The results of cyclic tensile tests on superelastic NiTi shape memory alloy (SMA) wires are presented and discussed. The tests were carried out within a large experimental test programme for the MANSIDE Project, with the scope of verifying the suitability of SMA superelastic wires as kernel components for seismic protection devices. The mechanical behaviour is described by means of four fundamental quantities, namely: secant stiffness, energy loss per cycle, equivalent damping and residual strain. The sensitivity to temperature and strain rate,, as well as the influence of strain amplitude and the effects due to repeated cyclic deformation, are analysed in detail. The experimental results show that the characteristics of the superelastic wires are well suited for seismic applications, as both the recentring and the energy dissipating features of the devices can be easily obtained. Moreover, the influence of the investigated parameters, within their usual range of variation in seismic protection devices, is compatible with the use of superelastic wires for practical applications. (C) 2001 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.
