U.S. patent application number 13/751773 was filed with the patent office on 2013-06-06 for buckling restrained brace.
This patent application is currently assigned to NATIONAL APPLIED RESEARCH LABORATORIES. The applicant listed for this patent is NATIONAL APPLIED RESEARCH LABORATORIES. Invention is credited to Pao-Chun LIN, Keh-Chyuan TSAI, Chih-Yu WEI, An-Chien WU.
Application Number | 20130139452 13/751773 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 48522991 |
Filed Date | 2013-06-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130139452 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
TSAI; Keh-Chyuan ; et
al. |
June 6, 2013 |
BUCKLING RESTRAINED BRACE
Abstract
A buckling restrained brace includes an axial member, a
plurality of restraining members, and a plurality of securing
units. The axial member includes a middle section extending in an
axial direction, and two coupling sections extending respectively
from opposite ends of the middle section and coupled fixedly to two
connecting plates of a framework of a building. The restraining
members extend in the axial direction and are disposed around and
contact the axial member. Each securing unit secures an adjacent
pair of the restraining members together. Each restraining member
cooperates with an adjacent one of the restraining members to
define an opening therebetween through which a portion of the axial
member is exposed for viewing.
Inventors: |
TSAI; Keh-Chyuan; (Taipei
City, TW) ; WU; An-Chien; (Taipei City, TW) ;
WEI; Chih-Yu; (Taoyuan County, TW) ; LIN;
Pao-Chun; (Taipei City, TW) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
NATIONAL APPLIED RESEARCH LABORATORIES; |
Taipei City |
|
TW |
|
|
Assignee: |
NATIONAL APPLIED RESEARCH
LABORATORIES
Taipei City
TW
|
Family ID: |
48522991 |
Appl. No.: |
13/751773 |
Filed: |
January 28, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
13106397 |
May 12, 2011 |
|
|
|
13751773 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
52/167.3 ;
52/653.1; 52/655.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04B 1/98 20130101; E04H
9/02 20130101; E04H 9/0237 20200501; E04C 2003/026 20130101; E04B
1/1903 20130101; E04H 9/028 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
52/167.3 ;
52/655.1; 52/653.1 |
International
Class: |
E04B 1/98 20060101
E04B001/98; E04B 1/19 20060101 E04B001/19 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 18, 2011 |
TW |
100109344 |
Claims
1. A buckling restrained brace adapted to be connected fixedly
between two connecting plates of a framework of a building, said
buckling restrained brace comprising: an axial member including a
middle section that extends in an axial direction and that has
opposite ends in the axial direction, and a pair of coupling
sections that extend respectively from said opposite ends of said
middle section and that are adapted to be coupled fixedly to the
connecting plates, respectively; a plurality of restraining members
that extend in the axial direction, and that are disposed around
and contacting said axial member, each of said restraining members
having a surface that contacts a surface of said axial member and
that has a contour substantially the same as that of said surface
of said axial member; and a plurality of securing units, each of
which secures an adjacent pair of said restraining members
together; wherein each of said restraining members cooperates with
an adjacent one of said restraining members to define an opening
therebetween through which a portion of said axial member is
exposed for viewing.
2. The buckling restrained brace as claimed in claim 1, wherein a
ratio of a width of said surface of each of said restraining
members to that of said surface of said axial member ranges from
0.1 to 2.0.
3. The buckling restrained brace as claimed in claim 1, wherein
each of said securing units includes: a pair of connecting
components extending in the axial direction, located adjacent to
said opening of the adjacent pair of said restraining members, and
connected respectively to the adjacent pair of said restraining
members; and a plurality of fastening units spaced apart from each
other in the axial direction and fastening said connecting
components together.
4. The buckling restrained brace as claimed in claim 3, wherein
each of said fastening units of each of said securing units is
configured as a solder fitted between a corresponding pair of said
connecting components.
