Nonlinear free vibration analysis of shape memory alloy embedded laminated composite shell panel

This study evaluates the properties of superelastic shape memory alloys under cyclical loading to asses their potential for applications in seismic resistant design and retrofit of civil engineering structures. Shape memory alloy bars are tested to evaluate the effect of bar size (diameter) and loading history on the strength, equivalent viscous damping, and recentering properties of the shape memory alloys in superelastic form. The bars are tested under both quasi-static and dynamic loading. The results show nearly ideal superelastic properties can be obtained in large diameter shape memory alloy bars. However, comparing these results to previous studies, the more common wire form of the shape memory alloys show higher strength and damping properties compared with the large bars. The recentering capabilities (based on residual strains) are not affected by the section size of the bar. Overall, the damping potential of superelastic shape memory alloys is low for large diameter bars, typically less than 7% equivalent viscous damping. Degradation of the superelastic properties of the shape memory alloys occurs for cyclical strain greater than 6%, leading to increased residual strains and reduction in energy dissipated. Finally, strain rate effects are evaluated by subjecting the shape memory alloys to loading rates representative of typical seismic loadings. The results show that increased loading rates lead to slight decreases in the equivalent damping, but have negligible effect on the recentering of the shape memory alloys.

Micro-mechanics of composite with SMA fibers embedded in metallic/polymeric matrix under off-axial loadings

An efficient finite element method for predicting critical temperature, postbuckling deflection and flutter response is developed for composite plates embedded with prestrained shape memory alloy (SMA) fibers. The large panel deflection and the temperature-dependent material properties of SMA and composites are considered in the formulation. The finite element formulation and solution procedure of the incremental updated Lagrangian method for nonlinear temperature-dependent material properties are presented briefly. Flow yaw angle at supersonic speed is also considered. For the static solution, the system equations are solved by using the Newton-Raphson iteration method to determine aerothermal postbuckling deflection under the combined aerodynamic and thermal loads. For the dynamic flutter response, the modal method and time-domain numerical integration are employed. Results show that the critical buckling temperature can be raised high enough so that buckling deflection can be eliminated, and the desired flat and stable region in the temperature-dynamic pressure operating domain can be enlarged greatly for composite surface panels embedded with SMA for supersonic vehicle applications. Weight savings based on critical temperature when SMA is used are also presented.

The objective of this study is to evaluate the effect that mechanical training has on the properties of NiTi based shape memory alloys. The unique mechanical behavior of shape memory alloys, which allows the material to undergo large deformations while returning to their original undeformed shape through either the shape memory effect or superelastic effect, has shown potential for use in seismic design and retrofit applications for civil engineering structures. However, cyclic loading has been shown to degrade the energy dissipation capacity and decrease the recentering capability of the material due to fatigue effects. It has been recommended that mechanical training of superelastic shape memory alloys prior to use in applications can limit these fatigue effects. A factorial experimental design is employed to explore the optimal number of mechanical training cycles, strain level of training, and the effect of the loading rate after training in order to minimize the degradation in the loading plateau stress, residual strain, and equivalent viscous damping properties. The results presented can serve as a guide to optimizing the properties of NiTi shape memory alloys for seismic applications. The ability to obtain stable properties of shape memory alloys under a specified training schedule further supports the eventual implementation of the material into actual building and bridge systems as seismic design and retrofit devices.

The paper presents a methodology for evaluating the effective stiffness of unidirectional composite materials with shape memory alloy (SMA) fibers in the presence of matrix cracks. The solution is obtained for the case where SMA fibers in the intact composite are in the austenitic phase. However, elevated stresses in the sections of SMA fibers adjacent to the crack planes cause the martensitic transformation affecting the stiffness of the material. The solution has to account for thermal residual stresses in SMA and ordinary fibers and in the matrix. The order of magnitude of these stresses is calculated in the paper for two representative composite systems. As follows from the numerical examples, thermal residual stresses in the SMA fibers increase proportionally to their volume fraction but remain relatively small. However, thermal stresses in the matrix may reach rather high values reducing the strength of the matrix by a significant factor.

In this study, mortar beams reinforced by shape memory alloy (SMA) fibers of NiTi and NiTiNb alloys were prepared to perform crack-repairing tests using three-point bending tests. The SMA fibers had a length of 30 mm, and their types were straight, dog-bone, and dog-bone with paper wrapping. For the bending tests, twelve types of mortar beams with the dimensions of 40 mm × 40 mm × 160 mm (B × H × L) were prepared. Half of them had a top steel reinforcement, and equal numbers of beams were assigned to the NiTi and NiTiNb fibers. Five SMA fibers were located at the bottom center of the beams along with an artificial crack of 10 mm depth and 1 mm thickness. Epoxy was used to fill the cracks to bond the cracked surfaces using injection, and a hot-gun was used to heat the SMA fibers in the cracks. The crack widths were measured before and after the cracks were repaired, and force–displacement curves were obtained to assess the flexural strength recovery ratio of the beams. It does not appear that the crack-closing capacity of SMA fibers is a crucial factor to recover the flexural strength in repaired beams. However, adequate application of epoxy is critical for repairing cracks, and the residual stress of SMA fibers seems to contribute to increase flexural strength of repaired beams. The residual stress of SMA fibers functions as prestress on mortar and delays the initiation of cracking.

