• Smart Structures and Systems
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• 제14권4호
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• pp.643-658
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• 2014

This paper presents the design, modelling and, simulation and experimental results of a shape memory alloy (SMA) actuator based critical motion control application. Dynamic performance of SMA and its ability in replacing servo motor is studied for which the famous open loop unstable balancing ball and beam system direct driven by antagonistic SMA is designed and developed. Simulation uses the mathematical model of ball and beam structure derived from the first principles and model estimated for the SMA actuator by system identification. A PID based cascade control system consisting of two loops is designed and control of ball trajectory for various target positions with settling time as control parameter is verified experimentally. The results demonstrate the performance of SMA for a complicated i.e., under actuated, highly nonlinear unstable system, and thereby it's dynamic behaviour. Control strategies bring out the effectiveness of the actuator and its possible application to much more complex applications such as in aerospace control and robotics.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• 제4권2호
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• pp.261-278
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• 2008

The results of the application of shape memory alloy (SMA) prestressing devices on an aqueduct are presented in this paper. The aqueduct was built in 1747 to provide water to the city of Larnaca and to its port. Because of its importance to the cultural heritage of Cyprus, the aqueduct has been selected as one of the case-study monuments in the project Wide-Range Non-Intrusive devices toward Conservation of Historical Monuments in the Mediterranean Area (WIND-CHIME). The Department of Antiquities of Cyprus, acting in a pioneering way, have given their permission to apply the devices in order to investigate their effectiveness in providing protection to the monument against probable catastrophic effects of earthquake excitation. The dynamic characteristics of the structure were determined in two separate occasions and computational models were developed that matched very closely the dynamic characteristics of the structure. In this paper the experimental setup and the measured changes in the dynamic characteristics of the monument after the application of the SMA devices are described.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• 제6권9호
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• pp.1041-1056
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• 2010

This paper investigates the possibility of a strategy for an automatic full recover of a structural component undergoing loading-unloading (fatigue) cycles: full recover means here that no replacement is required at the end of the mission. The goal is to obtain a material capable of self healing earlier before the damage becomes irreversible. Attention is focused on metallic materials, and in particular on shape memory alloys, for which the recovering policy just relies on thermal treatments. The results of several fatigue tests are first reported to acquire a deep understanding of the physical process. Then, for cycles of constant amplitude, the self-healing objective is achieved by mounting, on the structural component of interest, a suitable microcontroller. Its input, from suitable sensors, covers the current stress and strain in the alloy. The microcontroller elaborates from the input the value of a decisional parameter and activates the thermal process when a threshold is overcome.

• 한국원자력학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국원자력학회 2005년도 춘계학술발표회
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• pp.871-872
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• 2005

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• 제24권3호
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• pp.361-377
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• 2019

The stiffness of shape memory alloy (SMA) spring while in actuation is represented by an empirical model that is derived from the logistic differential equation. This model correlates the stiffness to the alloy temperature and the functionality of SMA spring as active variable stiffness actuator (VSA) is analyzed based on factors that are the input conditions (activation current, duty cycle and excitation frequency) and operating conditions (pre-stress and mechanical connection). The model parameters are estimated by adopting the nonlinear least square method, henceforth, the model is validated experimentally. The average correlation factor of 0.95 between the model response and experimental results validates the proposed model. In furtherance, the justification is augmented from the comparison with existing stiffness models (logistic curve model and polynomial model). The important distinction from several observations regarding the comparison of the model prediction with the experimental states that it is more superior, flexible and adaptable than the existing. The nature of stiffness variation in the SMA spring is assessed also from the Dynamic Mechanical Thermal Analysis (DMTA), which as well proves the proposal. This model advances the ability to use SMA integrated mechanism for enhanced variable stiffness actuation. The investigation proves that the stiffness of SMA spring may be altered under controlled conditions.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• 제8권4호
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• pp.399-412
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• 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
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• 제7권5호
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• pp.329-348
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• 2011

