Energy dissipating device for rendering a structure impervious to seismic occurrences

Claim 1

An energy dissipating device in a structure for dissipating energy imparted to the structure by the effects of seismic occurrences, said device comprising a side pier disposed to one side of the device and having a first end and a second end, the first end of said side pier being fastened to one portion of said structure; another side pier disposed to the other side of the device and having a first end and a second end, the first end of said another side pier being fastened to another one portion of said structure; at least one third pier extending between said side piers and arranged symmetrically thereof, each said at least one third pier having a first end and a second end, and said at least one third pier including a pier which has the first end thereof fastened to a third portion of said structure which is movable relative to said one portions of the structure under the effects of a seismic occurrence; and a girder spanning said side piers and rigidly connected with said at least one third pier and with said side piers at the second ends of said piers, respectively; said piers and said girder all being of a metal having high ductility wherein said piers and said girder together constitute an integral metal element which is asymmetrically deformable in the elastic field or beyond the elastic limit, whereby when said one portions of the structure are moved relative to said third portion of the structure during a seismic occurrence, said metal element is deformed in the elasto-plastic region and the energy of the seismic occurrence required to deform said metal element is dissipated by hysterisis of the metal principally in the form of heat.