Bond–slip characteristics of SMA reinforcing fibers obtained by pull-out tests

The paper shows method of smart forming composite structures and fundamentals of propose fabrication technology. The presented method is based on innovative 3D printing technics with SMA (Shape Memory Alloy) fibres application. The SMA fibres layout cause an eccentric axial load after thermal activation. The result of this process is composite structures deflection in a predictable direction. The technology demonstrator sample was fabricated as well as numerical simulations were performed in aim of proof of concept. The identification process was developed to determine the layout of SMA fibres. The simulations were performed in MATLAB and ANSYS environment, where the genetic algorithm was used to identify geometrical parameters. The MAC (Modal Assurance Criterion) criterion was used to compare nodal solution with the predefined shape pattern. The simulation results shows possibilities of forming composite structures on the example of deflected beam.

This paper presents the free vibration response of piezo laminated composite geometrically nonlinear conical shell panel subjected to a thermo-electrical loading. The temperature field is assumed to be a uniform distribution over the shell surface and through the shell thickness and the electric field is assumed to be the transverse component E2 only. The material properties are assumed to be independent of the temperature and the electric field. The basic formulation is based on higher order shear deformation plate theory (HSDT) with von-Karman nonlinearity. A C0 nonlinear finite element method based on direct iterative approach is outlined and applied to solve nonlinear generalized eigenvalue problem. Parametric studies are carried out to examine the effect of amplitude ratios, stacking sequences, cone angles, piezoelectric layers, applied voltages, circumferential length to thickness ratios, change in temperatures and support boundary conditions on the nonlinear natural frequency of laminated conical shell panels. The present outlined approach has been validated with those available results in the literature.

Shape memory alloys (SMAs) exhibit unique properties, making them highly valuable in various industrial and medical applications. These materials are characterized by their ability to return to a predeformed shape upon exposure to specific thermal or mechanical stimuli. The critical properties of SMAs include the shape memory effect, pseudoelasticity, and high damping capacity. The shape memory effect is the ability of SMAs to undergo deformation at one temperature and recover their original shape upon heating. This effect is divided into one-way and two-way memory effects, allowing the material to remember and switch between two distinct shapes at different temperatures. Pseudoelasticity, or superelasticity, enables SMAs to resist substantial strains and revert to their original form upon unloading at a constant temperature. Additionally, SMAs exhibit high damping capacity, which makes them effective in absorbing and dissipating energy, thereby reducing vibrations and noise. These properties result from the reversible martensitic transformation within the material’s crystal structure. Common SMAs include Ni–Ti (Nitinol), Cu-based, and Fe-based alloys, each offering distinct advantages in terms of mechanical properties, corrosion resistance, and cost-effectiveness. The exceptional properties of SMAs have led to their widespread use in applications such as medical devices, actuators, aerospace components, and vibration dampers. This chapter highlights the fundamental properties of SMAs that underpin their diverse and critical applications in modern technology.

Static and impact performance of engineered cementitious composites with hybrid graphite nano platelets modified PVA and shape memory alloy fibres

Several solutions have been proposed to mitigate the vibrations of stay cables in bridges, which are subjected to wind, rain and traffic loads. One possible solution relates to the use of semi-active devices, such as the ones based on magneto-rheologic fluids. These devices need guaranteed electrical power, together with computational effort and technical attention. In contrast, shape memory alloy (SMA) wires were studied for application as passive elements. In the present work, the properties of SMA that are required to realize dampers provided with an appropriate reliability are discussed. In particular, the fatigue/fracture life of the SMA wires and the thermal effects induced by both external temperature and the self-heating process are studied. The SMA dampers were applied to stayed cables of realistic size and tested in "facilities." Namely, the cables No 1 of 45 m length available at the ELSA-JRC in Ispra, Italy, and the 50 m cable of IFSTTAR near Nantes, in France, were considered. The experimental results establish a reduction of the vibration amplitude to one half or less than the one observed in the un-damped case. Furthermore, the installation of the SMA dampers causes an increase of the cable frequency. Performing a Windowed Fourier Transform or a Wavelet Transform analysis the evolution of frequency with the signal amplitude was studied. The change of amplitude produces a change of stiffness in the SMA. The adoption of an appropriate phenomenological model of the hysteresis cycle permits to perform numerical simulations using standard Finite Elements Analysis tools such as, for instance, the ANSYS software.

Micromechanical prediction of the two-way shape memory effect in shape memory alloy composites

Multifunctional shape memory composites composed of shape memory polymers and shape memory alloys exhibit superior shape memory properties; therefore, it is of great interest to researchers to model their thermo-mechanical behavior numerically. Although a number of constitutive models of shape memory alloys and shape memory polymers have been developed, very few models have been developed for shape memory composites and validated with experimental data. In this study, we first review separately constitutive models of shape memory alloys and shape memory polymers developed in previous studies. Both models were validated with thermo-mechanical tests conducted on a shape memory alloy fiber and shape memory polymer, respectively. A constitutive model for the shape memory composite was then developed utilizing the homogenization scheme. Shape memory composites containing 0.5% or 1% of the shape memory alloy fiber volume content embedded in the shape memory polymer matrix were fabricated. Thermo-mechanical tests were carried out on these shape memory composites to validate the proposed constitutive model. The experimental results showed that the proposed shape memory composite model was able to predict the general trend of the thermo-mechanical behavior of the shape memory composites.

Crack-closing performance of NiTi and NiTiNb fibers in cement mortar beams using shape memory effects