Shape memory alloys (SMAs) for resilient bridges: A state-of-the-art review

Shape memory alloys (SMAs), as the self-explanatory name indicates, are materials that can ‘memorize’ or retrieve their pristine shape when exposed to temperature or load due to their unique thermomechanical properties. Two major attributes that make SMAs distinct from other materials are superelasticity and shape memory effect. In recent years, researchers and engineers spent lots of effort in developing high-performance and resilient bridge systems. As a result, SMAs have drawn significant attention in bridge engineering research. This study thoroughly reviews existing civil engineering applications of SMAs with a focus on bridge engineering, summarizes research findings on various SMA-based bridge components, categorizes the attributes of SMAs suitable for the bridge engineering domain, and highlights the areas of prospective development and prospects of forthcoming opportunities.