Patent ID: 6249925
Filing Date: 2001-06-26
Classification: E01D,E04H

Abstract:
A bridge of shock-absorbing construction, comprising:a plurality of horizontal members arranged in series adjacent to one another;a plurality of vertical members with bearing means for supporting the plurality of horizontal members; anda plurality of shock absorbers disposed at the points of possible contact between at least one of the plurality of horizontal members, one of the plurality of horizontal members, and one of the plurality of vertical members,wherein each of the plurality of shock absorbers is formed from a material with an elastic modulus in flexure over 200 kgf/cm.sup.2 and has a cell structure with a plurality of cells separated by wall elements having a length and a width, where the length is substantially greater than the width, andwherein the plurality of shock absorbers are arranged such that they do not regularly bear a load of the plurality of horizontal members, but they experience intentional buckling deformation or permanent deformation of the wall elements by compression when loaded substantially parallel to the lengthwise direction of the wall elements with a shock generated by substantially horizontal movement of the plurality of horizontal members during a seismic event, thereby attaining effective shock absorption, and each of the plurality of shock absorbers has a plateau strength of 50 tf/m.sup.2 or higher in the lengthwise direction of the wall elements.