Patent ID: 8505260

Claim:
A laterally restrained joint structure of an architectural structure, comprising: at least one structural member; at least one two-force member; a gusset plate fixedly connected to the structural member and the two-force member; and at least one restraining plate member each connected to both the gusset plate and one of the at least one structural member, said each restraining plate member having at least four edges with the first edge and the second edge being adjacent to and substantially perpendicular to each other, wherein the first edge is connected to the gusset plate with a gap there between in a location in which lateral deformation of the gusset plate being predicted from a buckling analysis of the gusset plate, the second edge is fixedly connected to said one of the at least one structural member, and the remaining edges are free edges without connecting to the at least one structural member, the at least one two-force member and the gusset plate; and the restraining plate member further includes: a gusset plate containing slot for containing the gusset plate and covering a position where a lateral deformation takes place, so as to enhance the buckling strength of the gusset plate; and two member connecting ends connected to the structural member when the gusset plate it contained in the gusset plate containing slot; wherein the position where the lateral deformation takes place is determined by the buckling modes of the gusset plate, and the buckling modes of the gusset plate further determine the geometry and size of the restraining member.