Patent ID: 8215068

Claim:
A method of increasing the vibrational energy dissipation of structural elements comprising the following steps: a) constructing a structural element with an internal hollow casing in such a manner that said hollow casing acts as an integral part of said structural element, b) covering at least a portion of a force resisting member with a damping material having vibrational energy dissipation characteristics, c) inserting said force resisting member into said hollow casing and securing one anchorage end of said force resisting member to said structural element in a rigid force-transmitting manner, d) connecting said force resisting member to said hollow casing at any time in a force-transmitting manner through said damping material in an intermediate location between said one end and an opposite end of said force resisting member, and in such a manner that all forces transmitted between said force resisting member and said hollow casing occurs through said damping material, and e) providing access openings in said structural element to said one end of said force resisting member and said intermediate location to allow installation and removal of said force resisting member.