Frictional energy absorbing device and/or methods of absorbing energy

摘要

A cyclic shear energy absorber is described for absorbing energy imposed onto the absorber. The absorber consists of a hollow core filled with densely packed granular material. The granular material is confined within the core so that cyclic shear energy imposed upon the absorber causes incipient dilation of the granular material. This incipient dilation is at least in part suppressed by the confining means. Inter-particle frictional forces within the granular material dissipate the imposed cyclic shear energy. The absorber may be confined between two end plates capable of being coupled to an associated structure such as a bridge support column and a base. The core may also be confined within a pile.