Manufacturing and performance of a novel self‐centring damper with shape memory alloy ring springs for seismic resilience. Issue 5 (7th February 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wang, Wei; Fang, Cheng; Zhang, Ao; Liu, Xiaoshan
• Is Part Of: Structural control and health monitoring. Volume 26:Issue 5(2019)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2019-02-07
• Subjects: cyclic performance, seismic resilience -- damper -- ring springs -- seismic -- self‐centring -- shape memory alloy (SMA); Structural engineering -- Periodicals; Structural control (Engineering) -- Periodicals; Automatic data collection systems -- Periodicals; Detectors -- Periodicals; 624.17
• DOI: 10.1002/stc.2337
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1545-2255

Abstract

Summary: This paper discusses the manufacturing process and mechanical performance of a novel self‐centring damper equipped with a group of kernel elements, namely, shape memory alloy (SMA) ring springs. The study commences with an experimental investigation on individual SMA ring spring specimens, enabling a fundamental understanding of their working principle and mechanical performance. Some technical issues related to manufacturing process, low‐temperature heat treatment (annealing), quenching, and cyclic training are also discussed. Subsequently, the fabrication steps and working mechanism of the dampers incorporating the SMA ring springs are elaborated, and a further experimental study on a large‐scale prototype damper specimen is carried out. The test results show that the damper specimen exhibits satisfactory mechanical behaviour with a stable flag‐shaped load–displacement hysteretic response. A high initial stiffness and an adequate level of "yield" resistance are exhibited due to a relatively high preload applied to the SMA ring spring group. Excellent self‐centring capability with no residual displacement is observed, and satisfactory energy dissipation with an equivalent viscous damping ratio of up to 18.5% is shown. No failure to any component of the damper is observed by the end of the test. The proposed damper is expected to resist strong earthquakes and offer self‐centring driving action effectively for engineering structures without the need for repair.