Structural connection mechanisms for providing discontinuous elastic behavior in structural framing systems

摘要

A structural frame for a building includes first structural members and second structural members, with a discontinuous elastic zone at locations where the first and second structural members are coupled and through which a load passes therebetween. Discontinuous elastic zone connections couple the first and second structural members and are configured to provide elasticity in the structural frame and dampen the effects of transient loads on the structural frame. Each discontinuous elastic zone connection includes faying surfaces opposing each other, fastening devices configured to secure respective first and second structural members, and a compression element positioned on each fastening device configured to act in combination with a fastening device to regulate movement of the faying surfaces relative to each other, and thus regulate the behavior of the discontinuous elastic zone connection resulting from loads applied by first and second structural members on opposing sides of a respective discontinuous elastic zone.

主权项

1. A structural frame for a building comprising:
a plurality of first structural members; a plurality of second structural members coupled to the plurality of first structural members, with a discontinuous elastic zone being present at a location where a respective first structural member is coupled to a respective second structural member through which a load passes between the first and second structural members during a loading event; and a plurality of discontinuous elastic zone connections that couple the plurality of first structural members to the plurality of second structural members, the discontinuous elastic zone connections enhancing elastic characteristics of the structural frame and its response to transient loads; wherein each of the plurality of discontinuous elastic zone connections comprises:
bolts configured to secure a one of the plurality of first structural members to a one of the plurality of second structural members;a compression element distinct from the respective first structural member and the respective second structural member, positioned on and about each bolt, the compression element having spring-like properties and consisting of a singular deformable component constructed of an elastic material or plurality of deformable components constructed of an elastic material in a stacked arrangement; andfaying surfaces either rigidly connected to or formed as part of the first and second structural members, with the faying surfaces being arranged in parallel so as to oppose each other and being in contact with each other or separated by the compression element in an interstitial space between the opposing faying surfaces;wherein the compression element is positioned either entirely within the interstitial space between the opposing faying surfaces or entirely on one side of the faying surfaces and outside of the interstitial space;wherein the compression element acts in combination with its respective fastening device to allow and regulate differential, reversible, and elastically self restoring movement of the opposing faying surfaces relative to each other, the differential movement being either rotation of the faying surfaces about a line at the intersection of the planes formed by the opposing faying surfaces as they rotate relative to each other, or a change in the distance between parallel faying surfaces, and thus regulate the behavior of the respective discontinuous elastic zone connection resulting from loads applied by respective first and second structural members on opposing sides of a respective discontinuous elastic zone;wherein the compression elements comprise preloaded compression elements, with a preload being applied to the compression elements by the bolts, andwherein the compression elements so comprised are an elastic self-restoring mechanism.