Design optimization of Belleville washers made of shape memory alloys for advanced damping devices

Abstract

Abstract Belleville washers made of Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) merge the unique properties of these materials with the advantages of conical disc spring geometry. Recent research has focused on characterizing these devices under cyclic compression. Key studies have involved numerical simulations and experimental testing. The findings confirm excellent recentering and energy dissipation capabilities of SMA Belleville washers, establishing them as prime candidates for next-generation seismic dampers for buildings and bridges. However, further investigation is required to optimize SMA Belleville washers by finding the cone angle and thickness that maximize energy dissipation. Considering damping devices fabricated by stacking Belleville washers, which rely on the pseudo-elastic effect, this work details an original methodology for systematic optimization of their design. This encompasses a preliminary elastic based sizing performed using adapted stress formulas, which is followed by a refinement stage employing Finite Element Analysis, via the 2020 R2 release of Ansys Mechanical solver. By generating a set of viable design alternatives, this novel methodology facilitates the efficient identification of the optimal configuration to maximize damping energy for given design constraints. The effectiveness of this approach was validated through case studies focused on optimizing SMA Belleville washers within advanced vibration suppression dampers.