Experimental investigation of GF/epoxy laminates with different SMAs positions subjected to low-velocity impact

In this paper, the impact response of unidirectional cross-ply GF/epoxy laminates with different shape memory alloys (SMAs) positions was investigated. According to vacuum assisted resin injection (VARI) process, we manufactured the laminates without SMAs, the laminates with one layer of SMAs were inserted in 1/8 thickness, in 1/2 thickness, in 14/16 thickness, and in 15/16 thickness of specimen, respectively, the laminates with two layers of SMAs were inserted in the 15/16 and 14/16 thickness, in 15/16 and 1/2 thickness, in 15/16 and 1/8 thickness, in 14/16 and 1/2 thickness, in 14/16 and 1/8 thickness, and in 1/2 and 1/8 thickness of specimen, respectively. The low-velocity impact experiment was performed by Dynatup 9250HV Drop Weight Impact Testing Machine under the impact energy of 28 J to analyze the impact response, and the impact parameters such as contact force (F), displacement (D) and energy (E) of the laminates were obtained. To further observe and analyze the impact damage morphology, we also adopted visual inspection and scanning electron microscope (SEM) technology. The experimental results showed that impact performance of laminates improved by embedding SMAs. By contrast, the impact performance of the laminates with two layers of SMAs was optimum.