Smart-bridge technology could lead to cheaper and safer infrastructure
Researchers at University of British Columbia (UBC) Okanagan have determined smart memory alloys are a safer and more cost-effective alternative to steel reinforced concrete bridges in earthquake-prone areas like the Lower Mainland in B.C. Memory alloys, which can be flexed without experiencing permanent damage, can maintain a bridge’s structural integrity and significantly reduce repair costs after a seismic event, finds the study.