Building collapse control system and method

Abstract

A method for controlling the collapse of a building having multiple floors. The method comprises the step of providing at least one load-bearing strut between at least one set of adjacent floors and attached to the load-bearing structure of the building, the strut being constructed such that, under building collapse conditions, it absorbs enough of the energy released during collapse of the building to control the rate of collapse of the building to reduce damage thereto. A building collapse control system is also provided.

1 . A method for controlling the collapse of a building having multiple floors, the method comprising the step of: 
 providing at least one load-bearing strut between at least one set of adjacent floors and attached to the load-bearing structure of the building, the strut being constructed such that, under building collapse conditions, it absorbs enough of the energy released during collapse of the building to control the rate of collapse of the building to reduce damage thereto.    
   
   
       2 . A collapse control system, for a building having multiple floors, the system comprising at least one load-bearing strut located between at least one set of adjacent floors of the building, the strut being attached to the load bearing structure of the building, the strut being constructed such that, under collapse conditions, it absorbs enough of the energy released during collapse of the building to control the rate of collapse of the building to reduce damage thereto.  
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the strut comprises an outer housing with energy absorbing material therein.  
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the housing is telescopic such that it reduces in length under particular loading conditions.  
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the housing is designed to buckle in a controlled manner or to form an inversion tube under load conditions.  
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the struts are incorporated into the original structure of a building forming an integral part of the framework building.  
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the struts are arranged such that, upon collapse of the building, a survival space is maintained between adjacent floors of the building.  
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the struts are hollow in configuration and include a further means for absorbing energy.  
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the further means include a crushable core material which is formed from an open or a closed cell filler material.  
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the structure of the filler is one of the group of foam, honeycomb, and eggbox.  
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the strut contains water.  
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein valves are incorporated in the strut housing to assist water distribution from the core of the struts.  
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the energy absorption means for the core of the strut is provided by a mechanism which utilise a set of wires to be stretched or by manipulation of metal rods around a series of rollers within the strut.  
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 2 , comprising plural struts, and means for interconnecting liquid filled regions of the struts such that the multiple struts are reduced in length at the same rate.  
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the housing further comprises mechanical stops at regular intervals which support static loading but fail under the increased dynamic loading associated with collapse.  
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising an active control system arranged to control the characteristics of the strut.