ABSTRACT
This chapter introduces the concept of structural self-rehabilitation and reviews the research status of structural self-rehabilitation. It explains the structural self-repairing (SSR) systems and focuses on the synthesis of SSR and structural health monitoring (SHM) systems. The SSR systems are, however, embedded in a structure to enable the structure to repair damage if necessary. The SSR systems can be integrated with the SHM systems to form self-diagnosis and SR structures. Structural self-rehabilitation can be realised by structural self-centring (SSC) systems, structural self-healing and SSR systems. The SSC systems are mainly used to enable the earthquake-excited structure to return to its initial configuration without much residual displacement after the earthquake is over. The chapter introduces two types of SSC systems, post-tension (PT)-based systems and shape memory alloy-based systems. The SC braces that combine PT elements and energy dissipating components have an outlook similar to that of a conventional steel brace or a specialised damping device.