Large-scale earthquakes pose serious threats to infrastructure causing substantial damage and large residual deformations. Superelastic (SE) Shape-Memory-Alloys (SMAs) are unique alloys with the ability to undergo large deformations, but can recover its original shape upon stress removal. The purpose of this research is to exploit this characteristic of SMAs such that concrete Beam-Column Joints (BCJs) reinforced with SMA bars at the plastic hinge region experience reduced residual deformation at the end of earthquakes. Another objective is to evaluate the seismic performance of SMA Reinforced Concrete BCJs repaired with flowable Structural-Repair-Concrete (SRC). A $\frac{3}{4}$-scale BCJ reinforced with SMA rebars in the plastic-hinge zone was tested under reversed cyclic loading, and subsequently repaired and retested. The joint was selected from an RC building located in the seismic region of western Canada. It was designed and detailed according to the NBCC 2005 and CSA A23.3-04 recommendations. The behaviour under reversed cyclic loading of the original and repaired joints, their load-storey drift, and energy dissipation ability were compared. The results demonstrate that SMA-RC BCJs are able to recover nearly all of their post-yield deformation, requiring a minimum amount of repair, even after a large earthquake, proving to be smart structural elements. It was also shown that the use of SRC to repair damaged BCJs can restore its full capacity.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• 제32권3호
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• pp.373-388
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• 2019

This study proposes a new concept of an axial damper using the combination of shape memory alloy (SMA), friction devices, and polyurethane springs. Although there are many kinds of dampers to limit the damages, large residual deformation may happen and it causes much repairing cost for restoring the structure to the initial position. Also in some of the dampers, a special technology for assembling and fabricating is needed. One of the most important advantages of this damper is the ability to remove all the residual deformation using SMA plates and simple assembling without any special technology to fabricate. In this paper, four different dampers (in presence or omission of friction devices and polyurethane springs) are investigated. All four cases are analyzed in ABAQUS platform under cyclic loadings. In addition, the SMA plates are replaced by steel ones in four cases, and the results are compared to the SMA dampers. The results show that the axial polyurethane friction (APF) damper could decrease the residual deformation effectively. Also, the damper capacity and dissipated energy could be improved. The analysis showed that APF damper is a good recentering damper with a large amount of energy dissipation and capacity, among others.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• 제17권1호
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• pp.135-147
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• 2016

This paper describes a smart structural system, which uses smart materials for real-time monitoring and active control of bolted-joints in steel structures. The goal of this research is to reduce the possibility of failure and the cost of maintenance of steel structures such as bridges, electricity pylons, steel lattice towers and so on. The concept of the smart structural system combines impedance based health monitoring techniques with a shape memory alloy (SMA) washer to restore the tension of the loosened bolt. The impedance-based structural health monitoring (SHM) techniques were used to detect loosened bolts in bolted-joints. By comparing electrical impedance signatures measured from a potentially damage structure with baseline data obtained from the pristine structure, the bolt loosening damage could be detected. An outlier analysis, using generalized extreme value (GEV) distribution, providing optimal decision boundaries, has been carried out for more systematic damage detection. Once the loosening damage was detected in the bolted joint, the external heater, which was bonded to the SMA washer, actuated the washer. Then, the heated SMA washer expanded axially and adjusted the bolt tension to restore the lost torque. Additionally, temperature variation due to the heater was compensated by applying the effective frequency shift (EFS) algorithm to improve the performance of the diagnostic results. An experimental study was conducted by integrating the piezoelectric material based structural health monitoring and the SMA-based active control function on a bolted joint, after which the performance of the smart 'self-monitoring and self-healing bolted joint system' was demonstrated.

• 한국강구조학회 논문집
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• 제23권5호
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• pp.629-636
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• 2011

본 연구는 압전 센서를 이용한 구조물의 실시간 모니터링과 강구조물 볼트접합부의 동적 컨트롤이 가능한 자가치유 시스템에 관한 것이다. 볼트접합부의 볼트 풀림 손상 탐색을 위해서 압전 물질의 전기역학적 커플링 성질을 이용하는 임피던스 기반의 구조물건전성평가 기법을 이용하였다. 계측된 임피던스 값을 기준치 값과 비교함으로써 볼트 풀림 손상 진단이 가능하다. 볼트 풀림 손상은 손상지수를 이용하여 정량적으로 평가되어지고, 손상이 진단되면 형상기억합금 와셔에 감겨있는 외부히터가 와셔에 열을 가하게 된다. 열이 가해진 형상기억합금 와셔는 축방향으로 팽창하고, 볼트접합부는 볼트풀림으로 인해 잃어버린 토크력을 회복하게 된다. 압전 센서를 이용한 임피던스 기반의 구조물건전성 평가기법과 형상기억합금 기반의 볼트접합부 동적 컨트롤 기능과 이를 이용한 자가치유 볼트접합부 시스템의 적용가능성과 성능을 실험을 통해 평가하였다.