Storage shelf and flexible moment frame to reduce earthquake damage to stored items

摘要

A storage rack having a flexible moment frame adapted for receiving pallets with stored goods. The frame flexes or floats when a vector, lateral force V is applied thereto, such as an earthquake. The frame includes spaced apart vertical posts. A plurality of sets of horizontal load and cross beams are releasably attached along a length of the vertical posts. When the lateral, vector force V is applied to the moment frame, a top portion of the frame is displaced from the vertical at an angle Flexible. This angle is greater than an angle Rigid for similar storage racks with rigid frames. Thus with this angle of flexibility, the moment frame reduces potential damage to the stored goods.