Macroscopic Mechanical Characterization of SMAs Fiber-Reinforced Hybrid Composite Under Uniaxial Loading

Abstract

This paper presents an experimental and theoretical investigation on the macroscopic mechanical behavior of shape memory alloys (SMAs) fiber-reinforced glass/resin composite subject to uniaxial loading at ambient temperature. A series of unidirectional SMAs reinforced composite laminates is fabricated through vacuum-assisted resin injection. Scanning electron microscopy is conducted to evaluate the interfacial cohesive quality between SMAs fiber and matrix. A theoretical model is proposed based on the SMAs phase transformation model and rule of mixture. Uniaxial tensile tests are performed to study the effects of weak interface and SMAs fiber volume fraction on the effective modulus of composite. Failure morphology of composite is discussed based on the observation using digital HF microscope. Due to the effects of phase transformation and weak interface, the overall stiffness of SMAs composite at the second stage is on average 10% lower than theoretical results. The rupture elongation of experimental result is approximately 13% higher than theoretical result. The local interfacial debonding between SMAs fiber and glass/resin matrix is the main failure mode.

Shape Memory Hybrid Composites

“…Tensile failure damage mechanics of the SMA/GFRP composite indicating the SMA fiber fracture and debonding. Photograph courtesy of Lei et al . Copyright 2013.…”

“…Lei et al investigated SMHCs with sandwiched SMA wires in a glass fiber/resin matrix and showed improvement in mechanical strength and stiffness of the SMHC with increasing number of wires, as depicted in Figure a,b . In a recent study, Taheri-Behrooz et al showed that, for elevated temperature applications, SMA wire reinforcement can be integrated in composites having lower strength/stiffness compared to that in the austenite phase of SMA.…”

“…37 Lei et al investigated SMHCs with sandwiched SMA wires in a glass fiber/resin matrix and showed improvement in mechanical strength and stiffness of the SMHC with increasing number of wires, as depicted in Figure 8a,b. 38 In a recent study, Taheri-Behrooz et al showed that, for elevated temperature applications, SMA wire reinforcement can be integrated in composites having lower strength/stiffness compared to that in the austenite phase of SMA. This can help to reduce the degradation of composites at high temperatures, but if the strength/stiffness of the host composite structure is comparable that of austenitic SMAs, the reinforcement with SMAs will not help in appreciable improvement of the mechanical properties.…”

“…Lei et al treated the SMA wires' surface by sanding, acetone cleaning, and ultrasonic cleaning before being embedded in the host matrix. 38 Figure 13 shows the SEM micrograph of the interfacial bonding between the wires and matrix leading to an increase in tensile strength of the hybrid composites (as shown in Figure 7).…”

Experimental and numerical investigation on bolted joint in glass–fiber reinforced composites

“…[20] The tightening torque τ was used instead of the normal force P w in the numerical simulation, the relation can be written as,…”