear surface 18 of the damper panel 13l.

[0184] The front concave area 20 is formed with first to sixth front concave portions 28a to 28f (first to nth front concave portions) whose recess dimensions increase stepwise from the outer peripheral edge 22 toward the center. The first to sixth front concave portions 28a to 28f are the first to sixth front concave flat surface portions 28a to 28f (first to nth front concave flat surface portions) that are recessed from the front surface 17 (front concave area 20) toward the rear surface 18 (rear concave area 21) and are parallel to the front surface 17 of the damper panel 13l excluding the first to sixth front concave portions 28a to 28f. The first to fifth front concave flat surface portions 28a to 28e extend in an annular (circular) shape while drawing concentric circles in the central region 19 (front concave area 20) of the front surface 17, and the sixth front concave flat surface portion 28f extends in a circular shape while drawing concentric circles in the central region 19 (front concave area 20) of the front surface 17.

[0185] Of the first to sixth front concave flat surface portions 28a to 28f, the first front concave flat surface portion 28a has the smallest recessed dimension from the front surface 17 of the damper panel 13l, the second front concave flat surface portion 28b has a larger recessed dimension from the front surface 17 of the damper panel 13l than the first front concave flat surface portion 28a, and the third front concave flat surface portion 28c has a larger recessed dimension from the front surface 17 of the damper panel 13l than the second front concave flat surface portion 28b. The recess dimension of the fourth front concave flat surface portion 28d from the front surface 17 of the damper panel 13l is larger than that of the third front concave flat surface portion 28c, the recess dimension of the fifth front concave flat surface portion 28e from the front surface 17 of the damper panel 13l is larger than that of the fourth front concave flat surface portion 28d, and the recess dimension of the sixth front concave flat surface portion 28f from the front surface 17 of the damper panel 13l is larger than that of the fifth front concave flat surface portion 28e.

[0186] The radial width dimensions of the first to sixth front concave flat surface portions 28a to 28f gradually decrease from the first to sixth front concave flat surface portion 28a to 28f. Among the first to sixth front concave flat surface portions 28a to 28f, the radial width dimension of the first front concave flat surface portion 28a is the largest, the radial width dimension of the second front concave flat surface portion 28b is smaller than that of the first front concave flat surface portion 28a, and the radial width dimension of the third front concave flat surface portion 28c is smaller than that of the second front concave flat surface portion 28b. The radial width dimension of the fourth front concave flat surface portion 28d is smaller than that of the third front concave flat surface portion 28c, the radial width dimension of the fifth front concave flat surface portion 28e is smaller than that of the fourth front concave flat surface portion 28d, and the radial width dimension of the sixth front concave flat surface portion 28f is smaller than that of the fifth front concave flat surface portion 28e.

[0187] In the front concave surface area 20, the first front concave flat surface portion 28a, the second front concave flat surface portion 28b, the third front concave flat surface portion 28c, the fourth front concave flat surface portion 28d, the fifth front concave flat surface portion 28e, and the sixth front concave flat surface portion 28f are arranged in this order from the outer peripheral edge 22 toward the center (inward in the width direction). Therefore, a ring-shaped (circular) first front concave flat surface portion 28a is concave from the front surface 17 (front concave surface area 20) toward the rear surface 18 (rear concave surface area 21) and is parallel to the front surface 17 of the damper panel 13l excluding these front concave portions, and a ring-shaped (circular) second front concave flat surface portion 28b is concave from the front surface 17 (front concave surface area 20) toward the rear surface 18 (rear concave surface area 21) and is parallel to the front surface 17 of the damper panel 13l excluding these front concave portions. A third front concave flat surface portion 28c having a circular ring shape (circular) is arranged adjacent to the front surface 17 of the damper panel 13l excluding these front concave portions, and a fourth front concave flat surface portion 28d having a circular ring shape (circular) is arranged adjacent to the front surface 17 of the damper panel 13l excluding these front concave portions, and is concave from the front surface 17 (front concave area 20) toward the rear surface 18 (rear concave area 21) radially inward from the third front concave flat surface portion 28c.

[0188] A fifth front concave flat surface portion 28e having an annular shape (circular shape) is arranged adjacent to the fourth front concave flat surface portion 28d, which is recessed from the front surface 17 (front concave area 20) toward the rear surface 18 (rear concave area 21) and parallel to the front surface 17 of the damper panel 13l excluding the front concave portions, and a sixth front concave flat surface portion 28f having a circular shape is arranged adjacent to the fifth front concave flat surface portion 28e, which is recessed from the front surface 17 (front concave area 20) toward the rear surface 18 (rear concave area 21) and parallel to the front surface 17 of the damper panel 13l excluding the front concave portions. Although six front concave flat surface portions 28a to 28f are formed in the front concave area 20, the number of front concave flat surface portions is not particularly limited, and four or less or seven or more front concave flat surface portions may be formed in the front concave area 20.

[0189] In the rear concave surface area 21, first to sixth rear concave surface portions 29a to 29f (first to nth rear concave surface portions) are formed in which the recess dimensions gradually increase from the outer peripheral edge 24 toward the center. The first to sixth rear concave surface portions 29a to 29f are first to sixth rear concave flat surface portions 29a to 29f (first to nth rear concave flat surface portions) that are recessed from the rear surface 18 (rear concave surface area 21) toward the front surface 17 (front concave surface area 20) and are parallel to the rear surface 18 of the damper panel 13l excluding the first to sixth rear concave surface portions 29a to 29f. The first to fifth rear concave flat surface portions 29a to 29e extend in an annular (circular) shape while drawing concentric circles in the central region 19 (rear concave surface area 21) of the rear surface 18, and the sixth rear concave flat surface portion 29f extends in a circular shape while drawing concentric circles in the central region 19 (rear concave surface area 21) of the rear surface 18.

