Using Shape Memory Alloys to Improve the Fatigue Performance of Polymeric Laminated Composite Materials: Modeling Philosophy

In the present study, the philosophy of a model for improvement of fatigue life of carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites by shape memory alloys (SMAs) was developed. The model consists of the classical laminate theory (CLT), the self-heating simulation, the stress sharing analysis between SMA and fibers, and the Shokrieh-Lessard progressive fatigue model for composite materials. Shape memory alloys are capable to exhibit super-elastic behavior and shape memory property simultaneously. Intelligent use of these features could help us in dealing with various engineering obstacles. Generated heat during the fatigue loading due to the viscoelastic nature of composites activates the shape memory effect of the embedded SMA wires creates a compression force that causes a crack closure behavior which closes matrix cracks as one of the most common failure modes in composite materials. Also, it is declared that applying SMAs in composites due to the stress sharing effect and its super-elastic characteristic could absorb a part of the applied energy that will reduce the rate of damage growing.