Optimal design of superelastic‐friction base isolators for seismic protection of highway bridges against near‐field earthquakes

The seismic response of a multi‐span continuous bridge isolated with novel superelastic‐friction base isolator (S‐FBI) is investigated under near‐field earthquakes. The isolation system consists of a flat steel‐Teflon sliding bearing and a superelastic NiTi shape memory alloy (SMA) device. The key design parameters of an S‐FBI system are the natural period of the isolated bridge, the yielding displacement of the SMA device, and the friction coefficient of the sliding bearings. The goal of this study is to obtain optimal values for each design parameter by performing sensitivity analysis of a bridge isolated by an S‐FBI system. First, a three‐span continuous bridge is modeled as two‐degrees‐of‐freedom with the S‐FBI system. A neuro‐fuzzy model is used to capture rate‐ and temperature‐dependent nonlinear behavior of the SMA device. Then, a set of nonlinear time history analyses of the isolated bridge is performed. The variation of the peak response quantities of interest is shown as a function of design parameters of the S‐FBI system and the optimal values for each parameter are evaluated. Next, in order to assess the effectiveness of the S‐FBI system, the response of the bridge isolated by the S‐FBI system is compared with the response of the non‐isolated bridge and the same bridge isolated by pure‐friction (P‐F) sliding isolation system. Finally, the influence of temperature variations on the performance of the S‐FBI system is evaluated. The results show that the optimum design of a bridge with the S‐FBI system can be achieved by a judicious specification of design parameters. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

工程结构的形状记忆合金超弹性阻尼减振技术研究进展

介绍了形状记忆合金(SMA)超弹性阻尼减振的机理，综述了国内外形状记忆合金(SMA)减振装置用于工程结构振动控制的最新进展。大量的研究结果表明形状记忆合金阻尼减振技术在土木工程结构振动控制方面具有比较好的应用前景。     

形状记忆合金拉压型超弹性阻尼器的试验研究

本文作者研制了一种新型的形状记忆合金拉压型超弹性阻尼器，介绍了其构造和工作原理，并进行了力学性能试验。试验结果表明：(1)对形状记忆合金阻尼器中NiTi丝缆施加初始预变形可以获得不同的迟滞循环行为，施加预变形到超弹性平台的中点位置，阻尼器可以获得较为饱满的迟滞环和稳定的阻尼力；(2)位移幅值影响阻尼器的力学性能，随着位移幅值的增加，阻尼器的等效刚度逐渐减小。等效阻尼比逐渐线性增大；(3)加载速率影响阻尼器的力学性能，随着加载速率的增加，滞回环变得狭长，其包围的面积逐渐减小，阻尼器的等效刚度略有提高，等效阻尼比逐渐减小。     

新型形状记忆合金阻尼器的试验研究

本文在对形状记忆合金(SMA)的力学性能研究的基础上，设计和制造出一种性能良好的SMA阻尼器，介绍了其工作原理及有关试验结果，将该阻尼器安装在斜拉桥模型上，进行了斜拉桥模型振动试验。试验结果表明该阻尼器的耗能效果明显，在工程结构振动控制方面具有比较好的应用前景。     

Shaking table tests of steel frame with superelastic Cu–Al–Mn SMA tension braces

Shaking table tests are performed on a one‐bay one‐story steel frame with superelastic Cu–Al–Mn shape memory alloy (SMA) tension braces. The frame is subjected to a series of scaled ground motions recorded during the 1995 Kobe earthquake, Japan. The test results demonstrate that the SMA braces are effective to prevent residual deformations and pinching. It is also shown that the time history responses observed from the shaking table tests agree well with the numerical predictions using a rate‐independent piecewise‐linear constitutive model calibrated to the quasi‐static component tests of the SMA braces. This suggests that the loading rate dependence of Cu–Al–Mn SMAs as well as the modeling error due to the piecewise linear approximation can be neglected in capturing the global response of the steel frame. Numerical simulations under a suite of near‐fault ground motion records are further performed using the calibrated analytical models to demonstrate the effectiveness of the SMA braces when the variability of near‐fault ground motions is taken into account. A stopper, or a deformation restraining device, is also proposed to prevent premature fracture of SMA bars in unexpectedly large ground motions while keeping the self‐centering capability in moderate to large ground motions. The effectiveness of the stopper is also demonstrated in the quasi‐static component and shaking table tests. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Potential of superelastic Cu–Al–Mn alloy bars for seismic applications

