Stress analysis of laminated composite plates with embedded shape memory alloy using finite element method

Abstract

Shape memory alloy (SMA) wires are embedded within laminated composite plates to improve structural behaviours such as buckling and vibration. A simple linear finite element model and its source codes were developed to study the effect of SMA on these structural behaviours. Two methods of improvements are used here: The active property tuning (APT) and the active strain energy tuning (ASET). Studies are conducted on the antisymmetric angle ply SMA laminated composite plates. The effects of several parameters such as the geometric, mechanical and transformation effects on the SMA improvements of critical loads and eigen frequencies of the SMA composite plates are studied. The plate-bending model used in this study was developed based on the first order shear deformation theory (FSDT) and the finite element model used is the serendipity quadrilateral element with 40 degree of freedom per element. The results show a significant improvement of critical loads of the SMA composite plates for the simply supported boundary condition. In the case of eigen frequencies, the level of effect comes in couples where the improvements are more significant for frequency couples of modes I and IV and III and VI while frequency couple of modes II and V shows less significant effect.