[0190] Of the first to sixth rear concave flat surface portions 29a to 29f, the first rear concave flat surface portion 29a has the smallest recessed dimension from the rear surface 18 of the damper panel 13l, the second rear concave flat surface portion 29b has a larger recessed dimension from the rear surface 18 of the damper panel 13l than the first rear concave flat surface portion 29a, and the third rear concave flat surface portion 29c has a larger recessed dimension from the rear surface 18 of the damper panel 13l than the second rear concave flat surface portion 29b. The recess dimension of the fourth rear concave flat surface portion 29d from the rear surface 18 of the damper panel 13l is larger than that of the third rear concave flat surface portion 29c, the recess dimension of the fifth rear concave flat surface portion 29e from the rear surface 18 of the damper panel 13l is larger than that of the fourth rear concave flat surface portion 29d, and the recess dimension of the sixth rear concave flat surface portion 29f from the rear surface 18 of the damper panel 13l is larger than that of the fifth rear concave flat surface portion 29e.

[0191] The radial width dimensions of the first to sixth rear concave flat surface portions 29a to 29f gradually decrease from the first to sixth rear concave flat surface portion 29a to 29f. Among the first to sixth rear concave flat surface portions 29a to 29f, the radial width dimension of the first rear concave flat surface portion 29a is the largest, the radial width dimension of the second rear concave flat surface portion 29b is smaller than that of the first rear concave flat surface portion 29a, and the radial width dimension of the third rear concave flat surface portion 29c is smaller than that of the second rear concave flat surface portion 29b. The radial width dimension of the fourth rear concave flat surface portion 29d is smaller than that of the third rear concave flat surface portion 29c, the radial width dimension of the fifth rear concave flat surface portion 29e is smaller than that of the fourth rear concave flat surface portion 29d, and the radial width dimension of the sixth rear concave flat surface portion 29f is smaller than that of the fifth rear concave flat surface portion 29e.

[0192] In the rear concave surface area 21, the first rear concave flat surface portion 29a, the second rear concave flat surface portion 29b, the third rear concave flat surface portion 29c, the fourth rear concave flat surface portion 29d, the fifth rear concave flat surface portion 29e, and the sixth rear concave flat surface portion 29f are arranged in this order from the outer peripheral edge 24 toward the center (inward in the width direction). Therefore, a first rear concave flat surface portion 29a having an annular (circular) shape that is concave from the rear surface 18 (rear concave surface area 21) toward the front surface 17 (front concave surface area 20) and parallel to the rear surface 18 of the damper panel 13l excluding these rear concave portions is adjacently arranged radially inward of the first rear concave flat surface portion 29a, and a second rear concave flat surface portion 29b having an annular (circular) shape that is concave from the rear surface 18 (rear concave surface area 21) toward the front surface 19 (front concave surface area 20) and parallel to the rear surface 18 of the damper panel 13l excluding these rear concave portions is adjacently arranged radially inward of the second rear concave flat surface portion 29b. A third rear concave flat surface portion 29c having a circular ring shape (circular) is arranged adjacent to the rear surface 18 of the damper panel 13l, and is recessed from the rear surface 18 (rear concave surface area 21) toward the front surface 17 (front concave surface area 20) and parallel to the rear surface 18 of the damper panel 13l excluding these rear concave portions, and a fourth rear concave flat surface portion 29d having a circular ring shape (circular) is arranged adjacent to the rear concave flat surface portion 29c, and is recessed radially inward from the rear surface 18 (rear concave surface area 21) toward the front surface 17 (front concave surface area 20) and parallel to the rear surface 18 of the damper panel 13l excluding these rear concave portions.

[0193] A fifth rear concave flat surface portion 29e having an annular shape (circular shape) is arranged adjacent to the fourth rear concave flat surface portion 29d, which is recessed from the rear surface 18 (rear concave surface area 21) toward the front surface 17 (front concave surface area 20) and parallel to the rear surface 18 of the damper panel 13l excluding these rear concave surface portions, and a sixth rear concave flat surface portion 29f having a circular shape is arranged adjacent to the fifth rear concave flat surface portion 29e, which is recessed from the rear surface 18 (rear concave surface area 21) toward the front surface 17 (front concave surface area 20) and parallel to the rear surface 18 of the damper panel 13l excluding these rear concave surface portions. Although six rear concave flat surface portions 29a to 29f are formed in the rear concave surface area 21, the number of rear concave flat surface portions is not particularly limited, and four or less or seven or more rear concave flat surface portions may be formed in the rear concave surface area 21.

[0194] The front concave surface area 20 and the rear concave surface area 21 are mutually of the same shape and size and are arranged symmetrically in the front-rear direction of the damper panel 13l. Therefore, the first front concave flat surface portion 28a and the first rear concave flat surface portion 29a are of the same shape and size and are arranged symmetrically in the front-rear direction of the damper panel 13l, the second rear concave flat surface portion 28b and the second rear concave flat surface portion 29b are of the same shape and size and are arranged symmetrically in the front-rear direction of the damper panel 13l, and the third front concave flat surface portion 28c and the third rear concave flat surface portion 29c are of the same shape and size and are arranged symmetrically in the front-rear direction of the damper panel 13l. The fourth front concave flat surface portion 28d and the fourth rear concave flat surface portion 29d have the same shape and size and are arranged symmetrically in the front-to-back direction of the damper panel 13l, the fifth front concave flat surface portion 28e and the fifth rear concave flat surface portion 29e have the same shape and size and are arranged symmetrically in the front-to-back direction of the damper panel 13l, and the sixth front concave flat surface portion 28f and the sixth rear concave flat surface portion 29f have the same shape and size and are arranged symmetrically in the front-to-back direction of the damper panel 13l.