5. The buckling restrained brace as claimed in claim 3, wherein
each of said fastening units of each of said securing units
includes a bolt extending through a corresponding pair of said
connecting components, and a nut secured threadedly to said
bolt.
6. The buckling restrained brace as claimed in claim 3, wherein
each of said securing units further includes a plurality of
spaced-apart reinforcing members spaced apart from said fastening
units in the axial direction and fitted between a corresponding
pair of said connecting components.
7. The buckling restrained brace as claimed in claim 1, wherein
each of said securing units includes a bolt extending through the
adjacent pair of said restraining members, and a nut secured
threadedly to said bolt.
8. A building comprising: a wall structure including a pair of
spaced-apart wall plates, one of said wall plates being formed with
a through hole; and a framework disposed between said wall plates,
and including a pair of connecting plates and a buckling restrained
brace that is connected fixedly between said connecting plates, and
that includes an axial member including a middle section that
extends in an axial direction and that has opposite ends in the
axial direction, and a pair of coupling sections that extend
respectively from said opposite ends of said middle section and
that are coupled fixedly to the connecting plates, respectively, a
plurality of restraining members extending in the axial direction,
and disposed around and contacting said axial member, and a
plurality of securing units, each of which secures an adjacent pair
of said restraining members together, wherein each of said
restraining members cooperates with an adjacent one of said
restraining members to define an opening therebetween, one of said
openings being registered with said through hole of said one of
said wall plates so that a portion of said axial member is exposed
for viewing.
9. A structure comprising: a structure body; and a framework
disposed in said structure body and including a pair of connecting
plates and a buckling restrained brace that is connected fixedly
between said connecting plates, and that includes an axial member
including a middle section that extends in an axial direction and
that has opposite ends in the axial direction, and a pair of
coupling sections that extend respectively from said opposite ends
of said middle section and that are coupled fixedly and to said
connecting plates, respectively, a plurality of restraining members
extending in the axial direction, and disposed around and
contacting said axial member, and a plurality of securing units,
each of which secures an adjacent pair of said restraining members
together, wherein each of said restraining members cooperates with
an adjacent one of said restraining members to define an opening
therebetween through which a portion of said axial member is
exposed for viewing.
10. The structure as claimed in claim 9, wherein each of said
restraining members of said framework has a surface that contacts a
portion of said axial member of said framework and that has a
contour substantially the same as that of said surface of said
axial member.
11. The structure as claimed in claim 10, wherein a ratio of a
width of said surface of each of said restraining members to that
of said surface of said axial member ranges from 0.1 to 2.0.
12. The structure as claimed in claim 9, wherein said structure
body includes a pair of spaced-apart wall plates, one of said wall
plates being formed with a through hole, one of said openings being
registered with said through hole.
13. The structure as claimed in claim 9, wherein said structure is
one of a building, a bridge, a wharf, a dam, a tower, an electrical
tower and a tunnel.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part (CIP) of
co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/106,397, filed on
May 12, 2011, and abandoned as of the filing date of this
application.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The invention relates to a buckling restrained brace, more
particularly to a buckling restrained brace that includes an axial
member visible from the outside of a wall structure in which the
buckling restrained brace is embedded.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Concentrically braced frames are generally used in a
framework of a building for enhancing economically the lateral
stiffness of the framework to resist lateral force of an
earthquake. A buckling restrained brace, which is a kind of the
concentrically braced frames, is particularly configured to have a
relatively full hysteresis loop for effectively absorbing vibration
energy generated by the earthquake so as to minimize damage to the
framework resulting from the shock of the earthquake. A
conventional buckling restrained brace generally includes an axial
member that is surrounded fixedly by a restraining member, and that
is not visible from the outside of the restraining member. As a
result, the restraining member has to be destroyed before an
examination as to whether the axial member needs to be changed may
be made. However, once the restraining member is destroyed, the
entire buckling restrained brace would be damaged and has to be
replaced by a new one, regardless of whether the axial member was
damaged by the shock of the earthquake.
