Dynamic response of a pseudoelastic shape memory alloy beam to a moving load

This paper presents the dynamic response of multi-span shape memory alloy (SMA) beams subjected to a moving load. The behavior of an SMA beam is analyzed for the case of pseudoelasticity on the basis of an extended one-dimensional constitutive model. Lagrange's equations are applied to analyze dynamic response of the beam. A trial function representing the deflection of the beam is expressed in the polynomial form. Hysteresis-induced damping effect, variations of Young's modulus and natural frequencies of the beam due to stress-induced phase transformation (SIPT) are studied. The results of numerical simulations are presented for single-span and two-span SMA beams in different types of motions and load speeds, load amplitudes and damping effects. The numerical investigations show that the developed model is an effective computational tool for the simulation of dynamic response of the pseudoelastic SMA beams subjected to moving loads.