Floating Slab Seismic Isolation With Vertical and Side Dampers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing floating slabs fail to effectively protect sensitive equipment in data processing centers and military installations from seismic forces and vibrations during earthquakes, as they are designed to prevent transmission of vibrations from equipment to the foundation rather than isolating the equipment from seismic waves.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising vertical and horizontal dampers integrated into the floating slab and raised access floor, utilizing helical spring dampers, steel cable dampers, and chocks to limit and dampen movements, ensuring that seismic vibrations are not transmitted to the equipment, and energy is dissipated through friction, preventing resonance and protecting the equipment from both vertical and horizontal forces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If a floating slab is designed to prevent transmission of vibrations from equipment to the foundation, then vibration isolation to foundation is improved, but protection of equipment from seismic forces deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional function of the floating slab. Instead of isolating vibrations from equipment downward to the foundation, the system is designed to isolate seismic vibrations upward from the foundation to the equipment. The floating slab becomes a protective platform that moves with the foundation during earthquakes while keeping equipment stationary through independent support legs with dampers, effectively reversing the direction of vibration isolation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the vibration isolation function into two independent parts: (1) the floating slab that moves with seismic forces, and (2) the equipment support legs with dampers that remain stationary. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function - the slab absorbs seismic energy while the dampers protect equipment - resolving the contradiction between foundation isolation and equipment protection.
2Strength
If the floating slab is made more rigid to support equipment, then load-bearing capacity is improved, but seismic isolation effectiveness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making the floating slab rigid only in the local areas where equipment is mounted, while maintaining overall flexibility for seismic isolation. The slab has localized reinforcement at equipment support points to bear loads, but the bulk of the structure remains flexible to move with seismic forces. This resolves the contradiction between needing rigidity for equipment support and flexibility for seismic isolation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively isolates sensitive equipment from seismic vibrations, eliminating transmission of vibrations to the equipment, ensuring minimal disruption during earthquakes and providing comprehensive protection against both vertical and horizontal forces.
Implementation Method 1
helical spring dampers... to limit and dampen movements
Implementation Method 2
helical spring dampers... to limit and dampen movements
Implementation Method 3
energy is dissipated through friction
Implementation Method 4
chocks to limit and dampen movements
Data Source
AI summary
Earthquake protection system for a floating slab (1), for the conservation of the structures placed on the slab against the dynamic forces caused by earthquakes, comprising one or more vertical holding devices, arranged on the floating slab (1), and one or more side dampers (20), located on the side walls of the floating slab (1), wherein vertical holding devices are configured for the limitation and damping of the vertical movement of the floating slab and wherein the side dampers (20) are configured to limit and damp the movement of the floating slab (1) in the horizontal direction. The invention also comprises a protection method against earthquakes for protecting that which is arranged on the floating slabs.