Devices and systems for displacement control in seismic braces and yielding links

Abstract

A yielding seismic element includes one or more displacement control elements connected to a yielding element. The yielding element is designed to deform under seismic forces. When the yielding element experiences an instance of local deformation, the displacement control elements interact with a displacement restraint fixed relative to the yielding element. The displacement restraint prevents further deformation at the instance of local deformation.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A seismic device, comprising:
 a yielding element, including:   a first displacement control element extending from the yielding element; and   a second displacement control element extending from the yielding element;   
       a displacement restraint, wherein the yielding element is axially movable relative to the displacement restraint, wherein the displacement restraint is rigid between the first displacement control element and the second displacement control element, wherein the displacement restraint includes a displacement zone and the displacement control element is inserted into the displacement zone to limit an axial deformation of the yielding element. 
     
     
         2 . The seismic device of  claim 1 , wherein a contact of the displacement control element with one of the first displacement restraint or the second displacement restraint prevents further axial deformation of the yielding element. 
     
     
         3 . The seismic device of  claim 1 , wherein the yielding element is axially deformable between the first displacement control element and the second displacement control element by a displacement distance within the displacement zone. 
     
     
         4 . The seismic device of  claim 1 , wherein the yielding element includes a plurality of deformation zones, and wherein the yielding element is deformable in at least one of compression or tension in each deformation zone of the plurality of deformation zones. 
     
     
         5 . The seismic device of  claim 1 , wherein the first displacement control element is a stopper rigidly connected to the displacement restraint. 
     
     
         6 . The seismic device of  claim 5 , wherein the yielding element includes a first end transfer segment and a second end transfer segment opposite the first end transfer segment, and wherein the second displacement control element is located between the stopper and the first end transfer segment. 
     
     
         7 . The seismic device of  claim 5 , and further comprising a third displacement control element located between the stopper and the second end transfer segment. 
     
     
         8 . The seismic device of  claim 1 , wherein the displacement control element is oriented on a yielding section plane of the yielding element. 
     
     
         9 . A seismic brace, comprising:
 a spine;   a yielding element centered on the spine, the yielding element including a displacement control element extending from the yielding element; and   a displacement restraint fixed to the spine, wherein the displacement restraint includes a displacement zone, wherein the displacement control element is movable within the displacement zone.   
     
     
         10 . The seismic brace of  claim 9 , wherein the displacement restraint includes a flowable material inserted into the spine. 
     
     
         11 . The seismic brace of  claim 9 , wherein the displacement zone is filled with a gaseous, damping, or deformable material. 
     
     
         12 . The seismic brace of  claim 9 , wherein the yielding element includes an end transfer segment, and wherein the displacement control element is connected to the yielding element or the end transfer segment. 
     
     
         13 . The seismic brace of  claim 9 , wherein the displacement restraint includes a face restraint oriented between the spine and the yielding element, and wherein the face restraint includes a slot, the displacement control element being inserted into the slot. 
     
     
         14 . The seismic brace of  claim 9 , wherein the displacement control element includes a plurality of displacement control elements. 
     
     
         15 . The seismic brace of  claim 14 , wherein a first displacement control element of the plurality of displacement control elements is located on a first side of the yielding element and a second displacement control element of the plurality of displacement control elements is located on a second side of the yielding element. 
     
     
         16 . The seismic brace of  claim 15 , wherein the second displacement control element is staggered relative to the first displacement control element. 
     
     
         17 . A seismic device, comprising:
 a yielding element, including:
 a first end transfer segment. 
 a second end transfer segment; and 
 a displacement control element at the first end transfer segment and extending from the yielding element; 
   a displacement restraint to the yielding element, the displacement restraint including a displacement zone located at each displacement control element.   
     
     
         18 . The seismic device of  claim 17 , wherein the displacement restraint is rigidly connected to the yielding element at the first end transfer segment. 
     
     
         19 . The seismic device of  claim 17 , wherein the yielding element is a beam flange. 
     
     
         20 . The seismic device of  claim 17 , wherein the displacement control element is a bolt and the displacement zone is a slot in the displacement restraint, the bolt configured to slide within the slotted hole.