Modelagem e análise de protótipo de ponte estaiada sob cargas dinâmicas incorporando molas de nitinol superelásticas para supressão de vibrações.

Abstract

Over the years, with the construction of increasingly longer and lighter bridges, dynamic behavior becomes a limiting factor in the design of these structures. Therefore, it is important that structural vibration control systems are developed. Among the various materials currently used for vibration suppression are the shape memory alloys (SMA). These have been gaining popularity as a result of their ability to undergo large reversible deformations, coupled with their energy dissipating properties. In this context, the objective of this dissertation is to perform the passive vibration control of a cable-stayed bridge prototype, in small scale, using SMA Ni-Ti (Nitinol) superelastic springs. Dynamic analyses were performed using analytical, numerical and experimental tools. In the experimental results, a reduction of 75% of force transmissibility in free vibration was obtained, compared to the structure with equivalent steel springs. In forced vibration, the value of reduction of force transmissibility reached a maximum of 85.5%. The numerical results showed good coherence in the determination of the modal parameters of the structure and the response of the latter in free vibration, with the largest error associated to the second mode of vibration of the structure, in forced vibration. It was concluded that the SMA springs have the capacity to dissipate vibrational energy, for the application in bridges structures, and the numerical models allow a good prediction of the structure response.