We present the results of the quasi‐static cyclic tensile tests of Cu–Al–Mn shape memory alloy (SMA) bars of 4 and 8 mm diameters to examine their superelasticity and other mechanical properties closely related to seismic applications. The present Cu–Al–Mn SMA bars have achieved the recovery strains of over 8% and the fracture strains of over 17%. Low‐cycle fatigue was observed in neither of the bars. The mechanical properties obtained from the test, along with the lower material cost and higher machinability than Ni–Ti SMAs, demonstrate the high potential of the present Cu–Al–Mn SMA bars to be used in seismic applications. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Implementation and testing of passive control devices based on shape memory alloys

Two families of passive seismic control devices exploiting the peculiar properties of shape memory alloy (SMA) kernel components have been implemented and tested within the MANSIDE project (Memory Alloys for New Seismic Isolation and Energy Dissipation Devices). They are special braces for framed structures and isolation devices for buildings and bridges. Their most important feature is their extreme versatility, i.e. the possibility to obtain a wide range of cyclic behaviour — from supplemental and fully re‐centring to highly dissipating — by simply varying the number and/or the characteristics of the SMA components. Other remarkable properties are their extraordinary fatigue resistance under large strain cycles and their great durability and reliability in the long run. In this paper, the working mechanisms of the SMA based devices are outlined and the experimental tests carried out to verify the above‐mentioned properties are extensively described. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

一种新型变形可恢复SMA阻尼器力学性能的研究

利用形状记忆合金（Shape Memory Alloy,简称"SMA"）丝材的超弹性与复位弹簧特性,开发出一种新型变形可恢复SMA阻尼器,以增强其变形可恢复的能力。同时,为了解决SMA丝材在实际工程中锚固难的问题,提出了一种新型可调节夹具,不仅解决了SMA丝材的不易锚固问题,而且增强了调节预应变的能力。对所提出的新型SMA阻尼器进行了循环加载试验研究和数值仿真分析,探讨不同加载频率及位移幅值对其力学性能的影响,建立了恢复力模型。结果表明:新型SMA阻尼器在循环荷载作用下滞回性能稳定,具有良好的耗能性能;内置弹簧对新型SMA阻尼器变形可恢复能力有较大帮助。基于所建立恢复力模型的数值模拟结果与试验结果符合情况很好,验证了阻尼器恢复力力模型的正确性。     

形状记忆合金超弹性阻尼性能的试验研究

本文分析了形状记忆合金（SMA）超弹性阻尼减振的机理，通过试验研究了温度、加载频率、循环次数及预变形等因素对SMA超弹性阻尼的影响。研究结果表明，利用SMA的超弹性阻尼特性可以研制出性能良好的耗能减振装置，在工程结构振动控制方面具有比较好的应用前景。     

Application of an SMA-based hybrid control device to 20-story nonlinear benchmark building

This paper investigates the seismic response control of a 20-story nonlinear benchmark building with a new recentering variable friction device (RVFD). The RVFD combines energy dissipation capabilities of a variable friction damper (VFD) with the recentering ability of shape memory alloy (SMA) wires. The VFD that is the first subcomponent of the hybrid device consists of a friction generation unit and piezoelectric actuators. The clamping force of the VFD can be adjusted according to the current level of ground motion by adjusting the voltage level of piezoelectric actuators. SMA wires that exhibit a unique hysteretic behavior and full shape recovery after experiencing large strains is the second subcomponent of the hybrid device. Numerical simulations of a seismically excited 20-story benchmark building are conducted to evaluate the performance of the hybrid device. A continuous hysteretic model is used to capture frictional behavior of the VFD and a neuro-fuzzy model is employed to describe highly nonlinear behavior of the SMA components of the hybrid device. A fuzzy logic controller is developed to adjust the voltage level of VFDs for favorable performance in an RVFD hybrid application. Results show that the RVFD modulated with a fuzzy logic control strategy can effectively reduce interstory drifts and permanent deformations without increasing acceleration response of the benchmark building for most cases. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.