Coupled thermo-mechanical analysis of a vibration isolator made of shape memory alloy

Performance of a shape memory alloy(SMA) bar as a vibration isolator is examined under isothermal and non-isothermal operating conditions. A novel state space formulation of thermomechanical model is presented. The displacement transmissibility of an isothermal isolator shows both single and double jump under high amplitude excitation. The coupled thermomechanical behavior of the isolator operating under non-isothermal condition are quite complicated. Simulation results suggest that the performance of the SMA bar as vibration isolator, undergoing uniaxial deformation, is seriously affected unless proper cooling is done.