Building structure with friction based supplementary damping in its bracing system for dissipating seismic energy

摘要

A building structure includes one or more friction spring energy dissipating units installed as part of its bracing system, each unit including surfaces in frictional contact for dissipating seismic energy. Various bracing configurations are possible. A friction spring energy dissipating unit for such installations includes first and second connections plates at opposed ends of the unit and a friction spring stack supported between the ends within a housing. Both tension and compression forces applied to the connection plates are transmitted to the stack as compression forces.