Experimental and numerical analysis of bending performance for a glass-epoxy composite with integrated sheet-shaped shape memory alloy actuator elements

Shape memory alloys (SMA) belong to the group of smart materials and show particularly a promising potential for an active functionalization of lightweight composite structures with respect to enabling smart structures. In this work, various manufacturing concepts for the integration of thin sheet-shaped SMA actuator elements in a thin glass-epoxy composite beam are experimentally and numerically studied with regard to its bending deformation performance realized by thermal induced shape memory effect of the SMA actuator element. For numerical modeling, the shape memory effect of the SMA on structural level, a three-dimensional thermomechanical constitutive material model is applied. In the experiments, the same deformation pattern of the composite beam was observed for all integration concepts investigated, with the degree of deformation showing strong differences both when the shape memory effect is activated and deactivated. The complex material behavior of the SMA actuator under bending deformation is modeled via the finite element method with sufficient accuracy including existing tension and compression loads.