ESOMAT 2009, 07006 (2009)
DOI: 10.1051/esomat/200907006

Thermo-mechanical behaviour of a Carbon Fibre Reinforced Shape Memory Alloy Hybrid Composite

G. Faiella^{1, 2}, S. Fascia¹, L. Cianciulli¹, V. Antonucci², A. Laudati³, A. Cusano⁴ and M. Giordano<sup>2

1</sup>  Federico II University of Naples, Department of Materials and Production Engineering - P.le Tecchio 80, 80125 Napoli, Italy
²  National Research Center, Institute for Composite and Biomedical Materials - IMCB – CNR - P.le Fermi 1, 80055 Portici (NA), Italy
³  OptoSmart s.r.l. – Via Pontano, 61, 80121 Napoli, Italy
⁴  University of Sannio, Department of Engineering, Optoelectonic Division - Palazzo Bosco Lucarelli, Corso Garibaldi 107, 82100 Benevento, Italy

gabriella.faiella@imcb.cnr.it

Published online: 1 September 2009

Abstract
Shape memory effect, responsible of Shape Memory Alloys (SMA) shape recovering after a cycle of deforming-heating, provides to these alloys functional properties associated with the possibility of generating mechanical work simultaneously to the shape recovery.
Composite systems incorporating pre-strained SMA wires have the ability to actively change shape and other mechanical static and dynamic characteristics upon a heat driven actuation process. The functional properties of this type of adaptive composites are directly related to the reversible martensitic transformation in the SMA elements and to the constraining behaviour that the composite matrix has on the SMA wires.
In this work the thermo-mechanical behaviour of a shape memory alloy hybrid composite (SMAHC) has been experimentally investigated. A hybrid composite plate was fabricated using pre-strained SMA wires as actuating elements embedded in an thermoset resin pre-preg carbon fibres composite system. In the experimental tests, the plate was clamped at one side and actuated. During actuation, displacements will be collected using LVDT and local deformations by Bragg gratings. These optical sensors, properly attached on the plate surfaces, will be able to monitor the deformation state of the composite during the whole heating process.

© Owned by the authors, published by EDP Sciences 2009