The response of a structure under dynamic actions can be reduced through passive control energy-dissipation devices. The idea of building such devices with recoverable plastic deformation opens the way to the application of smart materials, and, in particular, of shape memory alloys. These materials are able to undergo large plastic deformation under loading and return to their original shape when subjected to the appropriate thermal procedure. An energy dissipation device exploiting such a property would allow to recover, after a seismic event, its initial shape by a maintenance process which only requires the availability of heat sources. The device design has been approached numerically and experimentally. This work discusses the results of some preliminary dynamic tests.
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