10th International Conference on Fibre-Reinforced Polymer (FRP) Composites in Civil Engineering (CICE), İstanbul, Turkey, 8 - 10 December 2021, vol.198, pp.2139-2153
Iron-based shape memory alloy (Fe-SMA) is a smart material that has been recently engineered and developed for civil engineering applications. The FeSMA has become a new reinforcement material for prestressed-strengthening of structures. This article aims to provide the first systematic study on the comparison between these two reinforcement materials with a particular emphasis on conditions imposed in civil engineering. The production procedure, mechanical properties, fatigue, creep/relaxation, corrosion, thermal expansion, high-temperature and fire behavior of the Fe-SMA in comparison with those of carbon fibre-reinforced polymer (CFRP) material are discussed. In the next step, the static and fatigue behavior of different structural components strengthened by prestressed CFRPs or activated Fe-SMAs are explained. Finally, a cost analysis is carried out to compare the two strengthening solutions (with Fe-SMA and CFRP) for prestressed-strengthening of 6.4-m girders. The cost comparison revealed that although the current price of the Fe-SMA strips is higher than that of the normal modulus CFRP plates, both of the strengthening solutions are found to be almost equivalent from a cost-performance point of view, when the achievable prestressing force and the cost of the mechanical clamping systems are taken into consideration.