Superelastic shape memory alloys (SMAs) can recover large inelastic deformation meanwhile dissipating energy under loading reversals. This property makes them an attractive alternative for developing structures with desirable self-centering (SC) capability. For SMA braced frames (SMABFs), which have not been codified in current seismic provisions, their deformation demand under earthquakes needs to be estimated with confidence in the phase of seismic design, retrofit or upgrade. In this work, the inelastic displacement ratio, i.e. C_R, is explored to address current issue. The fundamental behavior of SMABFs is understood by analyzing the equivalent single-degree-of-freedom (SDOF) systems, with the purpose of evaluating and discussing the influence of fundamental period (T), strength reduction ratio (R) and hysteretic parameters of systems (including the secondary stiffness ratio α and the hysteresis width β) on C_R. The regression of C_R is further conducted to be a function of T, R, α, and β. Subsequently, a C_R-based seismic design procedure is developed for multi-story SMABFs. Two frame structures of 3 and 6 stories are utilized to verify the proposed design procedure. The seismic analysis results indicate that the mean responses of designed structures agree well with prescribed performance targets. Although SMABFs are focused in this study, the proposed method could also shed light on the other types of SC structures.

超弹性形状记忆合金（SMAs）可以恢复大的非弹性变形，同时在反向载荷下耗散能量。此属性使它们成为开发具有所需自定心（SC）能力的结构的有吸引力的替代方案。对于尚未在当前地震规定中编纂的SMA支撑框架（SMABF），需要在地震设计，改造或升级的阶段中有把握地估计其在地震下的变形需求。在这项工作中，探讨了非弹性位移比，即C _R，以解决当前问题。通过分析等效单自由度（SDOF）系统，了解SMABF的基本行为，以评估和讨论基本周期的影响（T），强度折减率（R）和系统的滞后参数（包括次级刚度比α和滞后宽度β）在C _R上。进一步将C _R回归为T，R，α和β的函数。随后，C _R多层SMABF的基于地震的设计程序被开发出来。利用3层和6层的两个框架结构来验证建议的设计程序。地震分析结果表明，设计结构的平均响应与规定的性能指标吻合良好。尽管SMABFs专注于这项研究，但所提出的方法也可以为其他类型的SC结构提供启示。