Study on the response to low-velocity impact of a composite plate improved by shape memory alloy

ABSTRACTImprovement from the pseudo-elastic effect of shape memory alloy (SMA) on the low-velocity impact (LVI) resistance of a composite plate is investigated by the finite element method (FEM). The stiffness matrix of the dynamic finite element equation is established step by step and the martensite fraction is obtained at each time step. The direct Newmark integration method is employed in solving the dynamic finite element equation, while the impact contact force is determined using the modified Hertz's law. It is found that SMA can effectively improve the performance of a composite structure subjected to low-velocity impact. Numerical results show that the deflection of a SMA-hybrid composite plate has been reduced approximately by thirty percent when the volume fraction of the embedded SMA reaches 0.3.