A novel SMA-magnetorheological hybrid bracing system for seismic control

Maintaining the stability of civil structures under excessive dynamic loads, including earthquakes and windstorms, has always been a big challenge for researchers and designers in structural engineering communities. The recent integration of multi-functional smart materials into structural bracing systems has opened a new horizon in civil engineering to control and maintain the structural stability of civil infrastructures. A hybrid smart bracing system based on Magnetorheological Fluid (MRF) and Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) has been developed in the present study. To examine the performance and functionality of the developed model, numerical simulations are conducted under quasi-static load conditions. Compared to the individual SMA-based bracing and MRF-based bracing systems, the proposed hybrid system considers both active and inactive modes of the MRF-based system to illustrate its superiority and highlight its advantages. Additionally, the effect of the two most common SMA materials on the dynamic behavior of the bracing has been studied. The results show significant improvements in the energy dissipation capacity and the re-centering ability of the hybrid bracing system.