Simulation/Application of SMA to civil engineering

Introduction

Both traditional and innovative properties present in Shape Memory Alloy (SMA), explain the increasing interest on these alloys. Although medical market have been the most successful field of application of SMA products, continuous efforts in material research have revealed the potential of those alloys for non-medical applications. SMA have been known for decades but these alloys have not been used much in building industry until rather recently. The complete understanding of their extraordinary properties are still being developed; nevertheless, the current state of art provides an adequate basis for giving an overview on the possible applications of SMA in civil structures.

Civil Engineering application

Passive, active and semi-active control of civil structures, seismic protection devices, vibration control and pre-stressing or post-tensioning of structures with fiber and tendons, actuation and information processes essential to monitoring, self-adapting and healing of structures.

Figure 1. Shape memory alloy device used for the earthquake suitable connection of the historic gable and the main structure of the Basilica San Francesco in Assisi, Italy.

Main Collaborations

• Saes Getters, Dr. Marco Urbano

• EUCENTRE

• Dipartimento di Ingegneria Strutturale e Geotecnica, Università di Roma "La Sapienza", Roma

• Dipartimento di Strutture per l'Ingegneria e l'Architettura (DiSt), Università degli Studi di Napoli, "Federico II", Napoli, Italy

References

• C. Menna, F. Auricchio, D. Asprone. Applications of Shape Memory Alloys in Structural Engineering in "Shape Memory Alloy engineering: for Aerospace, Structural and Biomedical Applications", editors: L. Lecce, A. Concilio, F. Auricchio. Elsevier, 369-403.

• Thesis: L. Marioni, Design and rapid prototyping of a SMA based actuator, Academic year 2013/2014.

• Thesis: V. Mercuri, Shape Memory Alloys Strands:Conventional 3D FEM Modeling and Simplified Models, Academic year 2013/2014.