• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.9 no.1
• /
• pp.101-110
• /
• 1995

In SMA(Shape Memory Alloy), the degradation by fatigue is one of the most important problems to be overcome, when SMA is used for robot-actuator materials. The actuator is operated repetitively for long time and its repeating operation develops the fatigue degradation of SMA. The fatigue degradation changes the transformation temperature and deformation behavior and results in inaccurate operation and deformation which results form repeating operation is to be investigated in advance and the scheme to resolve those problems have to be made for the design of actuator. In this paper, for the improvement of the fatigue degradation by repetive movement and better control of the correct movement by the stability of martensite transformation in the development of Robots actuator, Pre-strain(0, 1.5, 5, 8%) are loaded in the specimens and fatigue testing were carried out by the method of heating and cooling in direct condition. From the results of these experiments, the effect on pre-strain which affect the transformation characteristic and fatigue degradation phenomena were correctly investigated.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
• /
• v.8 no.1
• /
• pp.77-86
• /
• 2004

This paper introduces a shape memory alloy-restrainer-damper(SMA-RD) to protect multiple span continuous steel bridges from seismic loads. The type of bridges has only one fixed bearing condition on a pier and expansion bearings are located on the other piers and abutments. Due to this state and a big mass of the deck, these bridges are usually very vulnerable to column's damage on which fixed bearings are located and large deformation of abutments in passive action. Two types of SMA-RDs are developed, and their effect is inspected for protecting the bridges through seismic analyses. Conventional steel restrainer cables are also used to reduce the seismic vulnerability of the bridge and the results are compared to those of the SMA-RDs.

• International journal of steel structures
• /
• v.18 no.4
• /
• pp.1325-1335
• /
• 2018

This study dealt with investigating the seismic performance of the smart and shape memory alloy (SMA) and magnets plus rubber-spring (MRS) dampers and their effects on the seismic resistance of multiple-span simply supported bridges. The rubber springs in the MRS dampers were pre-compressed. For this aim, a set of experimental works was performed together with developing nonlinear analytical models to investigate dynamic responses of the bridges subjected to earthquakes. Fragility analysis and probabilistic assessment were conducted to assess the seismic performance for the overall bridge system. Fragility curves were then generated for each model and were compared with those of as-built. Results showed dampers could increase the seismic capacity of bridges. Furthermore, from system fragility curves, use of damper models reduced the seismic vulnerability in comparison to the as-built bridge model. Although the SMA damper showed the best seismic performance, the MRS damper was the most appropriate one for the bridge in that the combination of magnetic friction and pre-compressed rubber springs was cheaper than the shape memory alloy, and had the similar capability of the damper.

• Journal of Urban Science
• /
• v.7 no.1
• /
• pp.5-9
• /
• 2018

The nickel-titanium shape memory alloy (SMA), referred to as Nitinol, exhibits a superelastic effect that can be restored to its original shape even if a significant amount of deformation is applied at room temperature, without any additional heat treatment after removal of the load. Owing to these unique material characteristics, it has widely used as displacement control devices for seismic retrofitting in civil engineering fields as well as medical, electrical, electronic and mechanical fields. Contrary to ordinarty carbon steel, superelastic SMAs are very resistant to fatigue, and have force-displacement properties depending on loading speed. The change for the mechanical properties of superelastic SMAs are experimentally inviestigated in this study when loading cycle numbers and loading speeds are different. In addition, the standardized force-displacement properties of such superelastic SMAs are proposed with an aim to efficiently design the seismic retrofitting devices made of these materials.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
• /
• v.23 no.11 s.170
• /
• pp.1904-1911
• /
• 1999

The most effective material in the shape memory alloy(SMA) is the TiNi alloy, because its shape recovery characteristics are very excellent. We molded the composite material with shape memory function. The fiber of it is $Ti_{50}-Ni_{50}$ shape memory alloy and matrix of it is epoxy resin(Araldite B41, Hardner HT903. Ciba Geigy), its adhesive and optical sensitivity are very excellent. It was assured that the composite material could be used as model material of photoelastic experiment for intelligent materials or structures. In this research, the composite material with shape memory function is used as model material of photoelastic experiment. Photoelastic experimental hybrid method is developed in this research, it is assured that it is useful on the obtaining stress intensity factor and the separation of stress components from only isochromatic data. The measuring method of stress intensity factor of intelligent material by photoelastic experiment is introduced. In the mode I state, we can know that stress intensity factors are decreased more than 50% of stress intensity factor of room temperature when temperature of fiber is greater than 4$0^{\circ}C$, prestrain greater than 5% and fiber volume ratio greater than 0.42% and that stress intensity factors are decreased by 100% when fiber volume ratio is greater than 0.84%, prestrain greater than 5% and temperature greater than 60 $^{\circ}C$.

