Seismic Attachment Assembly for Non-Structural Building Components
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional seismic supporting systems for non-structural components in buildings often apply excessive compressive force, leading to structural damage and inability to inhibit movement, particularly during seismic events.
Innovation Solution
The development of attachment devices that include a non-structural component holder with a receiving space that applies no compressive force, combined with stops that inhibit movement relative to the holder, ensuring the non-structural component can move freely while being secured to a structural component without deformation or damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional clamps are used to secure non-structural components, then the component is restrained from movement, but excessive compressive force is applied causing structural damage
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment device is divided into separate functional components: a holder that provides structural support and stops that provide movement restraint. This segmentation allows the holder to support the component without applying compressive force, while the stops independently prevent excessive movement during seismic events.
Solution Approach 2:
The holder acts as an intermediary between the non-structural component and the structural building elements. It provides a receiving space that cradles the component without compression, mediating the interaction to prevent direct transmission of harmful compressive forces while maintaining secure attachment.
2Stability of the object's composition
If conventional clamps apply compressive force to inhibit movement, then movement is restrained, but the non-structural component cannot move freely causing deformation
Solution Approach 1:
Different parts of the attachment device have different functional properties: the holder provides a spacious receiving area that allows free movement and deformation accommodation, while the stops provide localized restraint at specific points to prevent excessive displacement. This local differentiation of qualities resolves the contradiction between stability and movement freedom.
Solution Approach 2:
The attachment device dynamically adapts to component movement during seismic events. The holder's receiving space accommodates elastic deformation and movement, while the stops engage only when movement exceeds acceptable limits. This dynamic response allows the system to maintain both stability and movement freedom under different conditions.
3Stability of the object's composition
If stops are added to inhibit rotational movement, then rotational stability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The stops are merged with the holder as an integrated assembly rather than separate components. The stops extend from the holder in a unified structure, combining the support and restraint functions into a single device. This merging reduces overall system complexity while providing comprehensive movement control including rotational restraint.
Data Source
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AI summary
An attachment device (100) for securing a non-structural component of a building to a structural component of the building includes a non-structural component holder (102) defining a receiving space configured to receive the non-structural component to couple the non-structural component to the attachment device. The non-structural component holder applies generally no compressive force against the non-structural component when the non-structural component is disposed in the receiving space so that the non-structural component is free to move relative to the non-structural component holder. A stop (150) is configured to be secured to the non-structural component. The stop is configured to engage the non-structural component holder to inhibit movement of the non-structural component relative to the non-structural component holder when the stop and non-structural component holder are secured to the non-structural component.