[0195] In the damper panel 13l, the thickness dimension of the damper panel 13l at the first front concave flat surface portion 28a and the first rear concave flat surface portion 29a is the largest, the thickness dimension of the damper panel 13l at the second front concave flat surface portion 28b and the second rear concave flat surface portion 29b is smaller than that of the damper panel 13l at the first front concave flat surface portion 28a and the first rear concave flat surface portion 29a, the thickness dimension of the damper panel 13l at the third front concave flat surface portion 28c and the third rear concave flat surface portion 29c is smaller than that of the damper panel 13l at the second front concave flat surface portion 28b and the second rear concave flat surface portion 29b, and the thickness dimension of the damper panel 13l at the fourth front concave flat surface portion 28d and the fourth rear concave flat surface portion 29d is smaller than that of the damper panel 13l at the third front concave flat surface portion 28c and the third rear concave flat surface portion 29c. The thickness dimension of the damper panel 13l at the fifth front concave flat surface portion 28e and the fifth rear concave flat surface portion 29e is smaller than that of the damper panel 13l at the fourth front concave flat surface portion 28d and the fourth rear concave flat surface portion 29d, the thickness dimension of the damper panel 13l at the sixth front concave flat surface portion 28f and the sixth rear concave flat surface portion 29f is smaller than that of the damper panel 13l at the fifth front concave flat surface portion 28e and the fifth rear concave flat surface portion 29e, and the thickness dimension of the damper panel 13l at the sixth front concave flat surface portion 28f and the sixth rear concave flat surface portion 29f is the smallest.

[0196] In addition, in the low yield point steel damper 10L, the thickness dimension of the damper panel 13l at the first front concave flat surface portion 28a and the first rear concave flat surface portion 29a (the thickness dimension in the front-to-rear direction between the first front concave flat surface portion 28a and the first rear concave flat surface portion 29a), the thickness dimension of the damper panel 13l at the second front concave flat surface portion 28b and the second rear concave flat surface portion 29b (the thickness dimension in the front-to-rear direction between the second front concave flat surface portion 28b and the second rear concave flat surface portion 29b), the thickness dimension of the damper panel 13l at the third front concave flat surface portion 28c and the third rear concave flat surface portion 29c (the thickness dimension in the front-to-rear direction between the third front concave flat surface portion 28c and the third rear concave flat surface portion 29c), the thickness dimension of the damper panel 13l at the fourth front concave flat surface portion 28d and the fourth rear concave flat surface portion 29d The thickness dimension of the damper panel 13l (the thickness dimension in the front-to-rear direction between the fourth front concave flat surface portion 28d and the fourth rear concave flat surface portion 29d), the thickness dimension of the damper panel 13l at the fifth front concave flat surface portion 28e and the fifth rear concave flat surface portion 29e (the thickness dimension in the front-to-rear direction between the fifth front concave flat surface portion 28e and the fifth rear concave flat surface portion 29e), and the thickness dimension of the damper panel 13l at the sixth front concave flat surface portion 28f and the sixth rear concave flat surface portion 29f (the thickness dimension in the front-to-rear direction between the sixth front concave flat surface portion 28f and the sixth rear concave flat surface portion 29f) can be freely set (for example, in the range of 5mm to 50mm), and the damping force (vibration (earthquake) resistance force) can be set arbitrarily in the range of 50kN to 3000kN.

[0197] The steel damper 10J exerts its vibration control function when the first to sixth front concave flat surface portions 28a to 28f (the first to nth front concave flat surface portion) which are formed into circular (perfect circles) shapes of the damper panel 13l and the first to sixth rear concave flat surface portions 29a to 29f (the first to nth rear concave flat surface portion) which are formed into circular (perfect circles) shapes of the damper panel 13l undergo plastic deformation due to relative displacement between the first structural member (upper structural member or first side structural member) and the second structural member (lower structural member or second side structural member) of the building when vibrations occur due to an earthquake or the like. For example, when the vibration during vibration (earthquake) is small, the sixth front concave flat surface portion 28f and the sixth rear concave flat surface portion 29f and the fifth front concave flat surface portion 28e and the fifth rear concave flat surface portion 29e of the damper panel 13l, which has a small thickness dimension, undergo plastic deformity, and when the vibration during vibration (earthquake) is medium, in addition to the sixth front concave flat surface portion 28f and the sixth rear concave flat surface portion 29f and the fifth front concave flat surface portion 28e and the fifth rear concave flat surface portion 29e of the damper panel 13l, which has a small thickness dimension, the fourth front concave flat surface portion 28d and the fourth rear concave flat surface portion 29d and the third front concave flat surface portion 28c and the third rear concave flat surface portion 29d of the damper panel 13l, which has a medium thickness dimension, undergo plastic deformity. When the vibration (earthquake) is large, the sixth front concave flat surface portion 28f and the sixth rear concave flat surface portion 29f and the fifth front concave flat surface portion 28e and the fifth rear concave flat surface portion 29e of the damper panel 13l which has a small thickness dimension are plastically deformed, and the fourth front concave flat surface portion 28d and the fourth rear concave flat surface portion 29d and the third front concave flat surface portion 28c and the third rear concave flat surface portion 29d of the damper panel 13l which has a medium thickness dimension are plastically deformed, in addition to which the second front concave flat surface portion 28b and the second rear concave flat surface portion 29b and the first front concave flat surface portion 28a and the first rear concave flat surface portion 29a of the damper panel 13l which has a large thickness dimension are plastically deformed.

