Self-Resetting Buckling-Restrained Brace with Friction Damping
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional buckling-restrained braces fail to dissipate energy during small earthquakes and lose rigidity post-buckling, leading to structural damage and high repair costs due to residual deformation.
Innovation Solution
A self-resetting buckling-restrained brace with Belleville springs and friction plates that consume earthquake energy through compression and tension, allowing the brace to reset post-earthquake.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If traditional buckling-restrained brace is used with high yield-bearing capacity, then the brace can resist strong earthquakes, but it cannot buckle in time during small earthquakes and cannot dissipate energy
Solution Approach 1:
The brace is divided into two functional parts: the outer sleeve steel pipe that provides structural strength and resistance, and the inner core material that buckles and dissipates energy. This segmentation allows the outer layer to maintain high yield-bearing capacity while the inner layer performs energy dissipation through controlled buckling, resolving the contradiction between strength and energy dissipation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state and mechanical properties of the inner core material by using expandable materials with specific elastic modulus and strength characteristics. The core material is designed to buckle at lower stresses than the outer sleeve, enabling it to dissipate energy during small earthquakes while the outer sleeve maintains overall structural strength.
2Use of energy by moving object
If traditional buckling-restrained brace buckles to dissipate energy, then energy consumption capacity improves, but the rigidity of the brace decreases rapidly after buckling
Solution Approach 1:
The brace is segmented into an outer sleeve steel pipe that maintains structural rigidity and an inner core material that buckles to dissipate energy. The outer sleeve continues to provide lateral resistance and structural stability even when the inner core has buckled, preventing rapid rigidity loss while maintaining energy dissipation capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The brace uses a composite structure combining the outer sleeve steel pipe with the inner core material (expandable material or unbonded sliding interface). This composite design allows the outer sleeve to maintain rigidity while the inner material provides energy dissipation through buckling, resolving the contradiction between energy consumption and rigidity retention.
3Force
If traditional buckling-restrained brace is used, then it provides lateral resistance, but it causes residual deformation and requires costly post-disaster repair
Solution Approach 1:
The brace is designed with self-resetting capability where the outer sleeve steel pipe and inner core material work together to automatically restore the brace's original position and load-bearing capacity after an earthquake. The outer sleeve guides the inner core back to its initial state, eliminating residual deformation and reducing repair costs without requiring external intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The inner core material is designed to be replaceable and recoverable. After buckling during an earthquake, the inner core can be quickly replaced or reset, while the outer sleeve remains intact and reusable. This approach minimizes damage and reduces repair costs by allowing rapid recovery of the brace's functional components.
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 self-resetting brace effectively dissipates earthquake energy, reduces structural damage, and minimizes residual deformation, facilitating faster recovery and cost savings.
Implementation Method 1
the compressed Belleville spring is sleeved outside the stabilization steel bar and is located between the fixed load-bearing plate and the sliding load-bearing plate
Implementation Method 2
the friction plates in contact with the stabilization steel bar are provided between the fixed load-bearing plate and the central positioning plate
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a self-resetting buckling-restrained brace, comprising a central positioning plate and secondary buckling-restrained units located on the left and right sides; the secondary buckling-restrained units each comprise a connection node, a brace core component, an outer sleeve steel pipe, a sliding load-bearing plate, a fixed load-bearing plate, a stabilization steel bar, steel frame braces, a Belleville spring and friction plates; the brace core component, the sliding load-bearing plate and the stabilization steel bar are connected in order and slide into the outer sleeve steel pipe; the middle portion of the brace core component penetrates through the outer sleeve steel pipe, and the outer end of the brace core component is fixedly connected to the connection node; the fixed load-bearing plate, the steel frame braces and the central positioning plate are connected in order, and an inner end of the stabilization steel bar penetrates through the fixed load-bearing plate; the friction plates in contact with the stabilization steel bar are provided between the fixed load-bearing plate and the central positioning plate; and the compressed Belleville spring is sleeved outside the stabilization steel bar. The present invention further relates to an energy consumption method by using the self-resetting buckling-restrained brace. The present invention has a simple structure, increases the bearing capacity of the main body structure, has a self-resetting capability, and belongs to the technical field of energy-consumption damping structures for buildings.