[0006] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, Taiwanese Patent No. 0219077
discloses another conventional buckling restrained brace 9 that
comprises an elongated axial member 91 having a cross-shaped cross
section, and four restraining members 92 disposed around and
contacting the axial member 91. The conventional buckling
restrained brace 9 further comprises a pair of U-shaped steel
clamping members 97, four angled steel components 90, and a pair of
intermediate blocks 99. The clamping members 97 are disposed in a
manner that each of the clamping members 97 contains two of the
restraining members 92 therein, and that opposite ends of one of
the clamping members 97 are adjacent to opposite ends of the other
one of the clamping members 97, respectively. The angled steel
components 90 are connected respectively to opposite ends of the
clamping members 97. Each of the intermediate blocks 99 is fitted
between an adjacent pair of the angled steel components 90. Each
adjacent pair of the angled steel components 90 are secured
together by a securing unit 98, which includes a bolt that extends
through the adjacent pair of the angled steel components 90 and a
nut that is secured to the bolt. As such, the clamping members 97
can be removed reattachably from the restraining members 92 before
conducting damage examination of the axial member 91. However,
since the conventional buckling restrained brace 9 is embedded in a
wall structure, a part of the wall structure has to be broken
before the clamping members 97 can be removed. Accordingly, the
damage examination procedure of the conventional buckling
restrained brace 9 is still relatively troublesome.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide
a buckling restrained brace which can be easily examined after
being subjected to shock of an earthquake.
[0008] Accordingly, a buckling restrained brace of the present
invention is adapted to be connected fixedly between two connecting
plates of a framework of a building. The buckling restrained brace
comprises an axial member, a plurality of restraining members, and
a plurality of securing units. The axial member includes a middle
section that extends in an axial direction and that has opposite
ends in the axial direction, and a pair of coupling sections that
extend respectively from the opposite ends of the middle section
and that are adapted to be coupled fixedly to the connecting
plates, respectively. The restraining members extend in the axial
direction, and are disposed around and contact the axial member.
Each of the securing units secures an adjacent pair of the
restraining members together. Each of the restraining members
cooperates with an adjacent one of the restraining members to
define an opening therebetween through which a portion of the axial
member is exposed for viewing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] Other features and advantages of the present invention will
become apparent in the following detailed description of the
preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings,
of which:
[0010] FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a conventional buckling
restrained brace disclosed in Taiwanese Patent No. 0219077;
[0011] FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the conventional buckling
restrained brace disclosed in Taiwanese Patent No. 0219077;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a first preferred embodiment
of a buckling restrained brace according to the invention which is
connected to a steel framework;
[0013] FIG. 4 is a fragmentary partly cutaway perspective view of
the first preferred embodiment, illustrating a plurality of
restraining members disposed around an axial member and secured
together by a plurality of securing units;
[0014] FIG. 5 is another fragmentary partly cutaway perspective
view of the first preferred embodiment, illustrating a plurality of
modified restraining members disposed around a modified axial
member and secured together by a plurality of modified securing
units;
[0015] FIG. 6 is a fragmentary partly cutaway perspective view of a
wall structure mounted with the first preferred embodiment;
[0016] FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the first preferred embodiment
having another form of modified restraining members;
[0017] FIG. 8 is another sectional view of the first preferred
embodiment having yet another form of modified restraining
members;
[0018] FIG. 9 is another fragmentary partly cutaway perspective
view of the first preferred embodiment, illustrating modified
securing units;
[0019] FIG. 10 is a sectional view of a second preferred embodiment
of the buckling restrained brace according to the invention,
illustrating the restraining members mounted respectively with
enhancing components;
[0020] FIG. 11 is another sectional view of the second preferred
embodiment, illustrating the restraining members mounted
respectively with modified enhancing components;
[0021] FIG. 12 is still another sectional view of the second
preferred embodiment having another form of modified restraining
members;
[0022] FIG. 13 is a fragmentary partly cutaway perspective view of
the second preferred embodiment having yet another form of modified
restraining members;
[0023] FIG. 14 is a sectional view of a third preferred embodiment
of the buckling restrained brace according to the invention;
[0024] FIG. 15 is a fragmentary partly cutaway perspective view of
the third preferred embodiment, illustrating modified securing
units; and
[0025] FIG. 16 is a sectional view of a fourth preferred embodiment
of the buckling restrained brace according to the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0026] Before the present invention is described in greater detail,
it should be noted that like elements are denoted by the same
reference numerals throughout the disclosure.
