EARTHQUAKE PROTECTION SYSTEMS, METHODS AND APPARATUS USING SHAPE MEMORY ALLOY (SMA)-BASED SUPERELASTICITY-ASSISTED SLIDER (SSS)

摘要

A system and method of isolating a building structure from ground movement including centering a building structure in a first position relative to a building foundation, securing a first portion of a super-elastic slider system (SSS) to the foundation, securing a second portion of the SSS to the structure. The SSS includes at least one shape metal alloy (SMA) element extending between the first portion and the second portion. The at least one SMA element having an initial shape. Moving the foundation during a ground movement and shifting the structure in at least one of a horizontal and a vertical direction to a second position, including flexing the at least one SMA element to a secondary shape, and automatically recentering the structure to the first position including retracting the at least one flexed SMA element to the initial shape.