Energy absorber and method of forming the same

Abstract

An energy absorber particularly for an earthquake resistant building including one or more ductile members, and two or more bracing members that support the one or more ductile members, wherein, when a force is applied to the energy absorber, the one or more ductile members deform to absorb energy.

1 . An energy absorber comprising: 
 one or more ductile members; and    two or more bracing members that support the one or more ductile members, wherein, when a force is applied to the energy absorber, the one or more ductile members deform to absorb energy.    
   
   
       2 . The energy absorber according to  claim 1 , wherein the one or more ductile members are ductile rings.  
   
   
       3 . The energy absorber according to  claim 1 , wherein the one or more ductile members are diamond-shaped.  
   
   
       4 . The energy absorber according to  claim 1 , wherein the one or more ductile members comprise a plurality of ductile rings disposed adjacent to one another.  
   
   
       5 . The energy absorber according to  claim 1 , wherein the one or more ductile members comprise a plurality of ductile rings nested within one another.  
   
   
       6 . The energy absorber according to  claim 5 , wherein the plurality of ductile rings are in contact with one another.  
   
   
       7 . The energy absorber according to  claim 5 , wherein an opening is formed between at least one of the plurality of ductile rings and an adjacent one of the plurality of ductile rings, and an energy absorbing material is disposed in the opening.  
   
   
       8 . The energy absorber according to  claim 5 , wherein one or more slotted openings are formed in each of the one or more ductile rings, and each of the two or more bracing members is connected to the plurality of ductile rings through a respective one of the one or more slotted openings.  
   
   
       9 . The energy absorber according to  claim 1 , wherein the two or more bracing members are tension rods.  
   
   
       10 . The energy absorber according to  claim 9 , wherein each of the tension rods has a T-shaped end attached to the one or more ductile members.  
   
   
       11 . An energy absorber for an earthquake resistant building comprising: 
 at least one ductile ring adapted to be disposed within a panel member of a structural element of the building; and    tension rods each of which includes a first end connected to the at least one ductile ring and another end adapted to be connected to the panel member, wherein the ductile ring is disposed at substantially the center of the panel member.    
   
   
       12 . An energy absorber for an earthquake resistant building comprising: 
 a panel member that is attachable to a structural element of the building;    at least one ductile member disposed within the panel member; and    at least two bracing members that connect the at least one ductile member with the panel member.    
   
   
       13 . The energy absorber according to  claim 12 , wherein the at least one ductile member is a ductile ring.  
   
   
       14 . The energy absorber according to  claim 12 , wherein the at least one ductile member is diamond-shaped.  
   
   
       15 . The energy absorber according to  claim 12 , wherein the panel member is rectangular.  
   
   
       16 . The energy absorber according to  claim 12 , wherein the at least two bracing members comprise four bracing members, each of the four bracing members including a first end connected to the at least one ductile member and another end adapted to be connected to a respective corner of the panel member.  
   
   
       17 . A method of forming an energy absorber for an earthquake resistant building comprising: 
 connecting respective first ends of two or more bracing members to one or more ductile members;    disposing the one or more ductile members within an opening of a structural element of the building; and    connecting respective second ends of the two or more bracing members to the structural element of the building.    
   
   
       18 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the one or more ductile members are ductile rings.  
   
   
       19 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the one or more ductile members are diamond-shaped.