Patent Application
20240279955
Embodiments of the present invention relate to the field of vibration control of civil structures and more particularly relate to an energy dissipation device based on particle damping.
Natural disasters are catastrophic events with atmospheric, geological, and hydrological origins (e.g., droughts, earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, landslides) that can cause fatalities, property damage, and social environmental disruption.
Natural disasters pose a significant threat to structures and human lives. A substantial amount of seismic energy moves toward the structure through ground motion when earthquakes occur. This energy moves through the foundation to the superstructure members and dissipates through various mechanisms, such as the yielding of members and hysteresis, which can cause damage to those members and collapse the entire structure.
Many solutions are available to reduce the effect of natural disasters on structures as well as human lives. Energy dissipaters are used in different configurations in building and bridge structures. Bracings are also used with energy dissipaters. The bracings are used to provide lateral resistance against wind and/or earthquake loads, or between two adjacent structural members to absorb energy through a vertical shear sliding mechanism.
Seismic energy is the leading cause of building damage, and to protect structures, this energy must be redirected to another source or prevented from reaching the structure. There are many seismic control systems to be utilized, such as seismic resistance systems which allow the structure to absorb the energy but it results in huge environmental pollution and social costs due to the demolition, a seismic isolation system is another way to avoid damaging the structure since it separates the structure from the ground and makes it unaffected from the earthquake but it is costly to use on all structures and it is very hard to reinforce after earthquakes, a seismic damping system that absorbs the energy coming to the structure, and it is replaced after the device is damaged.
Many structural response control systems have been invented to reduce the amount of displacement or even acceleration that the structure undergoes whenever an earthquake occurs. These systems are categorized as active and passive control systems.
There are some traditional methods to make the structure capable of resisting seismic forces. These methods depend mainly on increasing the dimensions of the structural member (beams, columns, and shear walls). In contrast, structural response control systems don't affect the dimensions and the reinforcement in structural members. The above system utilizes an external device connected to specific locations on the structure, which increases the damping of the structure and helps it sustain the lateral loads.
Another example is US20180105135A1 discloses an energy dissipation device. The energy dissipation device having a longitudinal axis, with first and second members that are movable longitudinally relative to each other upon an axial load applied along the longitudinal axis of the device. A plurality of U-shaped flexural plates (UFPs) are arranged between the first and second members in the longitudinal direction of the device and operatively attached to the first and second members and configured to flex upon relative movement of the first and second members. An energy dissipation device may have at least one redundant yielding-type energy dissipater connected to one but not both first and second members.
But the above-disclosed patent has some disadvantages. The above device does not disclose a configuration that includes at least one movable plate that is inserted through a slot inside a container. The at least one movable plate is directly connected to an actuator. The above system does not include a damper that exhibits a force-displacement hysteresis loop by moving at least one beam from left to right or vice-versa. The device dissipated more energy if the force-displacement hysteresis loop gets wider. The above system only discloses the U-shaped flexural plates (UFPs) that are arranged between the first and second members in the longitudinal direction of the device.
Generally, the braces that are used in the above device structure do not have equal force in tension and compression, resulting in a phenomenon called ‘overstrength of the brace’. Overstrength behavior may damage structural members or adjacent connections. To compensate, the connections and other structural members must incorporate an overstrength factor resulting in bigger sections, which increases the cost of the device
However, such devices are costly and hard to manufacture at any workshop. The above device is either an active device or a passive device. Thus, it requires any source of power to operate it. Another disadvantage is the smoothness of the hysteresis loop. In compression, the corners of the hysteresis loop are not smooth and the damper that is used in the above-mentioned patent is not balanced, that is it is stronger in compression and weaker in tension. It is an object of at least preferred embodiments of the present invention to address and/or ameliorate at least one or more of the above-mentioned disadvantages and/or to at least provide the public with a useful alternative.
In order to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks, there is a need to provide a novel energy dissipation device that is cost-effective in nature that may be used as a solution for achieving a level of energy dissipation. Further, the device is passive in nature, thus, does not require any source of power to operate (e.g., electric power), and achieves good damping capacity.
An embodiment of the present disclosure relates to an energy dissipation device. The device includes a container, at least one movable plate, a slot, at least two holes, and at least two rods.