[0198] Although not shown in the figure, a transparent plastic deformation confirmation sixth sheet is prepared in advance for the steel damper 10L, which shows (models) the boundary lines of the first front concave flat surface portion 28a (first rear concave flat surface portion 29a) to the sixth front concave flat surface portion 28f (sixth rear concave flat surface portion 29f) before the damper panel 13l of the steel damper 10L is plastically deformed. In the steel damper 10L, when the first front concave flat surface portion to the sixth front concave flat surface portion 28a to 28f or the first rear concave flat surface portion to the sixth rear concave flat surface portion 29a to 29f of the damper panel 13l are plastically deformed due to the occurrence of vibration (earthquake), the vibration damping function of the steel damper 10L is lost depending on the degree of plastic deformation. After the occurrence of vibration (earthquake), the steel damper 10L that has lost its vibration damping function due to a large degree of plastic deformation is replaced. Even after vibration (earthquake) occurs, if the degree of plastic deformation is small and the steel damper 10L is still capable of performing its vibration control function, it can continue to be used without being replaced.

[0199] Plastic deformation such as distortion, warping, bending, breakage, and damage that occurs in the first front concave flat surface portion 28a to 28f and the first rear concave flat surface portion 29a to 29f formed into a circle (perfect circle) of the damper panel 13l after vibration due to an earthquake or the like is visually confirmed to determine the degree of plastic deformation, or when the first front concave flat surface portion 28a (first rear concave flat surface portion 29a) to the sixth front concave flat surface portion 29a to 29f are visually confirmed to determine the degree of plastic deformation, or when the first front concave flat surface portion 28a (first rear concave flat surface portion 29a) to the sixth front concave flat surface portion 29a In some cases, a transparent sixth plastic deformation confirmation sheet showing the boundary lines of the first front concave flat surface portion 28a (first rear concave flat surface portion 29a) to the sixth front concave flat surface portion 28f (sixth rear concave flat surface portion 29f) is placed over the front concave area 20 (rear concave area 21) of the damper panel 13l, and the degree of plastic deformation is determined by comparing the boundary lines shown on the sixth plastic deformation confirmation sheet with the boundary lines of the first front concave flat surface portion 28a (first rear concave flat surface portion 29a) to the sixth front concave flat surface portion 28f (sixth rear concave flat surface portion 29f) of the damper panel 13l.

[0200] The radial width dimension of the steel damper 10L gradually decreases from the first front concave flat surface portion 28a to the sixth front concave flat surface portion 28f (nth front concave flat surface portion) and gradually decreases from the first rear concave flat surface portion 29a to the sixth rear concave flat surface portion 29f (nth rear concave flat surface portion). This causes many front and rear concave flat surface portions to be formed in the center of the damper panel 13l, which is most susceptible to plastic deformation. When an external force acting upon occurrence of vibration due to an earthquake or the like is transmitted to the steel damper 10L as a shear force, an axial force, or a bending moment, the first front concave flat surface portion to the sixth front concave flat surface portion 28a to 28f (first front concave flat surface portion) formed in a circular shape (perfect circle) of the damper panel 13l are deformed. The first to sixth front concave flat surface portions 28a to 28f and the first to sixth rear concave flat surface portions 29a to 29f (first to nth rear concave flat surface portions) formed in a circular shape (perfect circle) uniformly and reliably undergo plastic deformation, allowing the damper panel 13l of the steel damper 10L to efficiently absorb vibration energy (earthquake energy).The vibration energy (earthquake energy) can be sufficiently damped by utilizing the plastic deformation of the first to sixth front concave flat surface portions 28a to 28f and the first to sixth rear concave flat surface portions 29a to 29f of the damper panel 13l, thereby minimizing deformation and damage to the building due to vibration (earthquake).

[0201] The steel damper 10L has the first to sixth front concave flat surface portions 28a to 28f, which are circular (perfect circles), and the first to sixth rear concave flat surface portions 29a to 29f, which are circular (perfect circles), formed on the damper panel 13l, so that plastic deformation such as distortion, warping, curvature, breakage, and damage that occurs in the front concave flat surface portions 28a to 28f and the rear concave flat surface portions 29a to 29f after vibrations occur due to an earthquake or the like can be easily found, and the degree of deformation of the front concave flat surface portions 28a to 28f and the rear concave flat surface portions 29a to 29f can be easily confirmed.

[0202] The steel damper 10L makes it easy to check the degree of deformation of the first to sixth front concave flat surface portions 28a to 28f (the first to nth front concave flat surface portions) which are formed into a circle (perfect circle) of the damper panel 13l which has been plastically deformed after the occurrence of vibration such as an earthquake, and the first to sixth rear concave flat surface portions 29a to 29f (the first to nth rear concave flat surface portions) which are formed into a circle (perfect circle). This makes it possible to accurately determine whether or not the steel damper 10L is in a state in which it can exert its vibration control function, and also makes it possible to predict the energy absorption capacity of the steel damper 10L until the end of its lifespan. This makes it possible to determine the continued usability of the building and the durability of the steel damper 10L against repeated earthquakes, and the steel damper 10L will not be replaced unnecessarily, thereby preventing unnecessary disposal and preventing the steel damper 10J which has lost its vibration control function from being out of date for replacement.

