The effect of shape memory alloys in improving the seismic behavior of cable-stayed bridges

Khosravi, Hossein; Ayesteh, Arezoo; Pirmoghan, Hamid

doi:10.22065/jsce.2025.543418.3807

The effect of shape memory alloys in improving the seismic behavior of cable-stayed bridges

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Hossein Khosravi ¹

Arezoo Ayesteh ²

Hamid Pirmoghan ³

¹ Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Hakim Sabzevari University, Sabzevar, Iran

² MSc, Department of Civil Engineering, Neyshabur Branch, Islamic Azad University, Neyshabur, Iran

³ PhD Student, Department of Civil Engineering, Semnan University, Semnan, Iran

10.22065/jsce.2025.543418.3807

Abstract

Shape memory alloys are new materials that have found various applications in various fields of science and engineering in the last few decades. One of the fields of application of these materials is in structural and earthquake engineering. Shape memory alloys are very expensive and their use in structures is uneconomical, for this reason, researchers thought of using a combination of these materials with other materials such as steel that can provide the best efficiency in practice. In this article, a cable-stayed bridge is modeled in ABAQUS software and examined after applying the Elsentro earthquake record, and the best location of the memory alloys that shows better seismic behavior is introduced. This bridge consists of a continuous load-bearing beam (bridge deck) with one or more towers built above the bridge piers in the middle of the span, and from these towers, cables are stretched diagonally downwards (usually on both sides) and hold the load-bearing beam (bridge deck). There is a great variety in the number and type of towers, as well as the number and arrangement of cables. Shape memory alloys, which are known as smart materials, have unique advantages and properties over conventional energy-dissipating systems and have found wide application in controlling structures, especially controlling the seismic response of bridges. No need for replacement after an earthquake, resistance to corrosion and fatigue, ability to return to the original state by applying temperature, high ductility, and high energy dissipation capacity are among the advantages and properties of these materials. In this research, shape memory alloys have been used to control the seismic demand of bridges, which have superelastic behavior, in other words, they return to their original state after unloading and do not leave any residual strain.

Keywords

Shape Memory Alloy

Super Elastic

Cable Bridge

Seismic Behavior

Performance Improvement

Subjects

Bridge Engineering

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