• Smart Structures and Systems
• /
• v.8 no.4
• /
• pp.399-412
• /
• 2011

This study compares the performance of two smart isolation systems that utilize superelastic shape memory alloys (SMAs) for seismic protection of bridges using energy balance concepts. The first isolation system is a SMA/rubber-based isolation system (SRB-IS) and consists of a laminated rubber bearing that decouples the superstructure from the bridge piers and a SMA device that provides additional energy dissipation and re-centering capacity. The second isolation system, named as superelastic-friction base isolator (S-FBI), combines the superelastic SMAs with a flat steel-Teflon bearing rather than a laminated rubber bearing. Seismic energy equations of a bridge structure with SMA-based isolation systems are established by absolute and relative energy balance formulations. Nonlinear time history analyses are performed in order to assess the effectiveness of the isolation systems and to compare their performance. The program RSPMatch 2005 is employed to generate spectrum compatible ground motions that are used in time history analyses of the isolated bridge. Results indicate that SRB-IS produces higher seismic input energy, recoverable energy and base shears as compared to the S-FBI system. Also, it is shown that combining superelastic SMAs with a sliding bearing rather than rubber bearing significantly reduce the amount of the required SMA material.

• Smart Structures and Systems
• /
• v.23 no.4
• /
• pp.319-327
• /
• 2019

Continuous rotating SMA actuators require motion conversion mechanisms, so their structure is relatively complex and difficult to realize the miniaturization. Here, a new type of continuous rotating actuator driven by SMA is proposed. It combines the movable tooth drive with SMA drive. The structure and working principle of the integrated movable tooth drive system is introduced. The equations of temperature, stress and strain of memory alloy wires, and the output torque of drive system are given. Using these equations, the temperature, the output forces of the SMA wires, and output torque of the drive system are studied. Results show that the compact drive system could give large output torque. To obtain large output torque plus small fluctuation, large eccentricity and small diameter of the SMA wire should be taken. Combined application of ventilation cooling and high current can increase the rotary speed of the drive system.

• Smart Structures and Systems
• /
• v.30 no.2
• /
• pp.183-193
• /
• 2022

Structural health monitoring and structural vibration control are multidisciplinary and frontier research directions of civil engineering. As intelligent materials that integrate sensing and actuation capabilities, shape memory alloys (SMAs) exhibit multiple excellent characteristics, such as shape memory effect, superelasticity, corrosion resistance, fatigue resistance, and high energy density. Moreover, SMAs possess excellent resistance sensing properties and large deformation ability. Superfine NiTi SMA wires have potential applications in structural health monitoring and micro-drive system. In this study, the mechanical properties and electrical resistance sensing characteristics of superfine NiTi SMA wires were experimentally investigated. The mechanical parameters such as residual strain, hysteretic energy, secant stiffness, and equivalent damping ratio were analyzed at different training strain amplitudes and numbers of loading-unloading cycles. The results demonstrate that the detwinning process shortened with increasing training amplitude, while austenitic mechanical properties were not affected. In addition, superfine SMA wires showed good strain-resistance linear correlation, and the loading rate had little effect on their mechanical properties and electrical resistance sensing characteristics. This study aims to provide an experimental basis for the application of superfine SMA wires in engineering.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Machine Tool Engineers Conference
• /
• 2005.05a
• /
• pp.441-445
• /
• 2005

In the resent years, as the research and the development of micro and precision machinery become active, the interest of micro actuators using SMA(Shape Memory Alloy) has been increased. But, no detailed researches between the thermo-dynamic property in Nitinol alloy have been done yet. In this study, the thermal property of high temperature Nitinol shape memory alloy were evaluated using differential scanning calorimeter(DSC). The structure property was investigated using X-ray diffraction(XRD). A dynamic mechanical analyzer(DMA) with three point bending mode was used to study storage and loss modulus of shape memory alloy according to the thirteen frequencies in the temperature range between 30 and $200^{\circ}C$. The effects of the temperature heating/cooling rate, the frequency on the damping capacity have been systematically investigated. Such a frequency and temperature changes also influenced significantly to the damping behavior of the shape memory alloy. It was also found that Nitinol exhibited high damping capacity during phase transformation.

• Earthquakes and Structures
• /
• v.2 no.3
• /
• pp.233-256
• /
• 2011

This paper investigates the applicability of newly developed Cu-Al-Mn shape memory alloy (SMA) bars to retrofitting of historical masonry constructions by performing quasi-static tests of half-scale brick walls subjected to cyclic out-of-plane flexure. Problems associated with conventional steel reinforcing bars lie in pinching, or degradation of stiffness and strength under cyclic loading, and in their inability to restrain residual deformations in structures during and after intense earthquakes. This paper attempts to resolve the problems by applying newly developed Cu-Al-Mn SMA bars, characterized by large recovery strain, low material cost, and high machinability, as partial replacements for steel bars. Three types of brick wall specimens, unreinforced, steel reinforced, and SMA reinforced specimens are prepared. The specimens are subjected to quasi-static cyclic loading up to rotation angle enough to cause yielding of reinforcing bars. Corresponding nonlinear finite element models are developed to simulate the experimental observations. It was found from the experimental and numerical results that both the steel reinforced and SMA reinforced specimens showed substantial increment in strength and ductility as compared to the unreinforced specimen. The steel reinforced specimen showed pinching and significant residual elongation in reinforcing bars while the SMA reinforced specimen did not. Both the experimental and numerical observations demonstrate the superiority of Cu-Al-Mn SMA bars to conventional steel reinforcing bars in retrofitting historical masonry constructions.