Mechanical and Vibration Characteristics of Laminated Composite Plates Embedding Shape Memory Alloy Superelastic Wires

Abstract

Currently, there is a great interest in the study of shape memory alloy (SMA) composites, since SMA wires with a small diameter have become commercially available. Many potential uses have been found for SMA composites in shape control, vibration control, and for the realization of structures with improved damage tolerance. In this work, two types of SMA-hybridized composites are presented for investigating the mechanical and vibration characteristics. The first one contains unidirectional superelastic SMA wires, while the other has been realized with embedded knitted SMA layers. The samples from these laminates have been tested according to ''Charpy method'' (ASTM D256) and static flexural test method (ASTM D790) to evaluate the influence of the integration of thin superelastic SMA wires on the impact behavior and the mechanical properties of the hybrid composites. Moreover, since the SMA wires are expected to give damping capacity, by measuring the vibration mode of a clamped cantilever using laser vibrometry, the influence of both SMA arrangements on the vibration characteristics has been investigated. Finally, further tests have been carried out on composite panels realized by embedding unidirectional steel wires to distinguish the influence of the martensitic transformation from the pure introduction of a metallic wire into the polymeric matrix.

The Effect of Annealing and Cold-drawing on the Super-elasticity of the Ni-Ti Shape Memory Alloy Wire

“…These wires can improve the damping of the structures that requiring the passive control the vibration, such as wings and fuselages, has been reported. (Pappada et al, 2009;Li et al, 2010;Ni et al, 2004;Xu et al, 2010).…”

Characteristics of adult patients with atrial septal defects presenting with paradoxical embolism

“…Therefore, improving the impact behavior of composite structures, without increasing their weight and without decreasing other mechanical properties, can be considered relevant current topic. The use of Shape Memory Alloys (SMA) to this aim can lead to the fabrication of composite materials with innovative and “smart” properties [1–8].…”

“…In this work, the study of the properties of glass reinforced polymer‐matrix composites incorporating thin superelastic SMA wires is reported. In the last years, many authors investigated the influence of SMA on the impact properties of composites, showing that SMA can lead to a significant increase of damage tolerance of composite materials [1–5]. In fact, SMAs dissipate the strain energy about four times more than high alloy steel and 16 times more than many graphite/epoxy composites [8].…”

Review and perspectives: shape memory alloy composite systems

“…Improved vibration control -The vibration characteristics of PC-SMAs have been experimentally explored [474,336]. Zhang et al [474] noted that vibration properties were more sensitive at higher temperatures where transformation could be induced.…”

“…The same authors also noted that increasing the SMA content and accurate control over the developed internal stresses could lead to better tuning properties. Different SMA wire configurations (straight versus knitted) were studied by Pappada and coworkers [336] through laser vibrometry and impact tests and observed an increase in the damping properties.…”