Nonlinear dynamics of earthquake-resistant structures using shape memory alloy composites

Abstract

Earthquake-resistant structures have been widely investigated in order to produce safe buildings designed to resist seismic activities. The remarkable properties of shape memory alloys, especially pseudoelastic effect, can be exploited in order to promote the essential energy dissipation necessary for earthquake-resistant structures. In this regard, shape memory alloy composite is an idea that can make this application feasible, using shape memory alloy fibers embedded in a matrix. This article investigates the use of shape memory alloy composites in a one-story frame structure subjected to earthquakes. Different kinds of composites are analyzed, comparing the influence of matrix type. Both linear elastic matrix and elastoplastic matrix with isotropic and kinematic hardening are investigated. Results indicate the great energy dissipation capability of shape memory alloy composites. A parametric analysis allows one to conclude that the maximum shape memory alloy volume fraction is not the optimum design condition for none of the cases studied, highlighting the necessity of a proper composite design. Despite the elastoplastic behavior of matrix also dissipates a considerable amount of energy, the associated residual strains are not desirable, showing the advantage of the use of shape memory alloys.

Thermomechanical description of shape memory alloys using the preisach model

“…These materials have a significant potential for applications in different areas such as automotive, biomedical, civil engineering, oil and gas, robotics, and aerospace fields [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14]. In addition, due to their capacity to dissipate energy and to recover large deformations during the phase transformation process, the pseudoelastic behavior has a great potential for applications in vibration attenuation that can be used in different mechanical equipment that show large frequency ranges, devices exposed to impact loads, and earthquake structures [2,[15][16][17][18][19].…”

Experimental behavior of iron-based shape memory alloys under cyclic loading histories

“…Fugazza et al [13] further explored the mechanical properties of SMAs when employed in devices for vibration control of buildings along with uniaxial constitutive modelling for nonlinear response history analysis. In a recently published study, Vignoli et al [14] explored the dynamics of seismically resistant structures equipped with SMA composites and demonstrated that they can be an effective alternative for seismic risk mitigation as opposed to other response modification devices However, NiTi-SMAs are prohibitively expensive for widespread use in large-scale infrastructure projects. Alternatively, iron-based (Fe-)SMAs are increasingly being produced at a lower cost than Ni-Ti-SMAs.…”

A novel smart assistive knee brace incorporated with shape memory alloy wire actuator

“…Recently, the use of shape memory alloy (SMA) materials has been significantly increasing due to their unique properties such as adapting intelligently to external disturbances (Khodaei and Terriault, 2018; Kuo et al, 2012; Liu et al, 2020; Sohn et al, 2018; Vignoli et al, 2020). An SMA is categorized as a smart material capable of changing its crystal structure between the martensite phase and the austenite phase through thermo-mechanical loading.…”