Structural Joint with Bars for Seismic Beam Orientation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing structural joints face challenges in accommodating relative movement between structural blocks during seismic events due to geometric and functional constraints, making it difficult to provide adequate space for tubular elements to allow for necessary movement without interfering with the structural blocks.
Innovation Solution
A structural joint comprising deformable beams and elastically deformable covering elements, supported by bars that prevent rotation and maintain vertical orientation, allowing for significant relative movement between structural blocks without requiring adaptations on the blocks themselves.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If rigid tubular elements are used to maintain vertical orientation of beams, then reliability of beam orientation is improved, but adaptability to different structural block configurations deteriorates due to space requirements inside structural blocks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the orientation-maintaining function from the rigid tubular elements and transfers it to the bars. The bars are placed in the interspace between structural blocks rather than inside them, eliminating the need for internal space while maintaining the same functional effect of preventing beam tilting or jamming.
Solution Approach 2:
The bars act as intermediary elements between the beams and the ground, providing vertical support and orientation maintenance without requiring integration into the structural blocks themselves. This intermediary approach allows the system to maintain reliability while improving adaptability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If beams are allowed to move closer or further apart to accommodate relative movement, then adaptability to seismic motion is improved, but structural complexity increases due to the need for sliding mechanisms along tubular elements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the sliding mechanism complexity by extracting the orientation-maintaining function from the tubular elements and assigning it to the bars. This eliminates the need for complex sliding interactions while preserving the beams' ability to move freely and accommodate seismic motion.
3Reliability
If adequate space is provided inside structural blocks for tubular elements to enter during block approach, then reliability of movement accommodation is improved, but ease of manufacture deteriorates due to geometric and functional constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the movement accommodation function from the internal tubular element configuration and relocates it to the external bar system in the interspace. This eliminates the need to modify structural blocks to provide internal space, significantly improving ease of manufacture while maintaining reliable movement accommodation.
Solution Approach 2:
The bars serve as intermediary elements that facilitate movement accommodation without requiring integration into the structural blocks. This intermediary solution maintains reliability while simplifying construction by eliminating the need for geometric modifications to the blocks.
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
Ensures continuity of the walking surface and allows a broad range of relative motion between structural blocks, maintaining integrity and versatility while being cost-effective and easy to implement using commonly available materials.
Implementation Method 1
These strips are provided in an accordion-like manner, so that they can expand or contract elastically and accommodate the relative movements of one structural block with respect to the other
Implementation Method 2
at least one bar (5) for contrasting the rotation of the beams (2) about rotation axes which are parallel to their longitudinal axes, is interposed between each pair of adjacent beams (2)
Data Source
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AI summary
A structural joint, which can be arranged at an interspace (A) between two structural blocks (B) and comprises a plurality of beams (2) arranged side by side in a mutually parallel arrangement; the beams (2) are movable to vary the mutual center distance following corresponding spacing or approach movements between the structural blocks (B) and support respective deformable covering elements (3) which are arranged side by side, so as to form a sort of walkable mat (4) with variable extension. At least one bar (5) is interposed between each pair of adjacently arranged beams (2) in order to contrast the rotation of the beams (2) about rotation axes which are parallel to the longitudinal axes of the beams (2), each end (5a, 5b) of the bar (5) is mated to a respective beam (2) with a coupling at least of the rotary type, configured at least for a free rotation of the bar (5) with respect to the corresponding beam (2) about an axis that is perpendicular to the mat (4).