• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.74 no.1
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• pp.129-143
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• 2020

This study proposes a new shape memory alloy-tuned mass damper (SMA-TMD) and investigates the effectiveness of this damper in reducing and controlling the vibrations of a transmission tower-line system under various seismic excitations. Based on a practical transmission line system and considering the geometric nonlinearity of this system, the finite element (FE) software ANSYS is used to create an FE model of the transmission tower-line system and simulate the proposed SMA-TMD. Additionally, the parameters of the SMA springs are optimized. The effectiveness of a conventional TMD and the proposed SMA-TMD in reducing and controlling the vibrations of the transmission tower-line system under seismic excitations is investigated. Moreover, the effects of the ground motion intensity and frequency ratio on the reduction ratio (η) of the SMA-TMD are studied. The vibration reduction effect of the SMA-TMD under various seismic excitations is superior to that of the conventional TMD. Changes in the ground motion intensity and frequency ratio have a significant impact on the η of the SMA-TMD. As the ground motion intensity and frequency ratio increase, the η values of the SMA-TMD first increase and then decrease. Studying the vibration reduction effects of the SMA-TMD can provide a reference for the practical engineering application of this damper.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.1-14
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• 2019

Transmission tower-line system is one of most critical lifeline systems to cities. However, it is found that the transmission tower-line system is prone to be damaged by earthquakes in past decades. To mitigate seismic demands, this study introduces a tuned-mass damper (TMD) using superelastic shape memory alloy (SMA) spring for the system. In addition, considering the dynamic characteristics of both tower-line system and SMA are affected by temperature change. Particular attention is paid on the effect of temperature variation on seismic behavior. In doing so, the SMA-TMD is installed into the system, and its properties are optimized through parametric analyses. The considered temperature range is from -40 to $40^{\circ}C$. The seismic control effect of using SMA-TMD is investigated under the considered temperatures. Interested seismic performance indices include peak displacement and peak acceleration at the tower top and the height-wise deformation. Parametric analyses on seismic intensity and frequency ratio were carried out as well. This study indicates that the nonlinear behavior of SMA-TMD is critical to the control effect, and proper tuning before application is advisable. Seismic demand mitigation is always achieved in this wide temperature range, and the control effect is increased at high temperatures.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.89-100
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• 2023

This paper conducts a parametric study of a new tuned mass damper with pre-strained superelastic SMA helical springs (SMAS-TMD) on the vibration reduction effect. First, a force-displacement relation model of superelastic SMA helical spring is presented based on the multilinear constitutive model of SMA material, and the tension tests of the six SMA springs fabricated are implemented to validate the mechanical model. Then, a dynamic model of a single floor steel frame with the SMAS-TMD damper is set up to simulate the seismic responses of the frame, which are testified by the shaking table tests. The wire diameter, initial coil diameter, number of coils and pre-strain length of SMA springs are extracted to investigate their influences on the seismic response reduction of the frame. The numerical and experimental results show that, under different earthquakes, when the wire diameter, initial coil diameter and number of coils are set to the appropriate values so that the initial elastic stiffness of the SMA spring is between 0.37 and 0.58 times of classic TMD stiffness, the maximum reduction ratios of the proposed damper can reach 40% as the mass ratio is 2.34%. Meanwhile, when the pre-strain length of SMA spring is in a suitable range, the SMAS-TMD damper can also achieve very good vibration reduction performance. The vibration reduction performance of the SMAS-TMD damper is generally equal to or better than that of the classic optimal TMD, and the proposed damper effectively suppresses the detuning phenomena that often occurs in the classic TMD.