A finite element method for predicting critical temperature and postbuckling deflection (large thermal deflection) is presented for composite plates embedded with prestrained shape memory alloy (SMA) wires and subjected to high temperatures. The temperature-dependent material properties of SMA and matrix, and the geometrical nonlinearities of large deflection are considered in the formulation. An incremental method consisting of small temperature increments and including the effect of initial deflection and initial stresses for material nonlinearities is presented. Within each temperature increment, the NewtonRaphson iteration method is used for calculating large thermal deflection. Results show that the critical buckling temperature can be raised high enough and the postbuckling deflection can be reduced and controlled for a given operating temperature range by the proper selection of SMA volume fraction, prestrain and alloy composition.
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