[0203] In the steel damper 10L, like the steel damper 10B shown in Figure 4, the first front to sixth front concave flat surface portions 28a to 28f and the first rear concave flat surface portion 29a to 29f may be molded into an elliptical shape that is elongated in the vertical direction, or like the steel damper 10G shown in Figure 12, the first front to sixth front concave flat surface portions 28a to 28f and the first rear concave flat surface portion 29a to 29f may be molded into an elliptical shape that is elongated in the width direction. Furthermore, similar to the steel damper 10C shown in Figure 6, the first front to sixth front concave flat surface portions 28a to 28f and the first rear concave flat surface portion to the sixth rear concave flat surface portion 29a to 29f may be molded into an oval shape that is long in the width direction, and similar to the steel damper 10H shown in Figure 14, the first front to sixth front concave flat surface portions 28a to 28f and the first rear concave flat surface portion to the sixth rear concave flat surface portion 29a to 29f may be molded into an oval shape that is long in the vertical direction.

[0204] In the steel damper 10L, similarly to the steel damper 10E shown in FIG. 10, the radial width dimensions of the first to sixth front concave flat surface portions 28a to 28f (the first to nth front concave flat surface portions) may gradually increase from the first front concave flat surface portion 28a to the sixth front concave flat surface portion 28f, and the radial width dimensions of the first to sixth rear concave flat surface portions 29a to 29f (the first to nth rear concave flat surface portion) may gradually increase from the first rear concave flat surface portion 28a to the sixth rear concave flat surface portion 28f. In the steel damper 10L, similarly to the steel damper 10F shown in FIG. 11, the radial width dimensions of the first to sixth front concave flat surface portions 28a to 28f (the first to nth front concave flat surface portions) may be set randomly (arbitrarily) in the first to sixth front concave flat surface portions 28a to 28f, and the radial width dimensions of the first to sixth rear concave flat surface portions 28a to 28f (the first to nth rear concave flat surface portions) may be set randomly (arbitrarily) in the first to sixth rear concave flat surface portions 28a to 28f.

[0205] Fig. 26 is a front view of a vibration-damping structure 30A shown as an example using steel dampers 10A-10L, and Fig. 27 is a side view of the vibration-damping structure 30A of Fig. 26. Fig. 28 is a front view of first and second steel brackets 41, 49 shown as an example, and Fig. 29 is a top view of the first and second steel brackets 41, 49.

[0206] The vibration control structure 30A (including vibration control structures 30B to 30D) is constructed near the inner or outer walls of buildings such as skyscrapers, high-rise buildings, mid-rise buildings, low-rise buildings, S-, RC- or SRC-construction apartment buildings, and RC-construction detached houses, to protect these buildings from earthquakes. The vibration control structure 30A is formed of an upper structural member 31A (first structural member), a lower structural member 32A (second structural member), and a vibration control device 54.

[0207] The upper structural member 31A is formed of a ceiling beam 33 (first structural member) and a first stud 34 (first mounting member) connected to the ceiling beam 33 and extending downward from the ceiling beam 33. The lower structural member 32A is formed of a floor beam 35 (second structural member) and a second stud 36 (second mounting member) connected to the floor beam 35 and extending upward from the floor beam 35. The first and second studs 34, 36 are of the same shape and size, and have the same dimensions in the vertical direction (length dimension), width direction (width dimension), and front-to-back direction (thickness dimension). The first stud 34 and the second stud 36 face each other at a distance in the vertical direction (directly facing each other at a distance), and a space 37 is formed between the first stud 34 and the second stud 36.

[0208] The first stud 34 is formed of a first foundation stud 38 that is connected to a ceiling beam 33 (main beam or small beam) of the building and extends downward from the ceiling beam 33, and a first steel member 40 (connecting means) that is connected to a lower end 39 of the first foundation stud 38. The ceiling beam 33 and the first foundation stud 38 are made of prestressed concrete. The prestressed concrete that forms the first foundation stud 38 is constructed by a pretensioning method or a post-tensioning method. The first foundation stud 38 may be made of reinforced concrete. Also, the first stud 34 (the first foundation stud 38 and the first steel bracket 41) may be precast concrete that is manufactured in advance in a factory.

[0209] Although not shown, a plurality of reinforcing bars are arranged in the ceiling beam 33. The first steel material 40 (connecting means) is formed of a first steel bracket 41 connected to the lower end 39 (free end) of the first foundation stud 38, and a first H-shaped steel 42 (first shaped steel) fixed to the first steel bracket 41. The first steel bracket 41 is a plate-like steel material having a predetermined thickness and extending in the width direction. It is to be noted that an I-shaped steel, T-shaped steel, angle steel, or channel steel can also be used as the first shaped steel.

[0210] The first H-shaped steel 42 is installed on the underside of the first steel bracket 41 so as to hang down vertically downward. The first H-shaped steel 42 is disposed in the widthwise center of the underside of the first steel bracket 41, and the flange 43 and web 44 are fixed to the underside of the first steel bracket 41 by welding, and the flange 43 and web 44 extend vertically downward from the underside of the first steel bracket 41. The web 44 of the first H-shaped steel 42 is drilled (formed) with a plurality of bolt holes 45 arranged at equal intervals in the widthwise direction.

