ABSTRACT
Iron-based shape memory alloy (Fe-SMA) has been applied to reinforce steel bridges with structural adhesive. However, the adhesive bonding is vulnerable to erosion and elevated temperature, making its reliability doubtful. As a type of ferroalloy, the weldability of Fe-SMA with commonly used structural steel has been verified. Therefore, the study of the lap joint of Fe-SMA and steel by welding is of significance in the field of bridge maintenance. In this paper, a series of mechanical tests of the TIG welded lap joint of Fe-SMA-structural steel Q355 was conducted. Fillet weld length, filler materials, and the thickness of materials were considered to investigate their influence on the mechanical properties of the Fe-SMA-Q355 lap joint. Results indicate that the lap joint has an adequate capacity in tension, which means the prestress caused by the shape memory effect of Fe-SMA can be transmitted by the reasonably designed Fe-SMA-Q355 welded lap joint
