Smart self-centered shear wall system

Abstract

A structural control system for civil infrastructures with recovery-based performance under extreme environmental loading is provided. The recovery-based structural control system may be utilized in both newly constructed and existing buildings as a retrofit to reduce the vulnerability to extreme environmental loading. The structural control system combines steel plate shear wall (SPSW) and the shape memory alloy (SMA) to provide extra recovery ability in a building's main element or supplemental structural control systems. The combination of SMA with SPSW, as a lateral resistive force system, develops a self-centering, energy absorber that provides a re-useable and affordable steel plate shear wall, called Smart Self-Centered Shear Wall (SSCSW) system. In the SSCSW system, pre-straining is applied to SMAs to eliminate the residual deformation that is known to appear in long-term use.

1 . A smart self-centered shear wall (SSCSW) system comprising:
 a set of frame columns joined to a set of frame beams that define an area with at least three corners;   a shear wall mounted within the area;   a gusset plate affixed in each one of the at least three corners of the area;   a connection plate with at least three attachment points;   a set of cables formed of shape memory alloy material (SMA) each having a first end and a second end, the first end of each of the SMA cables is attached to one of the gusset plates in one of the at least three corners, and the second end is connected to one of the attachment points on the connection plate.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a set of horizontal side stiffeners and a set of vertical side stiffeners. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein each of the SMA cable first ends are attached to a connector, the connector configured for attachment to one of the gusset plates. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein each of the SMA cable second ends are attached to an open jaw socket, the open jaw socket configured for attachment to the connection plate. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a first set of nuts and corresponding bolts to secure each of the connectors to the gusset plates. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5  wherein the first set of nuts and corresponding bolts have M5 threads. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a second set of nuts and corresponding bolts to secure each of the open jaw sockets to the connection plate. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7  wherein the second set of nuts and corresponding bolts have M10 threads. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the set of SMA cables are arranged in a X shape. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1  wherein each of the SMA cables are configured to deform and subsequently recover their initial shape. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1  wherein each of the SMA cables are configured to recover their shape after experiencing deformation up to 14% of its original length. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1  wherein each of the SMA cables is pre-stressed. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the first end of each of the set of SMA cables is attached to the gusset plate by a pre-stressing nut. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the second end of each of the SMA cables is attached to the connection plate by a pre-stressing nut. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the SMA cables is pre-stressed. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the set of frame columns joined to the set of frame beams are formed of steel. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the set of frame columns joined to the set of frame beams are formed of reinforced concrete. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17  wherein the reinforced concrete contains SMA bars. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the area is rectilinear and the at least three corners is four corners.