Effect of Shape Memory Alloy Wires on the Buckling Behavior of Fiber Metal Laminates

Buckling behavior of shape memory alloy (SMA) reinforced fiber metal laminates (FML) was experimentally investigated. The SMA reinforced FML specimens with three different pre-strain levels (1, 2 and 3 %) and different number of the embedded wires (2, 4 and 6 wires) were prepared by a specific mold and hydraulic pressure. The effects of the applied pre-strains in the SMA wires, as well as the stacking sequence of the laminate, SMA volume fraction and the location of the wires were studied on the axial and lateral force-displacement diagrams for the specimens during buckling tests. According to the results, 53 % enhancement in the buckling load was obtained for 2 SMA wires reinforced FML specimens in comparison with the specimens without embedded SMA wires. In constant volume fraction of the SMA, pre-straining the wires by 3 % led to 25 % improvement in the buckling load, in comparison with the specimens reinforced with 1 % pre-strained wires. The influence of the FML stacking sequence on the results was also discussed.