A.R Khaloo - Professor of Structural Eng, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran
P Piran Aghl - MS student in earthquake Eng, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran
I Eshghi - MS in earthquake Eng, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran

Shape memory alloys (SMAs) are increasingly becoming a topic of research in the area of ‘smart materials’. SMAs are a novel functional material, which can exhibit large strains under loading–unloading process without residual deformation. They have the ability to remember a predetermined shape even after severe deformation. This article first presents an overview of the characteristics of SMAs associated with the temperature-induced and stress-induced reversible hysteretic phase transformation between austenite and martensite. The recent experimental studies and numerical simulations, which have been led to demonstrate the powerful role played by SMAs, are also presented in this article. Currently, research efforts have been extended to using SMA as sensors, actuators, passive energy dissipaters and dampers for shape control and vibration control of civil structures. This article then presents a review of applications of the SMA materials for passive and active controls of concrete structures.

shape memory alloys, shape memory effect, superelastic effect, structural control, smart material