A comparison between the effects of shape memory alloys and carbon nanotubes on the thermal buckling of laminated composite beams

Abstract

One of the essentials for designing composite structures exposed to heat is the correct choice of reinforcing materials. In the present research work, a comparison is made between the performances of two well-known advanced materials, Shape Memory Alloys (SMAs) and Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs), in thermal bucking behavior of thin composite beams with simply supported boundary conditions. First, the effect of embedding SMA wires on the thermal buckling of laminated composite beams are examined. The stability equations are derived based on Timoshenko Beam Theory (TBT), and the critical buckling temperatures are obtained analytically. The advantages and disadvantages of using SMA wires as well as their proper functional range are studied. Then, in the next step, the influence of CNTs on the thermal buckling response of composite beams is presented. To this end, the results of some experiments such as Dynamic Mechanical Thermal Analysis (DMTA) and Thermo-Mechanical Analysis (TMA) tests are used to obtain thermal properties of CNT-reinforced composite materials. The performance of CNTs is also evaluated in comparison with SMA wires. It is found from the analysis that, depending on the structural conditions, one reinforcing material can outperform the other. Finally, the idea of simultaneous use of both reinforcing materials comes up. The results show that, in some circumstances, the use of only one of the SMAs or CNTs does not have significant effect on the thermal buckling of composite beams, but applying both of these advanced reinforcing materials in the composite medium can extraordinarily enhance the critical buckling temperatures.

Study on mechanical and tribological characteristics of layered functionally graded polymer composite materials

“…Alongside, addition of these two materials as reinforcement has increased the thermal buckling performance. 54…”

“…Alongside, addition of these two materials as reinforcement has increased the thermal buckling performance. 54 In the above Figure 10, compressive loads on the four layered PFGM was applied along the thickness. The design of the PFGM involves various curing conditions with respect to the temperature they were cured instigated primarily.…”

Effect of 0.5% CNT reinforcement of a glass fiber composite on strength and cyclic damage induced by transverse and out-of-plane compressive loads

“…To increase the out-of-plane mechanical resistance of composite materials, the properties of both the matrix and fiber-matrix interface should be improved. Several authors [23][24][25][26][27] considered adding carbon nanoparticles to composite materials and concluded that this approach improves the properties of the fiber-matrix interface and toughness of the matrix. For instance, Boroujeni and Al-Haik 28 obtained a 20% and 50% increase in tensile strength and fatigue life of a carbon FRC with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) compared with the original material.…”

Low-velocity impact behavior of incorporated GFRP composites with nanoclay and nanosilica in a corrosive environment: Experimental and numerical study

“…1 These materials, due to their more brittle nature than metal alloys, failures occur in their sublayers and in the form of matrix cracking, fiber breakage, the separation between fibers and matrix and etc. [2][3][4][5][6][7] Also, fiber-reinforced composites may actually be subject to different corrosion conditions. In such environments, the matrix shows a downward behavior due to loss of mechanical properties.…”