In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the container includes a top plate that is horizontally slotted on the container. The container is made of a welded thick steel plate. Further, the container is filled with a granular material that is any one of a particle, sand, aggregates of different sizes, or steel balls with specific diameters. The container is of any size and shape that is anyone of a rectangular shape, a cuboid shape, among others.
In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the energy dissipation device may also include the at least one movable plate that is inserted through the slot inside the container. The at least one movable plate is of any shape and size that is any one of a rectangular shape, a thick size, and a silhouette shape. The at least one movable plate includes a longitudinal part and a scoop part. Further, the at least two holes are mounted in the scoop part of the at least one movable plate through which the at least two rods are inserted.
The described implementations may also include one or more of the following features. The slot is of any shape and size that is anyone of a rectangular shape, a square shape, or a horizontal slot, among others.
In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the device may in addition include the at least two rods partially threaded at both sides of the container by using a plurality of bolts.
In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the energy dissipation device is used in many places like low-rise buildings or high-rise buildings, municipalities, road and transportation authorities, military (Ministry or Department of Defense), civil construction companies, and a railway department.
In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the energy dissipation device is a passive device that is designed to dissipate seismic energy directed to a structure with no need for an external energy source or active data collection in order to dissipate the seismic energy or isolate vibrations of ground from the structure. The passive device may either be applied to a new structure or an existing structure. Implementations of the described techniques may include hardware, a method or process, or a computer tangible medium.
Some implementations herein relate to a mechanism of fixing the energy dissipation device. The mechanism may include a frame. The mechanism may also include a damper fixed inside the frame by using a bolt arrangement.
In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the mechanism may furthermore include a plurality of braces installed in the frame to provide support to the damper. Further, the damper is any one of a friction damper, a viscous damper, a tuned mass damper, a tuned liquid damper, a metal yielding damper, and a base isolator (Elastomeric Bearings or Sliding Bearings).
In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the damper exhibits a force-displacement hysteresis loop, wherein the wider the force-displacement hysteresis loops more energy gets dissipated and vice-versa.
In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, at least two braces from the plurality of braces are attached in an inverted V-shape manner inside the frame. The plurality of braces is installed in any manner either it is retrofitted in the frame, or a diagonal installed, an eccentrically installed, a horizontal installed, or a perpendicular installed.
In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the mechanism may in addition include at least one beam. The mechanism may moreover include at least one horizontal plate fixed to a bottom face of the at least one beam. Further, the at least one horizontal plate is of any shape and size that is anyone of a rectangular shape, a square shape, and a silhouette shape.
The described implementations may also include one or more of the following features. The energy dissipation device is configured by altering a size of the damper, changing the granular material to a more dissipative one, or using a deformable particle to achieve high energy dissipation and damping capabilities through the force-displacement hysteresis loop.
In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the energy dissipation device is a multi-performance device, wherein a behavior of the energy dissipation device varies depending on the force-displacement hysteresis loop.
The foregoing objectives of the present invention are to provide a feasible energy dissipation device that is easily configured to suit a wide array of applications. This device is cheap, easy to manufacture at any workshop, and its constituting parts may easily be obtained from any hardware shop. Further, this device is capable to dissipate energy under small as well as large displacement amplitudes. Therefore, it is used for applications where small vibrations are anticipated (e.g., in buildings subjected to minor to moderate winds and man-made vibrations such as the case of train-induced vibrations) as well as in case of large vibrations (e.g., strong wind loads and strong earthquake ground motions).
So that the manner in which the above recited features of the present invention is be understood in detail, a more particular description of the invention, briefly summarized above, may be had by reference to embodiments, some of which are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments.
The present invention relates to an energy dissipation device. The energy dissipation device is a mechanical device and does not require any source of power to operate. It is capable of dissipating vibration energies through hysteresis or hysteresis and viscoelasticity. The behavior of the new damper is rate-dependent, and it is capable to operate at different loading rates. It has many applications, including but not limited to buildings to dissipate energy imparted by earthquakes and wind loads and railways.
The principles of the present invention and their advantages are best understood by referring to
In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the container (102) includes a top plate (104) that is horizontally slotted on the container (102). The container (102) is made of a welded thick steel plate. Further, the container (102) is filled with a granular material (112) that is any one of a particle, sand, aggregates of different sizes, or steel balls with specific diameters. The container (102) is of any size and shape that is anyone of a rectangular shape, a cuboid shape, among others.
