Friction Damper Slotted Bars Spherical Elements
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional dampers for structures are costly, require frequent maintenance due to frictional plate degradation, and impose design restrictions, limiting their applicability for wide-range seismic protection and wind-induced vibrations.
Innovation Solution
A friction damper system comprising interconnected slotted-bars and connecting members with rotational and sliding mechanisms, allowing horizontal and vertical movements, and featuring frictional mechanisms to resist vibrations, providing a cost-effective and versatile solution for both shear and axial behavior.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional friction dampers are used to attenuate vibrations, then vibration attenuation is achieved, but the frictional plates degrade and require frequent maintenance and replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the frictional contact function from traditional sliding plates and implements it through point contacts between spherical elements and friction surfaces. This extraction allows the frictional plates to be replaced by durable spherical elements that do not degrade, eliminating the maintenance issue while preserving vibration attenuation capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces expensive, maintenance-prone frictional plates with simpler, more durable spherical elements. The spherical elements serve as replaceable friction components that are easier and cheaper to maintain, effectively treating them as consumable parts rather than permanent components
2Reliability
If conventional dampers are equipped with frictional plates to provide frictional force, then vibration attenuation is achieved, but the entire damper structure must be replaced when plates are abraded, increasing maintenance and replacement costs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the damper into modular components: connecting members, spherical friction elements, and housing. The spherical elements can be independently replaced without replacing the entire damper structure, reducing replacement costs and simplifying maintenance
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables easy discarding of worn spherical friction elements and recovery/replacement with new ones. The modular design allows spent friction elements to be removed and replaced without affecting other components, reducing overall system replacement costs
3Reliability
If conventional friction dampers are designed for specific bracing types, then vibration attenuation is achieved, but design restrictions are imposed that limit applicability to wide range of buildings
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal damper design that can be applied to various bracing types (chevron, X-diagonal, and other configurations). The connecting members can be attached to different structural elements, allowing the same basic damper mechanism to serve multiple bracing system types without design restrictions
4Reliability
If conventional dampers are used to control excessive vibrations in high-rise buildings, then vibration control is achieved, but high costs are required to equip building members with dampers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs simple, inexpensive spherical elements as friction components instead of complex mechanical assemblies. These basic geometric elements reduce manufacturing costs while maintaining vibration attenuation effectiveness, making the solution economically viable for widespread building application
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 friction damper effectively attenuates structural vibrations caused by earthquakes and winds, offering a cost-effective and design-restricted solution for a wide range of structures, reducing maintenance needs and enhancing seismic protection.
Implementation Method 1
the friction damper may include a first frictional mechanism configured to resist against movement of the first slotted-bar through generating a friction force
Data Source
AI summary
A friction damper for attenuating vibrations of a structure. The friction damper includes a first connecting member configured to be attached to a first member of the structure, a second connecting member configured to be attached to a second member of the structure, a first slotted-bar interconnected between the first connecting member and the second connecting member, and a second slotted-bar interconnected between the first connecting member and the second connecting member. The first slotted-bar and the second-slotted bar are configured to allow horizontal and vertical movements of the first connecting member and the second connecting member relative to each other responsive to vibration of the structure.