Self-centering Cable with Disc Spring and Mild Steel Energy Dissipation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing self-restoring energy-dissipative braces in civil engineering are complex, expensive, and suffer from high self-weight, unstable energy dissipation, and low material strength utilization, with issues like compressive buckling and high prestress losses, especially during strong earthquakes.
Innovation Solution
A self-centering cable with metal-based energy-dissipation using a restoring and energy-dissipation unit comprising a disc spring set, axial tube, inverted U-shaped mild steel members, and high-strength tensile reinforcement, which provides a simple structure for energy dissipation and restoring force through plastic deformation of mild steel members, avoiding buckling and allowing precise adjustment of pre-pressure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If bidirectional load-carrying braces are used to avoid compressive buckling and achieve resetting effect, then the structure gains self-restoring capability, but the brace configuration becomes complex and construction cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The brace is segmented into distinct functional components: disc springs for restoring force, mild steel members for energy dissipation, and high-strength steel for load carrying. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function optimally while simplifying the overall configuration and reducing construction complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple functions into a unified brace system that integrates energy dissipation, restoring force generation, and load carrying capabilities in a single structured assembly, eliminating the need for separate bidirectional load-carrying mechanisms and reducing overall structural complexity.
2Reliability
If steel strands or FRP reinforcements are used as restoring force sources, then the brace achieves self-restoring function, but anchoring requirements become strict and prestress losses increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive, prestress-loss-prone materials like steel strands and FRP with a more economical and stable disc spring mechanism. The disc springs provide consistent restoring force without the anchoring issues and prestress losses associated with tendon-based systems, effectively substituting a problematic component with a more reliable alternative.
3Reliability
If memory alloy materials are used for restoring force, then the brace achieves self-restoring capability, but the material cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes expensive memory alloy materials with economical disc springs made from conventional materials. The disc springs achieve the same self-restoring capability at a fraction of the cost, making the technology economically viable for widespread seismic retrofit applications.
4Reliability
If plastic deformation energy dissipation of metal is used, then energy dissipation stability is achieved, but the mild steel members may undergo buckling under compression
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the compressive and tensile load paths by using the outer trough and axial tube to carry compression while the mild steel members specifically handle energy dissipation through controlled plastic deformation in tension. This segmentation prevents buckling of the energy-dissipating mild steel members by isolating them from direct compressive loads.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite structural system combining outer trough, axial tube, and mild steel members where each material is optimized for its specific function. The high-strength outer components protect the mild steel energy-dissipating elements from buckling while allowing them to perform plastic deformation for energy dissipation.
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 solution reduces costs and self-weight, enhances energy dissipation stability, and improves material strength utilization, offering a more efficient and cost-effective seismic retrofit solution with improved construction efficiency and safety.
Implementation Method 1
a disc spring set disposed in the outer trough and sleeved on the axial tube
Implementation Method 2
uses plastic yielding of the inverted U-shaped mild steel member to dissipate seismic energy
Implementation Method 3
a pre-pressure is applied to the disc spring set sleeved on the axial tube
Data Source
AI summary
A self-centering cable includes a restoring and energy-dissipation unit and a cable reinforcement connected to the restoring and energy-dissipation unit by a connecting unit. The restoring and energy-dissipation unit includes an outer trough, an axial tube provided in an opening at the upper end of the outer trough, two inverted U-shaped mild steel members provided side by side and fixedly mounted in the outer trough, an axial pallet sandwiched between and fixedly connected to the two inverted U-shaped mild steel members, and a disc spring set provided in the outer trough and sleeved onto the axial tube. The cable reinforcement includes a tensile reinforcement penetrating into a reinforcement bottom connector and a reinforcement top connector. The reinforcement bottom connector is connected to the axial tube, the top end connector, connected to the reinforcement top connector, and a bottom end connector are connected to a structure to be reinforced.