Volumetric Compression Restrainer Bridge Displacement Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing restrainers for bridges, such as those made of steel cables or rods, have limitations including small elastic strain range and limited ductility, leading to excessive displacement and damage during earthquakes or vibrations, and existing solutions like shock absorbers and elastomeric dampers are either costly, sensitive to ground motion, or deteriorate over time.
Innovation Solution
A volumetric compression restrainer with a C-shaped outer casing, parallel partitions, an inner core, hollow plates, and hyperelastic damping means, which provides incremental stiffness and resistance to prevent excessive displacement by distributing force through the partitions and hollow plates, and connecting means for secure installation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional steel cable or rod restrainers are used, then the structure can provide basic restraint, but the elastic strain range and ductility capacity are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a composite structure consisting of steel members (for strength and rigidity) combined with rubber bearings (for elasticity and damping). This composite approach allows the restrainer to achieve both high strength and large elastic strain range, overcoming the limitations of traditional steel-only restrainers. The rubber bearings provide ductility capacity while the steel components provide structural integrity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If new materials or dissipating devices are used to improve restrainer performance, then the elastic strain range and ductility are enhanced, but the cost increases and durability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the viscoelastic properties of rubber materials, changing the physical parameters of the restrainer system. The rubber bearings exhibit non-linear stress-strain behavior with hysteresis damping, providing energy dissipation while maintaining durability. This parameter-based approach using well-established rubber material properties achieves enhanced ductility without the high costs and durability issues of experimental dissipating devices.
3Loss of energy
If shock absorber with high damping rubber is used, then damping force is provided, but excessive displacement occurs during strong earthquakes or vibrations
Solution Approach 1:
The restrainer is segmented into multiple functional components: steel members for providing high resistance force, rubber bearings for damping, and hollow plates with partitions for structural support. This segmentation allows each component to specialize in its function - the steel members handle high forces during strong vibrations while the rubber bearings provide damping, preventing the excessive displacement problem of single-function shock absorbers.
4Loss of energy
If elastomeric damper with unbonded portions is used, then friction-like damping occurs under large strains, but the configuration lacks sufficient support to hold vibration and movement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the bonded and unbonded configurations into a unified design where rubber damping means are wrapped around the inner core and positioned between partitions and hollow plates. This merging provides both the friction-like damping of unbonded portions and the structural support of bonded portions, simultaneously achieving energy dissipation and vibration control without the weaknesses of either approach alone.
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 restrainer effectively limits displacement within a safe range, preventing pounding and unseating in bridges by generating a high resistance force, as demonstrated by stable reaction force graphs and reduced structural damage during cyclic displacements.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of damping means (105) wrapped over the inner core (103), arranged in a manner of the plurality of damping means (105) positioned between the plurality of partitions (102) and the plurality of hollow plates (104)
Implementation Method 2
The elastomeric material has at least a first and a second portion. The first portion is bonded or connected to both the inner member and outer member such that no slippage occurs between the members and the material. The second portion is not bonded or connected to at least one of the inner and outer members such that slippage may occur. This leads to friction-like damping under large strains.
Implementation Method 3
Said central strut absorbs energy at high weight-specific levels by virtue of the hysteresis in its load-deflection relationship.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a volumetric compression restrainer (100), characterised by: an outer casing (101) comprising a pair of C-shaped structures interconnected to one another to form a cylinder; a plurality of partitions (102) arranged in a parallel manner along length of an inner surface of the pair of C-shaped structures with a spacing therebetween; an inner core (103) extending through the outer casing (101), whereby the plurality of partitions (102) enclosed the inner core (103); a plurality of hollow plates (104) mounted on the inner core (103), for spacing and upholding the inner core (103); a plurality of damping means (105) wrapped over the inner core (103), arranged in a manner of the plurality of damping means (105) positioned between the plurality of partitions (102) and the plurality of hollow plates (104); and a connecting means having a front connector (106) engaged to one end of the inner core (103) and an end connector (107) engaged to the other end of the inner core (103), for installing the volumetric compression restrainer (100) to a structure joint.