Design of Adaptive Structures for Improved Load Capacity

Application of adaptive structural interfaces (members with actively controlled local properties) as energy dissipaters is discussed. It is demonstrated that the optimal strategy of adaptation of properly located devices allows accumulation of strain energy (as a pretensioned arc) in the first instant of the overloading and then release of this energy in a controlled way, which leads to a significant increase in the overall energy dissipation. The problem of optimal location for dissipaters and the corresponding (controlled) yield stress is formulated and decomposed into two subproblems: first, determining the optimal stress redistribution, and second, selecting the best location for dissipaters and the deformation component due to plastic-like distortions, generated in adaptive members. The general algorithm for the solution of the problem is illustrated by a numerical example of a truss-beam structure.