Abstract
Shape memory alloys (SMA) have just recently made their way into structural design, and through studies have proved to be quite effective in increasing a structures strength and performance. Earthquakes are one of the most chaotic natural disasters that occur around the world, significantly impacting infrastructure to the point where cities lose their ability to function as bridges and hospitals are destroyed. The main objective of this paper is to investigate the natural behaviour of steel braced frames reinforced with pseudoelastic (PE) NiTi SMA wires. A free vibrations test was conducted to determine the natural frequency and damping ratio of two different systems. The tests of the steel and PE SMA frames showed that the stiffness of the brace does not affect the natural frequency of the system but rather, the connection of the system to the rigid floor controls the natural behaviour. Findings of this research are expected to add valuable knowledge to the field of seismic retrofitting of structures and widen the potential applications of the SMA in the structural engineering field.
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