On the free vibration and design optimization of a shape memory alloy hybrid laminated composite plate

Abstract

A shape memory alloy (SMA) is a temperature-dependent smart material that can be used to tune the stiffness of structures in a thermal environment. In the present article, vibrations of hybrid laminated composite plates reinforced with shape memory alloy fibers under temperature change are studied. Parametric free vibration analysis is conducted to study the effect of the SMA volume fraction, SMA fibers prestrain, length-to-width ratio, and thickness-to-length ratio on the fundamental natural frequency and critical thermal buckling temperature of the hybrid plate subject to fully clamped and fully simply supported boundary conditions. With the objective of maximizing the fundamental natural frequency of the hybrid plate, for the first time, simultaneously, the optimum stacking sequence of the hybrid plate and the best layers to embed the shape memory alloy fibers are found. Interestingly, the study shows that the notion of embedding SMA fibers in the composite plate does not guarantee an increase in the fundamental natural frequency. Depending on the stacking sequence and the layers in which the SMA fibers are embedded, adverse effects might happen. It is shown that inserting the SMA fibers in layers close to the mid-plane maximizes the fundamental natural frequency of the plate.