Utilizing Pretension SMAs with Memory Effect Characteristics in Concrete Structure

Shape Memory Alloys (SMA) are smart and novel materials that exhibit variable stiffness and strength associated with their different polycrystalline phases. The Shape Memory Effect (SME) and Superelastic Effect (SE) are two distinct properties that make SMA a smart material. Shape memory effect (free recovery effect) means that a large (pseudo-) plastic deformation can be reversed by heating. If the going back is prevented by, e.g., concrete, a stress in the SMA results (constrained recovery effect) [1]. A Superelastic SMA can restore its initial shape spontaneously even from its inelastic range upon unloading.
The specific objective of this study is to investigate the effect of ordinary and pretension SMAs with memory effect behavior in concrete shear walls separately. For this purpose, we analyzed concrete shear walls with different percent of SMAs and steels under monotonic loading in ABAQUS Finite element. Two different concrete shear walls, one reinforced with ordinary SMA together with steel rebars and the other with pretension SMA with steel rebars, have been analyzed. The seismic behavior of the two concrete structure models has been compared in terms of their load against displacement.