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Out-of-Plane Behavior of Masonry Prisms Retrofitted with Shape Memory Alloy Stripes: Numerical and Parametric
Alireza Tabrizikahou1, Mieczysław Kuczma1, Magdalena Łasecka-Plura2
1Institute of Building Engineering, Poznan University of Technology, Piotrowo 5, 60-965 Poznan, Poland.
This study shows that Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) stripes significantly reduce damage in masonry prisms. Ni-Ti SMA, especially when thicker, offers superior protection against out-of-plane forces compared to Cu-Zn-Al.
Area of Science:
- Structural Engineering
- Materials Science
- Computational Mechanics
Background:
- Masonry structures are vulnerable to out-of-plane failures.
- Retrofitting techniques are crucial for enhancing seismic performance.
- Shape Memory Alloys (SMAs) offer unique properties for structural retrofitting.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effectiveness of Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) stripes in mitigating the out-of-plane response of masonry prisms.
- To develop and validate a Finite Element (FE) model for simulating retrofitted masonry prisms.
- To conduct a parametric study on the influence of SMA material type and thickness.
Main Methods:
- A novel Finite Element (FE) simulation using a micro-modeling approach.
- Calibration of FE models with empirical data for brick, mortar, and SMA materials.
- Implementation of a Concrete Damage Plasticity (CDP) model for masonry constituents.
- Parametric analysis varying SMA stripe thickness and material (Ni-Ti, Cu-Zn-Al).
Main Results:
- SMA stripes significantly reduce masonry prism deterioration, irrespective of material or thickness.
- Residual displacement and plastic strains were substantially decreased by SMA retrofitting.
- Ni-Ti SMA demonstrated superior performance over Cu-Zn-Al SMA in enhancing out-of-plane response.
Conclusions:
- SMA stripe retrofitting is a highly effective method for improving the out-of-plane stability of masonry prisms.
- The choice of SMA material (Ni-Ti) and its thickness are critical factors for optimal performance.
- FE simulations provide a reliable tool for evaluating such retrofitting strategies.
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