Rocking Self-Centering Structure With Hinge-Guided Seismic Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current rocking self-centering structures face challenges in stability, complexity, and high construction costs due to the need for special materials like post-tensioned prestressed tendons, complicating their design and application in building structures.
Innovation Solution
A rocking self-centering seismic and vibration prevention structure with a support mounting layer featuring rotational hinge supports and vertical tension-compression supports that allow rigid body rotation, limiting translational displacement, and incorporating energy dissipation devices to absorb seismic energy, reducing reliance on ductility design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If rocking self-centering structures use special materials like post-tensioned prestressed tendons to ensure stability and self-centering capability, then the anti-seismic performance and functional recovery are improved, but the device complexity and construction difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the self-centering function from complex post-tensioned prestressed tendons and implements it through a simpler rocking mechanism with geometric constraints. The self-centering capability is achieved through the rocking action itself and the arrangement of support points, eliminating the need for complex tensioning systems while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The structure is segmented into distinct functional components: the rocking body, the support points, and the geometric constraint mechanisms. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, simplifying the overall construction while maintaining the self-centering capability through the coordinated action of these segments.
2Strength
If rocking self-centering structures implement strict ductility design requirements to ensure stability during earthquakes, then the structural strength is improved, but the construction cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of designing structures to be overly ductile and complex to withstand earthquakes, the patent inverts the approach by allowing controlled rocking motion. The structure is designed to rock in a predetermined manner rather than resisting deformation through complex ductility, thereby reducing design complexity while maintaining strength through the rocking mechanism itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from static ductility design to dynamic rocking behavior. The structure is designed to undergo controlled rocking motion during earthquakes, which simplifies the design requirements compared to traditional ductility-based approaches. The dynamic rocking action naturally dissipates energy without requiring complex ductility design, reducing both construction cost and complexity.
3Manufacturing precision
If rocking self-centering structures are designed to rock stably during earthquakes, then residual displacement is reduced, but the device complexity increases due to multiple design factors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs asymmetric arrangement of support points and geometric constraints to achieve stable rocking behavior. The asymmetric configuration of the rocking mechanism naturally controls residual displacement through the rocking action itself, eliminating the need for complex symmetric design systems and reducing overall design complexity while maintaining precision.
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 structure effectively controls residual displacement and damage under strong seismic motions, facilitating rapid recovery and reducing construction costs through stable rocking and energy dissipation, suitable for rigid structures with enhanced anti-seismic resilience.
Implementation Method 1
a lower end connected to the foundation via a rotational hinge support; and the rotational hinge support allows the upper structure to generate rotational displacement and simultaneously limit the translational displacement of the upper structure in the horizontal direction
Implementation Method 2
the vertical tension-compression supports do not constrain the lateral displacement of the upper structure, only provide compressive bearing capacity
Implementation Method 3
incorporating energy dissipation devices to absorb seismic energy
Data Source
AI summary
A rocking self-centering seismic/vibration prevention structure facilitating overall regulation includes an upper structure, a support mounting layer provided with an inner vertical member at a position of a plane centroid of the upper structure, and a foundation. Edge vertical members are arranged at intervals at a periphery of the upper structure in a contour direction thereof; the inner vertical member has an upper end connected to the upper structure, and a lower end connected to the foundation through a rotational hinge support for allowing the upper structure to generate rotational displacement and simultaneously limit translational displacement of the upper structure in a horizontal direction; vertical tension-compression supports mounted at the edge vertical members do not constrain lateral displacement of the upper structure, only provide compressive bearing capacity, and do not bear shear bearing capacity in the horizontal direction.