Patent ID: 8683758

Claim:
A structural device for use in a brace assembly for a structural frame, characterized in that the device comprises: (a) an end portion configured to receive a brace member of the brace assembly whereby the end portion defines an axis along which it is connectable to the brace member; and (b) a body portion formed to be disposed away from the axis including at least one flexural yielding arm, the at least one flexural yielding arm extending toward the axis, being formed to achieve predominantly inelastic flexural deformation in response to dynamic loading conditions, and each of the at least one flexural yielding arm including: (i) an outer edge portion connectable to the structural frame, and (ii) at least one tapered region being tapered in accordance with a geometry that is operable to cause the following response in the at least one flexural yielding arm to tension and compression exerted upon the structural device: flexural yielding of the entirety of the at least one flexural yielding arm; absorption of a majority of energy; and wholly near-constant curvature of the at least one flexural yielding arm.