The mechanical behaviour of several specimens of nickel-titanium shape memory alloy (SMA) has been deeply investigated through a large experimental test program and numerical simulations, in view of their possible use as kernel components for seismic protection devices. The SMA specimens were different in shape (wires and bars with different diameter), physical characteristics (alloy composition, thermomechanical treatment and material phase) and stress mode (tension, torsion, bending and shear). The experimental tests were carried out by applying repeated cyclic deformations. Strain rate, strain amplitude, temperature and number of cycles were considered as test parameters, and their values were selected taking into account the typical range of interest for seismic applications. The aim of the experimental program was to examine the performances of the SMA elements under the working conditions they should be subjected to in a feasible seismic device, under repeated earthquake-like excitations. In this paper, the most important outcomes of the torsion tests are described and analysed in terms of three fundamental mechanical quantities: secant stiffness, energy loss and equivalent damping. The experimental results show that SMA bars subjected to torsion, especially the martensitic ones, have great potential for their use in seismic devices due to their considerable energy dissipation capacity and outstanding fatigue resistance. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