[0211] The second stud 36 is formed of a second foundation stud 46 that is connected to a floor beam 35 (main beam or small beam) of the building and extends upward from the floor beam 35, and a second steel member 48 (connecting means) that is connected to an upper end 47 of the second foundation stud 46. The floor beam 35 and the second foundation stud 46 are made of prestressed concrete. The prestressed concrete that forms the second foundation stud 46 is constructed by a pretensioning method or a posttensioning method. The second foundation stud 46 may be made of reinforced concrete. Also, the second stud 36 (the second foundation stud 46 and the second steel bracket 49) may be precast concrete that is manufactured in advance in a factory.

[0212] Although not shown, a plurality of reinforcing bars are arranged in the floor beam 35. The second steel material 48 (connecting means) is formed of a second steel bracket 49 connected to the upper end 47 (free end) of the second foundation stud 46, and a second H-shaped steel 50 (second shaped steel) fixed to the second steel bracket 49. The second steel bracket 49 is a plate-like steel material having a predetermined thickness and extending in the width direction. It is to be noted that an I-shaped steel, T-shaped steel, angle steel, or channel steel can also be used as the second shaped steel.

[0213] The second H-shaped steel 50 is installed so as to stand upright in the vertical direction on the upper surface of the second steel bracket 49. The second H-shaped steel 50 is disposed in the widthwise center of the upper surface of the second steel bracket 49, and the flange 51 and web 52 are fixed to the upper surface of the second steel bracket 49 by welding, and the flange 51 and web 52 extend upward in the vertical direction from the upper surface of the second steel bracket 49. A plurality of bolt holes 53 are drilled (formed) in the web 52 of the second H-shaped steel 50 and are arranged at equal intervals in the width direction.

[0214] The vibration control device 54 is formed of a pair of first splice plates 55 and a pair of second splice plates 56, and any one of the steel dampers 10A to 10J. The first and second splice plates 55, 56 are plate-shaped steel materials of the same shape and size having a predetermined thickness, and are the same in vertical dimension (length dimension), width dimension (width dimension), and front-rear dimension (thickness dimension). The first splice plate 55 and the second splice plate 56 face each other at a distance in the vertical direction and are disposed in the space 37 between the first partition 34 and the second partition 36. A plurality of bolt holes are drilled at the upper end (upper half) and the lower end (lower half) of the first splice plate 55, and a plurality of bolt holes are drilled at the upper end (upper half) and the lower end (lower half) of the second splice plate 56, which are equally spaced apart in the width direction.

[0215] The first splice plates 55 are disposed on both sides of the web 44 of the first H-shaped steel 42 of the first steel bracket 41, and are connected by high-strength hexagonal bolts 57 for frictional joints inserted or screwed into bolt holes drilled in the upper ends of the first splice plates 56 and bolt holes 45 drilled in the web 44 of the first H-shaped steel 42, and nuts 58 screwed onto the high-strength hexagonal bolts 57 for frictional joints, and are firmly fixed to the web 44 (the first steel material 40 of the first partition 34) with the web 44 sandwiched between them. The first splice plates 55 face each other in the front-to-rear direction, and their lower ends extend downward in the up-down direction from the web 44 of the first H-shaped steel 42.

[0216] The second splice plates 56 are disposed on both sides of the web 52 of the second H-shaped steel 50 of the second steel bracket 49, and are connected by high-strength hexagonal bolts 58 for frictional joints inserted or screwed into bolt holes drilled in the lower ends of the second splice plates 56 and bolt holes 53 drilled in the web 52 of the second H-shaped steel 50, and nuts 58 screwed into the high-strength hexagonal bolts 57 for frictional joints, and are firmly fixed to the web 52 (the second steel material 48 of the second stud 36) with the web 52 sandwiched between them. The second splice plates 56 face each other in the front-to-rear direction, and their upper ends extend upward in the vertical direction from the web 52 of the second H-shaped steel 50.

[0217] Any of the steel dampers 10A to 10L is located in a space 37 between the first H-shaped steel 42 (first shaped steel) of the first steel material 40 of the first stud 34 (free end of the first mounting member) and the second H-shaped steel 50 (second shaped steel) of the second steel material 48 of the second stud 36 (free end of the second mounting member), which are spaced apart in the vertical direction, and is attached to the first and second splice plates 55, 56. The first connecting panel 11 is perforated with a plurality of bolt holes arranged at equal intervals in the width direction, and the second connecting panel 12 is perforated with a plurality of bolt holes arranged at equal intervals in the width direction. The damper panels 13a to 13l of the steel dampers 10A to 10L are located in the space 37 between the first splice plate 55 and the second splice plate 56, which are spaced apart in the vertical direction.

[0218] Fig. 30 is a front view of the steel dampers 10A to 10L shown in a state where they are connected to the first and second steel materials 40, 48, and Fig. 31 is a side view of the steel dampers 10A to 10L shown in a state where they are connected to the first and second steel materials 40, 48. In Figs. 30 and 31, the illustration of the reinforcing bars arranged in the ceiling beam 33, the first foundation stud 38, the floor beam 35, and the second foundation stud 46 is omitted. Any of the steel dampers 10A to 10L has its first connection panel 11 inserted between the first splice plates 55 and fixed to the first splice plate 55, and its second connection panel 12 inserted between the second splice plates 56 and fixed to the second splice plate 56.

