ABSTRACT
Shape memory alloy (SMA) wires are embedded within laminated composite plates
to improve structural behaviours such as buckling and vibration. A simple linear finite
element model and its source codes were developed to study the effect of SMA on
these structural behaviours. Two methods of improvements are used here: The active
property tuning (APT) and the active strain energy tuning (ASET). Studies are
conducted on the antisymmetric angle ply SMA laminated composite plates. The
effects of several parameters such as the geometric, mechanical and transformation
effects on the SMA improvements of critical loads and eigen frequencies of the SMA
composite plates are studied. The plate-bending model used in this study was
developed based on the first order shear deformation theory (FSDT) and the finite
element model used is the serendipity quadrilateral element with 40 degree of
freedom per element. The results show a significant improvement of critical loads of
the SMA composite plates for the simply supported boundary condition. In the case of
eigen frequencies, the level of effect comes in couples where the improvements are
more significant for frequency couples of modes I and IV and III and VI while
frequency couple of modes II and V shows less significant effect.
SHAMSUL SARIP 