Field of the invention

The invention relates generally to arrangements and methods to prevent earthquakes or other mass disasters from damaging habitations, buildings or other constructions.

Prior art

In prior art embodiments have been presented several mechanical structures which aim to minimize damages in human habitations for example during earthquakes. For example pipes having big diameter have been used but their form is not able to receive shaking forces properly, and they tend to break in certain threshold value forces.

Short description of the invention

An object of the invention is to prevent big shaking forces, for example earthquakes, from breaking human habitations. This is achieved by an arrangement for preventing shaking damages in a habitation. The arrangement comprises support piles, a base structure supported by the piles in order to construct the habitation, the base structure being of a material having high elastic modulus, which is higher than 70 000 MPa, panels assembled on the base structure, the panels being of a material having low elastic modulus, which is lower than 11000 MPa, and a support structure fixed onto the base structure and fixed onto the panels, the support structure being of a material having high elastic modulus, which is higher than 70 000 MPa, wherein the support structure comprises vertical rods, horizontal rods and inclinated rods, and the described arrangement forming a supporting frame structure around the habitation against shaking damages. A focus of the invention is also a method of preventing shaking damages in a habitation, characterized in that in the method is formed a supporting frame structure around the habitation against shaking damages by supporting a base structure by piles in order to construct the habitation, the base structure being of a material having high elastic modulus, which is higher than 70 000 MPa, and by assembling panels on the base structure, the panels being of a material having low elastic modulus, which is lower than 11000 MPa, and by fixing a support structure onto the base structure and onto the panels, wherein the habitation is being supported by vertical rods, horizontal rods and inclinated rods, the support structure being of a material having high elastic modulus, which is higher than 70 000 MPa.

The invention is based on an arrangement comprising a base structure, the base structure being of a material having high elastic modulus, and panels assembled on the base structure, the panels being of a material having low elastic modulus, and a support structure fixed onto the base structure and fixed onto the panels, the support structure being of a material having high elastic modulus.

A benefit of the invention is that enables a simple and economical technique to save human habitations and human life under effect of shaking forces, such as for example earthquakes. A number of exemplifying and non-limiting embodiments of the invention are described in accoMPanied dependent claims.

Various exemplifying and non-limiting embodiments of the invention both as to constructions and to methods of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific exemplifying and non-limiting embodiments when read in connection with the accoMPanying drawings.

The verbs“to comprise” and “to include” are used in this document as open limitations that neither exclude nor require the existence of unrecited features. The features recited in dependent claims are mutually freely combinable unless otherwise explicitly stated. Furthermore, it is to be understood that the use of "a" or "an", i.e. a singular form, throughout this document does not exclude a plurality.

Brief description of the figures Exemplifying and non-limiting embodiments of the invention and their advantages are explained in greater detail below in the sense of examples and with reference to the accoMPanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 presents an arrangement according to an exemplifying and non-limiting embodiment of the invention. Figure 2 presents a screw fixing between rods according to an exemplifying and non-limiting embodiment of the invention.

Figure 3 presents attachment parts between rods according to an exemplifying and non-limiting embodiment of the invention.

Figure 4 presents inclinated rods which are fixed to other rods via wide structured attachment parts by using screw fixings according to an exemplifying and non- limiting embodiment of the invention.

Description of exemplifying and non-limiting embodiments

The invention of so called earthquake frame utilizes modulus differences between different materials. For example, elastic modulus of steel is 210000 MPa and elastic modulus of wood is 6700 MPa. In an arrangement according to the present invention a structure of steel and wood is formed so that steel and wood are securely fastened to each other. Therefore, in a load situation, all power is effectively applied to steel parts. Because of the "looseness" of wood, there is no force for it. For example, in an earthquake situation, especially the joining points of structures are under heavy stress. Steel, however, prevents the structure from moving, and thus forces in joining points remain small. Comer parts are dimensioned so large that the contact surface of steel and wood is so large that the surface pressure remains small and the forces divide into the large area. In order the structure according to the present invention to work well, the steel structure, i.e. steel frame, must be firmly attached to the wooden (or plastic, etc) panels. Rods are added with screws to tighten the frame.

For example earthquake causes the lateral movement back and forth. According to the present invention, especially inclinated rods are between pull and press forces. Preferably low dimensioned parts can be used which are fixed sufficiently thickly to the panel to prevent buckling. Consequently, load carrying capacity of the inclinated rod is almost equal to both pull forces and press forces.

In a preferred embodiment according to the present invention, rods can be mounted in a cross-shape, whereby the rod on the pull changes according to the vibration direction. In a structure having these dimensions, the press rod can be ignored. In this kind of structure, the arrangement according to the invention can comprise even only one inclinated rod, which can withstand both the pull forces and the press forces. For example, structure of Core Brace steel and concrete rod can be utilized.

In an arrangement according to the present invention, a base structure is built on piles, whereupon panels can be piled up. The base structure can be made of e.g. steel. The panels can be made of e.g. wood, ceramics and/or plastics. The earthquake frame can be mounted directly on the base panel structure. This is how similar like Faraday's cage is created, which surrounds the edges of the panel structure. This kind of arrangement is light, cheap and easy to install.

Structural steel is preferred to the frame structure due to its properties. According to stretch and tension properties of the structural steel, it is plasticized with sufficient loads. This can be utilized in dimensioning.

The base structure, vertical rods (i.e. striffeners), horizontal rods (i.e. stiffeners), inclinated rods (i.e. stiffeners) and joints are of e.g. structural steel. The steel parts are fixed to each other preferably by screw joints. The steel parts and the frame panel are fixed to each other with screw joints. The stiffener frame of each side is obtained e.g. with tight strapping screws. Figures 1 -3 present an arrangement according to an exemplifying and non-limiting embodiment of the invention. In figures, screw joints are presented as simply structures. Screw joints are can be dimensioned according to earthquake calculation. In an arrangement for preventing shaking damages in a habitation 101 , the arrangement comprises support piles 100 and a base (i.e. bottom) structure 102 supported by the piles 100 in order to construct the habitation 101. The base structure is of a material having substantially high elastic modulus, which is higher than 70 000 MPa.

Panels 104 are assembled on the base structure 102. The panels are of a material having low elastic modulus, which is lower than 11000 MPa. A support structure 106 is fixed onto the base structure 102 and fixed onto the panels 104. The support structure is of a material having high elastic modulus, which is higher than 70 000 MPa. The described arrangement forms a supporting frame structure around the habitation 101 against shaking damages. In one preferred embodiment according to the present invention, the support structure 106 comprises vertical rods 112, horizontal rods 114 and inclinated rods 108. The support structure 106 can comprise inclinated rods 108 having screw fixings 110 for tightening the support structure around the habitation 101. The screw fixings 110 can be dimensioned on the basis of earthquake calculations. The support structure 106, i.e. the rods and joints, can be made of e.g. structural steel.

In one preferred embodiment (Fig .4), the inclinated rods 108 can be fixed to other rods 112, 114 via wide structured attachment parts 116 by using screw fixings 110 for tightening the support structure 106 around the habitation 101 and for directing physical (e.g. earthquake) forces from the middle of the habitation 101 to the corners 118. The wide structured attachment parts 116 can be fixed to the panels 104 by using screw joints in order to prevent support structure parts (rods, attachment parts, etc.) from breaking.

The specific examples provided in the description given above should not be construed as limiting the scope and/or the applicability of the appended claims.