Rubber part for incorporation into a brick or masonry wall in a reinforced concrete frame to protect against damage caused by seismic activity
A rubber part for use as a structural component for incorporation into a brick or masonry wall structure in a reinforced concrete frame, to be located within the plane of the wall, has a length x and a stiffness along its length of S x , a width y and a stiffness across its width of S y , and a thickness z and a stiffness across its thickness of S z , the stiffness of the part being anisotropic with S y >S x . The part is adapted such that, when in use, it is capable of controlling vibrations of the wall caused by seismic activity and also of having a damping effect thereby increasing the energy dissipation capacity of the structure. The rubber part is preferably in the form of a sheet and can be laminated on one or both major surfaces. The two major surfaces of the sheet may be contoured, for instance being corrugated across its width.
1. The use of a rubber part in the construction of a brick or masonry wall within a reinforced concrete frame structure for eliminating the in-plane damage to the wall while controlling its out-of-plane collapse during a seismic event, the said part having anisotropic stiffness in the three orthogonal directions of the wall as well as damping properties thereby increasing the energy dissipation capacity of the structure, which use comprises locating the rubber part within the plane of the wall and on or in a horizontal row of bricks, wherein the rubber part has a length x and a stiffness along its length of Sx, a width y and a stiffness across its width of Sy and a thickness z and a stiffness across its thickness of Sz, the stiffness of the part being anisotropic with Sz>Sy>Sx and wherein the rubber part is in the form of a sheet, and
wherein any gaps between the external surface of the rubber part and the internal surfaces of the bricks are filled with a hardenable composition.
2. The use according to claim 1 , wherein the rubber part has a substantially rectangular shape.
3. The use according to claim 1 , wherein the rubber part has a transverse cross-section across the width of the part which has a plurality of alternating elevated portions and lowered portions.
4. The use according to claim 3 , wherein the part has corrugations running along its length.
5. The use according to claim 4 , wherein the cross-section of the corrugations has the form of a wave selected from a curved wave, a square wave and a triangular wave.
6. The use according to claim 1 , wherein the rubber of the rubber part is a synthetic rubber, a natural rubber, a reclaimed rubber or a recycled rubber.
7. The use according to claim 1 , wherein the rubber part is an extruded strip.
8. The use according to claim 1 , wherein the rubber part is a moulded part.
9. The use according to claim 1 , wherein the rubber part is laminated with an inextensible material.
10. The use according to claim 9 , wherein the rubber part is laminated on both sides.
11. The use according to claim 9 , wherein the inextensible material is a rigid plate or an inextensible fabric.
12. The use according to claim 1 , wherein the rubber of the rubber part contains voids or inclusions.
13. The use according to claim 12 , wherein the inclusions are compressible inclusions or incompressible inclusions.
14. The use according to claim 1 , wherein the rubber part is formed into a housing to at least partially cover a brick in the brick wall.
15. The use according to claim 1 , wherein the rubber of the rubber part is a high damping rubber.
16. The use according to claim 1 , wherein the rubber part is located between two successive horizontal rows of bricks in the brick wall.
17. The use of a rubber part in the construction of a brick or masonry wall within a reinforced concrete frame structure for eliminating the in-plane damage to the wall while controlling its out-of-plane collapse during a seismic event, the said part having anisotropic stiffness and damping properties thereby increasing the energy dissipation capacity of the structure, which use comprises locating the rubber part vertically within the plane of the wall adjacent a vertical stack of bricks in the wall and in the reinforced concrete frame, wherein the rubber part has a length x and a stiffness along its length of Sx, a width y and a stiffness across its width of Sy and a thickness z and a stiffness across its thickness of Sz, the stiffness of the part being anisotropic such that Sy>Sx and Sy>Sz, and wherein the rubber part is in the form of a sheet, and
wherein any gaps between the external surface of the rubber part and the internal surfaces of the bricks are filled with a hardenable composition.
18. The use according to claim 17 , wherein the rubber part has a substantially rectangular shape.
19. The use according to claim 17 , wherein the rubber part has a transverse cross-section across the width of the part which has a plurality of alternating elevated portions and lowered portions.
20. The use according to claim 19 , wherein the part has corrugations running along its length.
21. The use according to claim 20 , wherein the cross-section of the corrugations has the form of a wave selected from a curved wave, a square wave and a triangular wave.
22. The use according to claim 17 , wherein the rubber of the rubber part is a synthetic rubber, a natural rubber, a reclaimed rubber or a recycled rubber.
23. The use according to claim 17 , wherein the rubber part is an extruded strip.
24. The use according to claim 17 , wherein the rubber part is a moulded part.
25. The use according to claim 17 , wherein the rubber part is laminated with an inextensible material.
26. The use according to claim 25 , wherein the rubber part is laminated on both sides.
27. The use according to claim 25 , wherein the inextensible material is a rigid plate or an inextensible fabric.
28. The use according to claim 17 , wherein the rubber of the rubber part contains voids or inclusions.
29. The use according to claim 28 , wherein the inclusions are compressible inclusions or incompressible inclusions.
30. The use according to claim 17 , wherein the rubber part is formed into a housing to at least partially cover a brick in the brick wall.
31. The use according to claim 17 , wherein the rubber of the rubber part is a high damping rubber.