THERMOMECHANICAL STRESS ANALYSIS FOR A BENDING SHAPE CONTROL OF COMPOSITE LAMINATE BEAMS EMBEDDED WITH SMA WIRE ACTUATORS

摘要

An experimental study was conducted to analyse the thermomechanical bending behaviour of smart beams embedded with prestrained nitinol wire actuators. Smart beams of three different lengths were made, each with both carbon/epoxy and glass/epoxy hosts. Actuations of these beams in the cantilever set-up were characterised by applying electric current to wires. The performance characteristics showed that while the end deflections of up to 41 mm were easily achieved from smart E-glass/epoxy beams, the limited end deflections were observed from the smart carbon/epoxy beams due primarily to our inability to insulate the nitinol wires and much higher flexural rigidity. Moreover, higher actuation temperatures were required generate the recovery stress of the prestrained and constrained nitinol wires.