IP Library Granted Patent US 11,041,322
Granted Patent B2
US 11,041,322 · App. 16/408,888 · Granted Jun 22, 2021

Adjustable cladding for mitigating wind-induced vibration of high-rise structures

Inventor: Andrew Blasetti (Ambler, PA)
Assignee: THORNTON TOMASETTI, INC.
E04H9/0215E04H9/14
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,041,322
App. No.
16/408,888
Granted
Jun 22, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system, device and method for reducing wind-induced vibration using cladding includes one or more movable panels attached to an outer facade of a high-rise building, skyscraper or any other structure subject to wind-induced vibration.

Claims (19)

1. A method for reducing wind-induced vibration of a building, comprising:

receiving from a sensor, parameters describing wind speed and direction;

controlling, by processor, means for moving a plurality of movable panels forming a cladding attached to an outer facade of the building; and

moving, at least some of the movable panels forming the cladding using the means for moving one or more movable panels, based upon the received parameters describing wind speed and direction;

wherein the movement of the movable panels is configured to redirect alternating wind flow around the building at one or more controlled frequencies.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least some of the movable panels forming the cladding are moved at a frequency and/or amplitude that reduces wind-induced vibration of the building.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least some of the movable panels forming the cladding are moved at a frequency and/or amplitude that minimizes wind-induced vibration of the building.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the cladding is attached to the building by a plurality of sliding tracks configured to allow and/or control movement of the plurality of movable panels.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the means for moving the movable panels comprises:

a) a hydraulic system; and/or

b) at least one motor.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the cladding is attached to at least a portion of an outer facade of the building.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the cladding forms a corner of the building.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein one or more of the movable panels comprises a transparent or translucent portion.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to control the movement of the movable panels by adjusting an amplitude and/or frequency of one or more of the movable panels.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to control the movement of the movable panels in response to wind speed and/or direction parameters detected by a sensor attached or in proximity to the building.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the controlled frequencies differ from one or more natural vortex-shedding frequencies of the building.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the moving step comprises displacing at least some of the movable panels laterally in a harmonic motion with a predetermined frequency and amplitude.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the moving step comprises moving at least some of the panels at a frequency that matches the building's natural frequency of vortex shedding.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF ADDRESS FOR ASSIGNEE Recorded May 19, 2021
From: THORNTON TOMASETTI, INC.
To: THORNTON TOMASETTI, INC.
Reel/Frame 056295/0392 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 10, 2019
From: BLASETTI, ANDREW
To: THORNTON TOMASETTI, INC.
Reel/Frame 049140/0575 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62669528 · May 10, 2018
Related Publication 20190345729A1 · Nov 14, 2019