Market Assessment - A new ring-spring self-centering brace for protection of buildings and bridges against earthquakes

本提案是对建筑物新型自定心抗震支撑进行市场评估， 桥梁.这些交叉支撑消除了结构中通常存在的残余倾斜， 地震这些残余倾斜与结构破坏和结构的破坏能力密切相关。 地震发生后，该建筑仍在运营。这些残余漂移的减轻特别重要， 这对于必须保持运转的灾后建筑物来说非常重要。这项新发明解决了 以前的自定心支撑件阻碍了它们被建筑业广泛采用。新 支撑使用更简单的内部机制，允许建筑物在不造成结构损坏的情况下进行大规模移动， 传统材料以紧凑的形式。 本发明的主要预期最终用户是负责抗震设计的结构工程师。 建筑物和桥梁的设计。他们会对这项发明感兴趣，以使他们的基础设施项目 （建筑物或桥梁）更能抵抗地震。该支撑可用于新的建筑或翻新 现有结构。 市场评估将通过与20个主要利益相关者的深入访谈进行， 加拿大、美国和世界各地的地震多发地区。面试将通过电话进行 并将重点关注对当前解决方案的满意度/挑战、对技术价值的一般反应 提案，对拟议技术的主要好处、潜在市场接受度、成本进行具体审查 比较和价值，并确定/描述最大的 商业潜力和/或最有可能的市场进入点。一名外部部门专家将审查 研究小组的调查结果，并撰写报告中与调查结果有关的具体章节。 利益相关者访谈和背景数据收集方面的主要声音的客户，业务 与价值主张领域相关的开发、监管和商业化问题。

This proposal is for a Market Assessment for a new self-centering earthquake resistant brace for buildings and bridges. These cross-braces eliminate the residual lean that is typically present in structures after a significant earthquake. These residual leans are strongly associated with structural damage and with the ability of a structure to remain operational after an earthquake. The mitigation of these residual drifts is particularly important for post-disaster buildings that must remain operational. The new invention solves the problems with previous self-centering braces which have prevented their wide adoption by the construction industry. The new brace uses a simpler internal mechanism to permit large building movements without structural damage, using traditional materials in a compact form. The primary anticipated end users for this invention are structural engineers who are responsible for the seismic design of buildings and bridges. They would be interested in this invention to make their infrastructure project (building or bridge) more resilient to earthquakes. The brace can be used for new construction or for retrofit of existing structures. A Market Assessment will be conducted using in-depth interviews with a total of 20 key stakeholders in earthquake prone regions in Canada, the US, and around the world. Interviews will be conducted by telephone and will focus on satisfaction/challenges with current solutions, general reaction to the technology value proposition, specific examination of proposed key benefits of the technology, potential market acceptance, cost comparison and value, and identification/characterization of end-users/sectors that represent greatest commercial potential and/or most likely point of market entry. An external Sector Specialist will review the findings of the research team, and author a specific section of the report relating to the findings of the stakeholder interviews and background data collected with respect to the key voice of the customer, business development, regulatory and commercialization issues relevant to the domain of the value proposition.