Experimental Study on a Beam-to-column Connection Using Shape memory alloys.pdf

Experimental Study on a Beam-to-column Connection Using Shape Memory Alloy Hongwei Ma1,a and Michael C. H. Yam2,b 1 Department of Civil Engineering, South China University of Technology, State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Architecture Science, Guangzhou, PR China 2 Department of Building and Real Estate, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong a hwma@, b bsmyam@.hk Keywords: Connection, Seismic behaviour, Test, Shape memory alloy, Deformation capacity. Abstract. For ductile beam-to-column connectiosn in steel frame, beam local buckling is difficult and very costly to repair in any post-disaster reconstruction. Shape memory alloys (SMAs) in their austenite states have the ability to recover their original shape after experiencing large deformations. Steel connections retrofitted using SMAs can be endowed with intelligent characteristics. This paper investigates extended end-plate connections using long shank SMA bolts. The SMA connection is designed using a new methodology of avoiding beam local buckling and adopting the strong end-plate. The connection deformations are supposed to concentrate on the SMA bolts. In order to study the seismic behaviour of the connections, quasi-static tests were conducted on both the SMA connection specimens. The test results indicate that the connection can show high deformation capacity with the maximum interstory drift angles beyond 0.02 rad. However, the beam was remained elastic during test and the deformations of the SMA connection were recoverable upon unloading. The load-drift hysteresis loops are flag-shaped for the SMA connection. This indicates that the connection has moderate energy dissipating capacity. Introduction High ductility in traditional beam-to-column connections is often coupled with beam local buckling. These plastic deformations are difficult and very costly to repair in any post-disaster reconstruction. Recent research in the use of shape memory alloys (SMAs), in particular