Structural Fuse With Integral Spacers for Stable Yielding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing structural fuses require separate spacers that must match the fuse plate in thickness and grain properties for even load distribution, which can be challenging to fabricate and install, and may lead to misalignment and inefficiencies in energy dissipation during seismic and other loads.
Innovation Solution
The structural fuse integrates spacers as part of the fuse plate, ensuring they remain attached and aligned with the plate, providing uniform properties and simplified fabrication, and preventing buckling through a buckling restraint plate that sandwiches the yield section.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If separate spacers are used that must match the fuse plate in thickness and grain properties, then load distribution can be even, but fabrication and installation become challenging and may lead to misalignment
Solution Approach 1:
The spacers are integrated as part of the fuse plate, forming a single unified component. This merging eliminates the need for separate spacer fabrication and installation, ensuring perfect thickness matching and grain alignment while simplifying the manufacturing process. The integrated design guarantees consistent load distribution without the alignment challenges of separate components.
2Manufacturing precision
If separate spacers are used, then load distribution can be even, but installation time and risk of misalignment increase
Solution Approach 1:
By combining the spacers and fuse plate into a single integrated component, the installation process is simplified to installing one piece rather than multiple separate parts. This eliminates the time-consuming alignment and fastening operations required for separate spacers, reducing installation time while maintaining perfect load distribution uniformity.
3Manufacturing precision
If separate spacers are used, then load distribution can be even, but the number of parts and assembly steps increase
Solution Approach 1:
The integration of spacers into the fuse plate reduces the total number of discrete parts in the structural fuse assembly. This single-component design eliminates the need for separate spacer fabrication, handling, and installation steps, simplifying the overall device complexity while ensuring consistent load distribution through the integrated thickness and grain structure.
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
This configuration ensures consistent load distribution, stable yielding, and efficient energy dissipation during loads, with reduced risk of buckling and simplified installation, as the spacers and fuse plate maintain uniform thickness and grain alignment, allowing for predictable and controlled structural response.
Implementation Method 1
a reduced diameter yield section configured to yield at loads on the structural fuse above a threshold
Data Source
AI summary
A structural fuse is disclosed including a fuse base and a fuse plate extending from the fuse base. The fuse plate may include a reduced diameter yield section configured to yield at loads on the structural fuse above a threshold. The reduced diameter yield section includes a pair of slots on either side of the yield section, which slots receive a pair of spacers. The spacers are integrally formed as part of the fuse plate, and remain attached to the fuse plate during fabrication of the structural fuse.