Mechanical Devices To Control, Limit AndAttenuate Shocks, Vibrations And SeismicMovements In Buildings, Equipment AndPiping Networks

The paper presents new types of mechanical devices developed by SITON and SIGMA SS companies in cooperation with other units in Romania, by means of which to control, limit and damp shocks, vibrations and seismic movements in buildings, equipment and pipe networks. The new devices, called “SERBdevices” can sustain large static loads to which dynamic loads may be superimposed and be damped. The devices allow “cutting-off” the dynamic action in-coming from the environment to the protected systems (building, equipment, pipe network, etc) and the sustaining of shocks and vibrations generated by the systems to protect the environment. The devices may have high relative displacements, with or without restoring force, allowing thus the performance of a good isolation of the components against the dynamic action, also sustaining the displacements due to thermal expansions or support yielding. The hysteretic force has the form with consolidation for effective control and limits the degradation of the structure. The devices are made of materials that are practically not affected by the aging phenomenon and relative large temperature variations and may be guaranteed throughout the service-life of each unit, without maintenance or repair. The devices are small in size if compared with the existing ones for similar performances. The radiation resistance capacity is very good and therefore allows their use in nuclear-power plants.