What Is an Extrusion Double Corner Brace?
An extrusion double corner brace is an earthquake-resistant reinforcement device in which a viscoelastic material of polymeric material is sandwiched between steel plates.
The joints between columns and beams are called “joints,” and they are fan-shaped, divided into four circles. When attached to beam joints or columns, the device absorbs loads on wooden buildings caused by strong winds or earthquakes and suppresses deformation.
Compared to conventional construction methods such as load-bearing walls and bonding hardware, it has superior earthquake resistance effects. Lightweight and compact, it can be installed in space-saving locations such as behind ceilings, and is easy to install. No maintenance is required and can be reinforced in combination with conventional construction methods.
Uses of Extrusion Double Corner Braces
Regardless of whether new construction or renovation, extrusion double corner braces are used in a wide range of applications, from private residences to temples and shrines, as long as conventional wooden frame construction methods are used.
Since they can immediately suppress deformation and swaying of buildings in the event of strong winds and earthquakes, their installation significantly improves earthquake resistance performance. For a normal house, the standard number of damper units installed is one per 3.3 square meters, and installation costs are low.
Different types can be used depending on the type of housing. The 15 cm type is used for ordinary wooden houses, the 20 cm type for new houses, and the 30 cm type for shrine and temple buildings.
Principle of Extrusion Double Corner Braces
Vibration suppression dampers can be installed in places where buildings are severely deformed during earthquakes and strong winds. Since building deformation occurs when columns and beams expand, contract, or bend, installing gatekeeper dampers at the ends of these areas can be effective. Vibration-control dampers installed at the ends of the building are called extrusion double corner braces, and can actually be installed in such a way as to connect the sections of the columns and beams that are close to the ends.
The construction time for gatekeeper dampers is short, and they can be installed in one day in a typical house. Once installed, they require no daily maintenance, and tests have shown that they can last for more than 50 years.
The reinforcement plan can also be studied in an easy way, assuming a wall volume of 25 cm per 15 cm type. We also have analytical and design methods in place to evaluate the effectiveness of seismic reinforcement quantitatively, allowing us to study the amount of reinforcement to meet your needs.
Types of Extrusion Double Corner Braces
Extrusion double corner braces are viscoelastic dampers made of polymeric materials. Viscoelastic materials such as styrene, silicone, and acrylic are used as polymer materials.
Each unit weighs less than 2 kg, making it lightweight and compact. They are so easy to install that they can be installed in space-saving locations such as under ceilings, attics, and floors, and can be easily installed using special wood screws.
The design has a high degree of freedom, and the traditional Japanese color black is often used to match Japanese-style architecture, with a matte finish. It blends in with the color change of wood over time and the old coloring of pillars and beams, and can be installed in places where it is out of sight without being noticed.
How to Choose an Extrusion Double Corner Braces
In most wooden houses, the pillars only support the weight of the building, and the walls, called bearing walls, which resist earthquakes. Because of the difficulty of joining posts, beams, and other timbers, this cannot be accomplished in wood construction without special construction methods, but an extrusion double corner brace can be installed to absorb energy.
Unlike wooden houses, joints are difficult in steel-frame and reinforced concrete construction. Although there are extrusion double corner braces for steel construction, the joints can be freely rotated to install the gatekeeper damper, and it is necessary to change the part that can originally bear the force so that it cannot. Therefore, it is not very reasonable.
Structure of Extrusion Double Corner Braces
The structure of an extrusion double corner brace consists of a viscoelastic body sandwiched between steel plates. Control is required in each manufacturing process of the viscoelastic body, steel plate, and finished product. In order to ensure the performance to be achieved, it is important to establish a system that can provide stable products by defining control items in each manufacturing process.
An extrusion double corner brace can be attached to the partitions of columns and beams to give a certain strength to a building and absorb the energy of shaking in an earthquake. Thus, it helps to reduce deformation and sway.