Research Societal Impact

Shape memory alloys (SMAs) have the ability to restore residual deformation upon heating and some SMAs fully recover inelastic deformation upon unloading. These characteristics enable SMAs to be ideal materials for seismic resilient structures with improved seismic resilience and remarkable restorability. Compared to other conventional construction materials, the restoration of earthquake-induced damages and post-earthquake residual deformation of SMAs structures would be much faster, more economical and sustainable. Therefore, alleviating difficulties and efforts in post-earthquake rehabilitation of buildings and infrastructures, reducing losses associated with damaged structures beyond repair and most importantly enable early resumption of normal life for the general public...

Since its establishment, CNERC has conducted a total of about 500 structural tests on various grades of Chinese steel plates and sections, including welded sections, to generate reference data on structural behaviour of typical structural members under practical loading conditions. Test specimens include commonly used engineering members such as welded H and I-sections, cold-formed square and circular hollow sections as well as their bolted and welded connections and joints. These test data provide scientific data for development and calibration of current design rules, and facilitate codification and engineering applications of these high strength S690 steel in construction...