F.E. Modeling and Experimental Comparison of RC Beams Consisting Shape Memory Alloys under Cyclic Loading

Shape Memory Alloys (SMA) are a kind of smart materials that their unique mechanical and thermal performances such as the ability to return to its original shape (Shape Memory Effect) and the ability to recover large strain (Super Elasticity), caused their wide application in various industries such as civil engineering. Due to the superplastic behavior of theses alloys, undergoing cycles of loading and unloading, results very little residual strain, even after exceeding the yield strain. This property causes recover forces in the structure so that they can close the cracks in the tensile zone of RC members and therefore, it is significant for structural members located in earthquake zones. In this paper the F.E modeling of reinforced concrete (RC) beams utilizing of shape memory alloys is produced and results of different loads response of modeling is verified with the available experimental results. For this purpose, firstly the finite element model of three RC beams by adding Nitinol wires in the tensile zone was made by ANSYS software. Then the beams were subjected to cyclic loading and their hysteresis curves were compared with the similar available experimental beams. The numerical results revealed, utilization of Nitinol wires in tensile zone of the beams resulted, increase in both loading capacity and ductility and decrease in residual displacement.