[0027] As shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, the first preferred embodiment of
a buckling restrained brace according to the present invention is
adapted to be connected fixedly between two connecting plates 6 of
a framework 5 of a structure. The structure is, for example, a
building, a bridge, a wharf, a dam, a tower, an electrical tower or
a tunnel. The structure includes a structure body connected to the
framework 5. In this embodiment, the structure is a building, and
the structure body has a wall structure that includes a pair of
spaced-apart wall plates 9 (only one is shown in FIG. 6). One of
the wall plates 9 is formed with a through hole 92. The framework 5
and the buckling restrained brace of this invention are disposed
between the wall plates 9. The buckling restrained brace comprises
an axial member 1, a restraining unit 2, and a plurality of
securing units 30.
[0028] The axial member 1 is configured as an elongated steel
plate, and includes a middle section 11 extending in an axial
direction (L) and having opposite ends in the axial direction (L),
and a pair of coupling sections 12 extending respectively from the
opposite ends of the middle section 11 and adapted to be coupled
fixedly and respectively to the connecting plates 6 through a
variety of joints, such as butt joints, lap joints, and so on.
[0029] The restraining unit 2 includes a plurality of restraining
members 21 extending in the axial direction (L) and disposed around
and contacting the axial member 1. In this embodiment, the
restraining unit 2 includes a pair of restraining members 21
clamping the axial member 1 therebetween. Each of the restraining
members is configured as a steel rectangular tube. The restraining
members 21 cooperate with each other to define two openings 20
therebetween. One of the openings 20 is registered with the through
hole 92 in the one of the wall plates 9, such that a portion of the
axial member 1 is exposed for viewing from the outside of one of
the wall plates 9 through the through hole 92.
[0030] Each of the restraining members 21 has a surface 2101 that
contacts a surface 101 of the axial member 1, and that has a
contour substantially the same as that of the surface 101 of the
axial member 1. Preferably, a ratio of a width of the surface 2101
of each of the restraining members 21 to that of the surface 101 of
the axial member 1 ranges from 0.1 to 2.0. FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate
two variations of the axial member 1 and the corresponding
restraining members 21. As such, the axial member 1 can be clearly
viewed through the one of the openings 20 which is registered with
the through hole 92 for examination, and obstruction to the viewing
of the axial member 1 due to overly large size of the restraining
members 21 may be prevented.
[0031] As shown in FIG. 7, each restraining member 21 may be
modified to be solid with a T-shaped cross-section. Each
restraining member 21 has a base wall 211 abutting against the
middle section 11 of the axial member 1 and an extending wall 212
extending from a central portion of the base wall 211 in a
direction away from the axial member 1. Referring to FIG. 8, each
restraining member 21 may also be modified to be U-shaped and to
have a base wall 211' abutting against the middle section 11 of the
axial member 1 and two extending walls 212' extending respectively
from opposite lateral ends of the base wall 211' in the direction
away from the axial member 1.
