Improving Composite Low Velocity Impact Performance Using SMA: A Multiscale Analysis

The goal of this investigation is to carry out a study about low velocity impacts in hybrid composite plates made by polymer matrix and glass fibers reinforced with Shape Memory Alloy (SMA). SMA are considered due to capability to dissipate energy induced by phase transformation known as pseudoelasticity. A multiscale approach is performed to evaluate the influence of fiber volume fraction, SMA thickness and SMA attachment in the laminate. First, VSPKc micromechanical analytical model is applied to compute laminae effective properties from fiber and matrix properties. Lamina properties are used as input for the numerical models, which are developed using the commercial finite element software Ansys and considering a cross-ply laminate [02/902]2s. The in-fluence of SMA inclusion is studied by evaluating the damage resulting from the impact using the Puck failure criterion. Considering laminae with fiber volume fractions equal to 0.3 and 0.5, the use of 10% of SMA in series with the top ply eliminate the damage. For the fiber volume fraction equal to 0.7, an average damage decreasing of 63% is achieved.