Development of Aero Morphing reinforced composite materials embedded with NiTi alloys

Abstract

This study deals with the development of aero morphing reinforced composite materials embedded with NiTi alloys. It is shown that the composite materials can be manufactured using resin infusion process to produce better mechanical properties such as tensile strength and material stiffness. These composite materials are modelled experimentally using temperature and time parameters. The object of the modelling is to determine the effect of process temperature on the smart material alloy (SMA). As a result, a composite structural designer would now possess an added dimension in optimising material design. In addition, the study is conducted to analyse the structural behaviour of composite materials when embedded and when not embedded with NiTi alloys. The analysis is constrained to the evaluation of material tensile strength and stiffness upon performance of composite structures. A macro mechanical approach is employed to perform the analysis in specimens with different fibre orientation [0°, 45° and 90°]. The estimation of tensile strength and stiffness parameters is based on the characteristics obtained from a macro mechanical approach. The orientation which posses the best material properties is selected to embed NiTi alloys. The experimental results of unembedded specimens are validated with the application of micromechanics equations and an Ansys software finite element modelling tool. There is fair agreement between the finite element simulation of macro mechanical test of the specimens and the measured experimental results. Although the macro mechanical approach is found to be successful, it is imperative to characterise the material interface strength of embedded specimens using a pull out test. The pullout test showed to some great extent the properties of reinforced composite embedded with NiTi alloys.