[0219] The first connection panel 11 of the steel dampers 10A to 10L is connected to the first splice plate 55 by high-strength hexagonal bolts 57 for frictional joints that are inserted or screwed into bolt holes drilled in the first connection panel 11 and bolt holes drilled in the first splice plate 55, and nuts 58 that are screwed into the high-strength hexagonal bolts 57 for frictional joints. The first connection panel 11 is firmly fixed to the first splice plates 55 while being sandwiched between the first splice plates 55.

[0220] The second connection panel 12 of the steel dampers 10A to 10L is connected to the second splice plate 56 by high-strength hexagonal bolts 57 for frictional joints that are inserted or screwed into bolt holes drilled in the second connection panel 12 and bolt holes drilled in the second splice plate 56, and nuts 58 that are screwed into the high-strength hexagonal bolts 57 for frictional joints. The second connection panel 12 is firmly fixed to the second splice plate 56 while being sandwiched between the second splice plates 56. In the steel dampers 10A to 10L, the front concave area 20 and the rear concave area 21 of the damper panels 13a to 13l are located in the space 37 between the first and second studs 34, 36.

[0221] In the vibration control structure 30A shown in FIG. 26, for example, when an earthquake occurs and an external force acting on the building as a shear force, axial force, or bending moment due to vibration caused by the earthquake acts on the building, the external force (shear force, axial force, bending moment) is transmitted from the building to the first and second foundation studs 38, 46 made of prestressed concrete (or reinforced concrete or precast concrete) and the first and second studs 34, 36 equipped with the first and second steel members 40, 48, and the external force is transmitted from the first and second H-shaped steel members 42, 50 of the first and second steel members 46, 48 to the first and second splice plates 55, 56, and the external force is transmitted evenly from the first and second splice plates 55, 56 to the steel dampers 10A to 10L.

[0222] Fig. 32 is a front view of a vibration-damping structure 30B showing another example that uses steel dampers 10A-10L. In Fig. 32, the up-down direction is indicated by arrow X, and the width direction (lateral direction) is indicated by arrow Y. The vibration-damping structure 30B is formed of a first side structural member 31B (first structural member), a second side structural member 32B (second structural member), and a vibration damping device 54.

[0223] The first side structural member 31B is formed of a first pillar 61 (first structural member) extending in the vertical direction, and a first beam 62 (first mounting member) (ceiling beam or floor beam) connected to the first pillar 61 and extending in the width direction from the first pillar 61. The second side structural member 32B is formed of a second pillar 63 (second structural member) extending in the vertical direction, and a second beam 64 (second mounting member) (ceiling beam or floor beam) connected to the second pillar 63 and extending in the width direction from the second pillar 63. The first beam 62 and the second beam 64 are formed by dividing a ceiling beam or a floor beam in half at the center. The first beam 62 and the second beam 64 face each other at a distance in the width direction (face each other at a distance), and a space 37 is formed between the first beam 62 and the second beam 64.

[0224] Any of the steel dampers 10A to 10L is disposed in a space 37 between a first beam 62 (first mounting member) and a second beam 64 (second mounting member) that face each other at a distance in the width direction. Any of the first connection panels 11 of the steel dampers 10A to 10L are connected and fixed to a free end portion (free end portion of the first mounting member) of the first beam 62 by a predetermined connection means (for example, a connection means shown in Figs. 26 to 31), and any of the second connection panels 12 of the steel dampers 10A to 10L are connected and fixed to a free end portion (free end portion of the second mounting member) of the second beam 64 by a predetermined connection means (for example, a connection means shown in Figs. 26 to 31). Any of the damper panels 13a to 13l of the steel dampers 10A to 10L are located in the space 37 between the free end portion of the first beam 62 and the free end portion of the second beam 64 that face each other at a distance in the width direction (directly facing each other at a distance).

[0225] In the seismic control structure 30B shown in Figure 32, for example, when an earthquake occurs and an external force acting on the building structure as a shear force, axial force, or bending moment due to the earthquake occurs, the external force (shear force, axial force, bending moment) is transmitted from the building structure via the first column 61 (first structural member) to the first beam 62 (first mounting member), and also via the second column 63 (second structural member) to the second beam 64 (second mounting member), and the external force is evenly transmitted from the first and second beams 62, 64 to the steel dampers 10A to 10L.

[0226] Fig. 33 is a front view of a vibration-damping structure 30C showing another example that uses steel dampers 10A-10L. In Fig. 33, the up-down direction is indicated by arrow X, and the width direction (lateral direction) is indicated by arrow Y. The vibration-damping structure 30C is formed of a first side structural member 31B (first structural member), a second side structural member 32B (second structural member), and a vibration damping device 54.

[0227] The first side structural member 31B is formed of a first pillar 61 (first structural member) extending in the vertical direction, and a first wall 65 (first mounting member) connected to the first pillar 61 and extending in the width direction from the first pillar 61. The second side structural member 32B is formed of a second pillar 63 (second structural member) extending in the vertical direction, and a second wall 66 (second mounting member) connected to the second pillar 63 and extending in the width direction from the second pillar 63. The first wall 65 and the second wall 66 are formed by dividing the wall in half at the center. The first wall 65 and the second wall 66 face each other at a distance in the width direction (face each other at a distance), and a space 37 is formed between the first wall 65 and the second wall 66.