[0032] Each of the securing units 30 includes a pair of
spaced-apart connecting components 3 and a plurality of fastening
units 4. The connecting components 3 extend in the axial direction
(L), are located adjacent to a respective one of the openings 20,
and are connected respectively to the restraining members 21. In
this embodiment, the fastening units 4 of each securing unit 30 are
spaced-apart from each other in the axial direction (L), and each
of which is configured as a solder 41 fitted between the connecting
components 3 of a corresponding one of the securing units 30 for
securing the connecting components 3 together. Preferably, each of
the securing units 30 further includes a plurality of spaced-apart
reinforcing members 43 that are spaced apart from the fastening
units 4 in the axial direction (L) and fitted between the
connecting components 3 of the corresponding one of the securing
units 30. As shown in FIG. 9, each of the fastening units 4 may be
modified to include a bolt 42 extending through the corresponding
one of the securing units 30 for securing the connecting components
3, and a nut 45 secured threadedly to the bolt 42. Preferably, each
of the fastening units 4 further includes a plurality of
intermediate blocks 44, each of which is provided between the
connecting components 3 of the corresponding one of the securing
units 30 for extension of the bolt 42.
[0033] Since the axial member 1 is visible through the through hole
92, it can be directly examined after suffering from shock of an
earthquake without requiring removal of the restraining unit 2 from
the axial member 1.
[0034] As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the second preferred embodiment
of the buckling restrained brace according to the present invention
has a structure similar to that of the first embodiment. The main
difference between this embodiment and the previous embodiment
resides in the following. In this embodiment, the restraining unit
2 further includes a plurality of enhancing components 24 connected
to the restraining members 21 for enhancing structural strength to
resist buckling of the buckling restrained brace in the
cross-sectional direction. Each enhancing component 24 may be
configured to be concrete (see FIG. 10) filled within the
corresponding one of the restraining members 21, or be configured
as a pair of spaced-apart steel plates (see FIG. 11), each having
opposite lateral edges abutting against an inner surface of the
hollow restraining member 21.
[0035] In addition, referring to FIG. 12, each of the securing
units 30 may be configured to have only the fastening unit 4, in
which the bolt 42 extends directly through the retaining members
21, and the nut 45 is secured threadedly to the bolt 42. Moreover,
as shown in FIG. 13, the restraining members 21 may be configured
to surround cooperatively the axial member 1 therebetween, i.e.,
each of the two restraining members 21 contains a half of the axial
member 1 therein, and the restraining members 21 are directly
connected to each other at lateral sides of the axial member 1. A
notch 217 is formed at the connected portions of the restraining
members 21 to be registered with one of the openings 20. The second
preferred embodiment has the same advantages as those of the first
preferred embodiment.
[0036] As shown in FIG. 14, the third preferred embodiment of the
buckling restrained brace according to the present invention has a
structure similar to that of the first preferred embodiment. The
main difference between this embodiment and the first preferred
embodiment resides in the following. In this embodiment, the axial
member 1 is formed to have a cross-shaped cross section, and the
restraining unit 2 includes four restraining members 21 disposed
around and abutting against the axial member 1. The connecting
components 3 of each of the securing units 30 are located adjacent
to the opening 20 between an adjacent pair of the restraining
members 21, and are connected respectively to the adjacent pair of
the restraining members 21. Each of the connecting components 3 may
be configured as an angled steel component, or a sheet steel
component (see FIG. 15) soldered to the adjacent pair of the
restraining members 21 by virtue of the solders 41. The third
preferred embodiment has the same advantages as those of the first
preferred embodiment.
[0037] As shown in FIG. 16, the fourth preferred embodiment of the
buckling restrained brace according to the present invention has a
structure similar to that of the third preferred embodiment. The
main difference between this embodiment and the third preferred
embodiment resides in the following. In this embodiment, the
buckling restrained brace comprises a pair of axial members 1 and
three restraining members 21 that are alternately disposed (i.e.,
each axial member 1 is clamped between an adjacent pair of the
restraining members 21).
[0038] While the present invention has been described in connection
with what are considered the most practical and preferred
embodiments, it is understood that this invention is not limited to
the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various
arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest
interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and
equivalent arrangements.
* * * * *