Development of smart systems for building structures

Building Research Institute, Japanese Ministry of Construction, initiated a 5-year research and development project of "Smart Materials and Structural Systems" in 1998 as a part of U.S.-Japan cooperative research efforts. The U.S. Counterpart is the National Science Foundation. Smart Structural Systems (also called as Autoadaptive Media) are defined as systems that can automatically adjust structural characteristics, in response to the change in external disturbance and environments, toward structural safety and serviceability as well as the extension of structural service life. The research and development of (1) concept and performance evaluation of smart structure system, (2) sensing of structure performance, and (3) development and evaluation of structural elements using smart materials will be conducted.