[0228] Any of the steel dampers 10A to 10L is disposed in a space 37 between a first wall 65 (first mounting member) and a second wall 66 (second mounting member) that face each other at a distance in the width direction. Any of the first connecting panels 11 of the steel dampers 10A to 10L are connected and fixed to a free end portion (free end portion of the first mounting member) of the first wall 65 by a predetermined connecting means (for example, a connecting means shown in Figs. 26 to 31), and any of the second connecting panels 12 of the steel dampers 10A to 10L are connected and fixed to a free end portion (free end portion of the second mounting member) of the second wall 66 by a predetermined connecting means (for example, a connecting means shown in Figs. 26 to 31). Any of the damper panels 13a to 13l of the steel dampers 10A to 10L are located in the space 37 between the free end portion of the first wall 65 and the free end portion of the second wall 66 that face each other at a distance in the width direction (face each other at a distance).

[0229] In the seismic control structure 30C shown in Figure 33, for example, when an earthquake occurs and an external force acting on the building structure as a shear force, axial force, or bending moment due to the earthquake occurs, the external force (shear force, axial force, bending moment) is transmitted from the building structure via the first column 61 (first structural member) to the first wall 65 (first mounting member) and via the second column 63 (second structural member) to the second wall 66 (second mounting member), and the external force is evenly transmitted from the first and second walls 65, 66 to the steel dampers 10A to 10L.

[0230] Fig. 34 is a front view of a vibration-control structure 30D showing another example using steel dampers 10A-10L. In Fig. 34, the up-down direction is indicated by arrow X, and the width direction (horizontal direction) is indicated by arrow Y. Vibration-control structure 30D is formed from ceiling beams 33 (first structural member) extending in the width direction, first studs 34 (first mounting member) extending in the vertical direction, floor beams 35 (second structural member) extending in the width direction, second studs 36 (first mounting member) extending in the vertical direction, and a vibration control device 54.

[0231] The first partition 34 is located between the ceilin...

Claims

1. A steel damper is formed from a first connecting panel having a predetermined thickness, a second connecting panel having a predetermined thickness and positioned on the opposite side of the first connecting panel, and a damper panel having a predetermined thickness and extending between the first and second connecting panels, and exhibits a vibration control function by plastically deforming the damper panel when vibration occurs, The damper panel has a front concave surface area formed in a central region of its front surface and recessed from the front surface toward the rear surface of the damper panel, and a rear concave surface area formed in a central region of the rear surface and recessed from the rear surface toward the front surface, The front concave surface area has a first front concave surface portion to an nth front concave surface portion whose recess dimension increases stepwise from the outer circumferential edge toward the center and forms an arc in the central region of the front surface, and the rear concave surface area has a first rear concave surface portion to an nth rear concave surface portion whose recess dimension increases stepwise from the outer circumferential edge toward the center and forms an arc in the central region of the rear surface, the first front concave surface portion to the nth front concave surface portion are first front concave curved surface portion to nth front concave curved surface portion which are concave from the front surface toward the rear surface, and arc toward the center with a predetermined radius of curvature, while being shaped into a circle, an ellipse, or an oval in a central region of the front surface; and the first rear concave surface portion to the nth rear concave curved surface portion are first rear concave curved surface portion to nth rear concave curved surface portion which are concave from the rear surface toward the front surface, and arc toward the center with a predetermined radius of curvature, while being shaped into a circle, an ellipse, or an oval in a central region of the rear surface; In the steel damper, the first front concave curved surface portion to the nth front concave curved surface portion and the first rear concave curved surface portion to the nth rear concave curved surface portion are of the same shape and size and are arranged symmetrically in the front-to-rear direction of the damper panel, the thickness dimension of the damper panel between the first front concave curved surface portion and the first rear concave curved surface portion is the largest, and the thickness dimension of the damper panel between the nth front concave curved surface portion and the nth rear concave curved surface portion is the smallest.

2. The radial width dimensions of the first to nth front concave curved surface portions extending in a circular, elliptical or oval shape in the central region of the front surface are uniform in the first to nth front concave curved surface portions, or are random in the first to nth front concave curved surface portions, or are gradually smaller from the first front concave curved surface portion to the nth front concave curved surface portion, or are gradually larger from the first front concave curved surface portion to the nth front concave curved surface portion, The steel damper of claim 1, wherein the radial width dimensions of the first rear concave curved surface portion to the nth rear concave curved surface portion, which extend in a circular, elliptical or oval shape, are the same from the first rear concave curved surface portion to the nth rear concave curved surface portion, or are random from the first rear concave curved surface portion to the nth rear concave curved surface portion, or are gradually smaller from the first rear concave curved surface portion to the nth rear concave curved surface portion, or are gradually larger from the first rear concave curved surface portion to the nth rear concave curved surface portion.

3. A steel damper as described in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the first connecting panel is connected by a predetermined connecting means to a free end of a first mounting member extending from a first structural member constituting the building, the second connecting panel is connected by a predetermined connecting means to a free end of a second mounting member extending from a second structural member constituting the building and facing the first structural member in the vertical or width direction, and the damper panel is located in the space between the free end of the first mounting member and the free end of the second mounting member which are spaced apart in the vertical or width direction.

4. A steel damper as described in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the first connecting panel is connected by a predetermined connecting means to opposing sides of a first mounting member extending between a first structural member constituting a building and a second structural member spaced apart in the vertical direction from the first structural member, the second connecting panel is connected by a predetermined connecting means to opposing sides of a second mounting member extending between the first structural member and the second structural member and spaced apart in the width direction from the first mounting member, and the damper panel is located in the space between the opposing sides of the first mounting member and the opposing sides of the second mounting member spaced apart in the width direction.

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