Uploaded April 2015 | Updated September 2026, 4 hours ago
Earthquakes: Is There a Worthy Opponent?
Earthquakes cause major damage to structures all around the world. They may hit suddenly and with no warning. When they do, the effects are undeniable. Great structures that were thought to be stable and strong are reduced to useless piles of rubble and disorder. This is partly because while structural engineering has come a long way in producing buildings with structures that can withstand the devastating effects of earthquakes, there is a considerable gap in the pool of materials that can withstand these violent episodes from nature.
Because of this, we have chosen to address the problem of materials in structure-building. We believe that there are other, more effective alternatives to the materials that are currently used in structures. On researching this situation, we came across shape memory alloys. By definition: shape-memory alloys are capable of undergoing reversible phase transitions as a result of temperature, pressure, or other stress-related change Shape memory alloys were discovered in 1932, when Swedish researcher Anne Olander “observed the shape and recovery ability of a gold-cadmium alloy (Au-Cd) and noted that it actually created motion”. An integral key to “shape memory” exists in the phase transformation between the parent phase (Austenite) and the produced phase (Martensite). There is a thermoelastic “martensic transformation” when the crystalline lattice of the alloy changes between the Austenite and Martensite phases.
These materials also exhibit a mechanical type of shape memory called pseudo-elasticity and, under certain conditions, linear super-elasticity. Because of these properties, shape memory alloys could potentially serve as alternatives to current construction materials to counter the effects of seismic activity by maintaining the integrity of the structure. As a material, shape memory alloys are both relevant and applicable to topics discussed in class.
REFERENCES:
"Cracked." Leancrew. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Apr. 2015.
"Development of the Modern Day Chain." Applied.com. Applied Industrial Technologies, n.d. Web. 28 Apr. 2015.
"Shape Memory Alloy Demonstration." YouTube. University of Birmingham, n.d. Web. 25 Apr. 2015.
"Shape Memory Effect in a Spring." YouTube. Core Materials, n.d. Web. 25 Apr. 2015.
"The Qualities of Superelastic and Heat-activated NiTi Wires." YouTube. Ultimate NiTi Technologies, Inc, n.d. Web. 25 Apr. 2015.
Wiseman, Jamie. "Haiti and the Shaming of the Aid Zealots: How Donated Billions Have INCREASED Poverty and Corruption." Mail Online. Associated Newspapers, n.d. Web. 25 Apr. 2015.
Fugazza, Davide. “Use of Shape-Memory Alloy Devices in Earthquake Engineering: Mechanical Properties, Advanced Constitutive Modelling and Structural Applications”. ROSE School, 2005. Web. 15 Apr. 2015.
"Japanese Building Swaying in Earhquake." YouTube. YouTube, n.d. Web. 25 Apr. 2015.
Lexcellent, Christian. "Shape Memory Alloys Handbook." Ebrary: Server Message. N.p., Apr. 2013. Web. 25 Apr. 2015.
Gui, Teacher’S Preparatory. "Shape Memory Alloys - Smart Materials." NNIN Nanotechnology Education (n.d.): n. pag. Http://www.nnin.org/. Web. 25 Apr. 2015.
Earthquakes: Is There a Worthy Opponent?
Earthquakes cause major damage to structures all around the world. They may hit suddenly and with no warning. When they do, the effects are undeniable. Great structures that were thought to be stable and strong are reduced to useless piles of rubble and disorder. This is partly because while structural engineering has come a long way in producing buildings with structures that can withstand the devastating effects of earthquakes, there is a considerable gap in the pool of materials that can withstand these violent episodes from nature.
Because of this, we have chosen to address the problem of materials in structure-building. We believe that there are other, more effective alternatives to the materials that are currently used in structures. On researching this situation, we came across shape memory alloys. By definition: shape-memory alloys are capable of undergoing reversible phase transitions as a result of temperature, pressure, or other stress-related change Shape memory alloys were discovered in 1932, when Swedish researcher Anne Olander “observed the shape and recovery ability of a gold-cadmium alloy (Au-Cd) and noted that it actually created motion”. An integral key to “shape memory” exists in the phase transformation between the parent phase (Austenite) and the produced phase (Martensite). There is a thermoelastic “martensic transformation” when the crystalline lattice of the alloy changes between the Austenite and Martensite phases.
These materials also exhibit a mechanical type of shape memory called pseudo-elasticity and, under certain conditions, linear super-elasticity. Because of these properties, shape memory alloys could potentially serve as alternatives to current construction materials to counter the effects of seismic activity by maintaining the integrity of the structure. As a material, shape memory alloys are both relevant and applicable to topics discussed in class.
REFERENCES:
"Cracked." Leancrew. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Apr. 2015.
"Development of the Modern Day Chain." Applied.com. Applied Industrial Technologies, n.d. Web. 28 Apr. 2015.
"Shape Memory Alloy Demonstration." YouTube. University of Birmingham, n.d. Web. 25 Apr. 2015.
"Shape Memory Effect in a Spring." YouTube. Core Materials, n.d. Web. 25 Apr. 2015.
"The Qualities of Superelastic and Heat-activated NiTi Wires." YouTube. Ultimate NiTi Technologies, Inc, n.d. Web. 25 Apr. 2015.
Wiseman, Jamie. "Haiti and the Shaming of the Aid Zealots: How Donated Billions Have INCREASED Poverty and Corruption." Mail Online. Associated Newspapers, n.d. Web. 25 Apr. 2015.
Fugazza, Davide. “Use of Shape-Memory Alloy Devices in Earthquake Engineering: Mechanical Properties, Advanced Constitutive Modelling and Structural Applications”. ROSE School, 2005. Web. 15 Apr. 2015.
"Japanese Building Swaying in Earhquake." YouTube. YouTube, n.d. Web. 25 Apr. 2015.
Lexcellent, Christian. "Shape Memory Alloys Handbook." Ebrary: Server Message. N.p., Apr. 2013. Web. 25 Apr. 2015.
Gui, Teacher’S Preparatory. "Shape Memory Alloys - Smart Materials." NNIN Nanotechnology Education (n.d.): n. pag. Http://www.nnin.org/. Web. 25 Apr. 2015.