In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the energy dissipation device (100) may also include the at least one movable plate (106) that is inserted through the slot (114) inside the container. The at least one movable plate (106) is of any shape and size that is any one of a rectangular shape, a thick size, and a silhouette shape. The at least one movable plate (106) includes a longitudinal part and a scoop part. Further, the at least two holes (109) are mounted in the scoop part of the at least one movable plate (106) through which the at least two rods (110) are inserted.
The described implementations may also include one or more of the following features. The slot (114) is of any shape and size that is anyone of a rectangular shape, a square shape, or a horizontal slot, among others.
In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the device (100) may in addition include the at least two rods (110) partially threaded at both sides of the container by using a plurality of bolts. The plurality of bolts is any one of a carriage bolt, a U-bolt, an anchor bolt, or an eye bolt, among others.
In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the energy dissipation device (100) is used in many places like low-rise buildings or high-rise buildings, municipalities, road and transportation authorities, military (Ministry or Department of Defense), civil construction companies, and a railway department.
In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the energy dissipation device (100) is a passive device that is designed to dissipate seismic energy directed to a structure with no need for an external energy source or active data collection in order to dissipate the seismic energy or isolate vibrations of a ground from the structure. The passive device may either be applied to a new structure or an existing structure. Implementations of the described techniques may include hardware, a method or process, or a computer tangible medium.
In accordance with an advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the passive devices are relatively inexpensive compared to an active control device, and they may be easily replaced if damaged with minimal cost and time.
In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the mechanism may furthermore include a plurality of braces (204) installed in the frame (202) to provide support to the damper (208). Further, the damper (208) is any one of a friction damper, a viscous damper, a tuned mass damper, a tuned liquid damper, a metal yielding damper, and a base isolator (Elastomeric Bearings or Sliding Bearings).
In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the mechanism may in addition include at least one beam (206). The mechanism may moreover include at least one horizontal plate (210) fixed to a bottom face of the at least one beam (206). Further, the at least one horizontal plate (210) is of any shape and size that is anyone of a rectangular shape, a square shape, and a silhouette shape.
In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the damper (208) is supported by the plurality of braces (204). In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, at least two braces (204) from the plurality of braces (204) are attached in an inverted V-shape manner inside the frame (202). The plurality of braces (204) is installed in any manner either it is retrofitted in the frame, or a diagonal installed, an eccentrically installed, a horizontal installed, or a perpendicular installed.
In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, when the frame is subjected to a lateral dynamic force (e.g., due to wind or earthquakes), the at least one beam (206) moves horizontally along with the at least one movable rectangular steel plate (106). This causes the granular material (114) (refer to
In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the damper (208) exhibits a force-displacement hysteresis loop, wherein a wider the force-displacement hysteresis loops more energy gets dissipated and vice-versa.
The described implementations may also include one or more of the following features. The energy dissipation device (100) (refer to
In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the energy dissipation device (100) (refer to
In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the rate at which the load is applied has an effect on the shape and size of the hysteresis loop, which in turn has an effect on the amount of resistance, stiffness, and energy dissipation capacity. Therefore, both the stiffness and damping are load rate dependent.
In accordance with another advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the device (100) (refer to
In accordance with another advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the configuration of the device (100) (refer
In accordance with another advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the energy dissipation device (100) (refer
Therefore, the invention may be applied to underground foundation engineering support, building brick wall structures, light floor slabs and roofs, members with the characteristics of fire prevention, water resistance, vibration reduction, noise reduction, heat insulation, and the like, energy dissipation members of slope protection engineering and the like.
In accordance with another advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the preparation process of the present invention is simple, and the structure is understood and easy to install. The present invention mixes the advantage of utilizing a particle-damping device that increases the vibration-damping frequency band and strengthens the passive energy dissipation effect. The present invention is not limited to the fundamental frequency vibration damping and high order of frequency. The device is also effective in vibration suppression. The present invention provides structure and vibration control more effectively, and it is more reliable.
The descriptions of the various embodiments of the present disclosure have been presented for purposes of illustration but are not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the embodiments disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the described embodiments. The terminology used herein was chosen to best explain the principles of the embodiments, the practical application or technical improvement over technologies found in the marketplace, or to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the embodiments disclosed herein.
