Impact energy absorption of shape memory alloy hybrid composite beams

Abstract

A quasi-static model has been developed to calculate the impact force and the energy absorbed by a shape memory alloy/graphite/epoxy hybrid composite beam impacted at low velocity by a spherical nose steel projectile. The objective of this modeling effort is to further understand the energy absorption mechanisms involved in the low-velocity impact of SMA hybrid composite. This model has been developed based on the energy balance principle, and includes the local contact deformation, the global bending deformation, and the transverse shear deformation, as well as the martensitic phase transformation of the shape memory alloy fibers embedded in the hybrid composite beam. The Timoshenko beam solution is obtained in terms of Euler-Bernoulli solution, which provides an easy way to evaluate the effect of shear deformation on energy absorption. It is found that the impact energy absorption is increased due to the stress-induced martensitic phase transformation in shape memory alloy fibers, which goes in agreement with previous experimental work. It also shows that the transverse shear deformation and local contact deformation of the SMA hybrid composite beam are important parts of the energy absorption during a low-velocity impact. In conclusion, the developed model was able to shed some light on the impact energy absorption mechanisms cf SMA hybrid composites subjected to low-velocity impact.