Analysis of the Impact Dynamics of Shape Memory Alloy Hybrid Composites for Advanced Applications

Abstract

In this work, the behaviour of thermoplastic composites and Shape Memory Alloy Hybrid Composites (SMAHCs) for aeronautical applications is analysed and compared by means of findings from numerical analyses and experimental tests. At first, experimental tests are performed by using a drop tower facility on both carbon fibre reinforced plastic samples and Carbon Fibre Reinforced Plastic (CFRP) samples hybridized with shape memory alloy materials. The materials properties and the different lower velocity impacts behaviours are simulated and validated by means of numerical models discretized in LS-Dyna explicit solver. For both configurations, the deformation mechanism for low intensity impacts, the absorbed energy, and the effect of rebounding upon the velocity change, and hence the amount of force, are investigated. Then, a configuration is prepared to withstand higher-energy impacts. Finally, the numerical analysis is extended for an innovative layup adapted on an aeronautical structure, which is subjected to the bird-strike phenomenon at 180 m/s and with an impacting mass of 1.8 kg according to the airworthiness requirements. In this study, SMAHCs are used to improve the composite impact response and energy absorption thanks to the superelastic effect.

Bird-Strike Resistance of Composite Laminates with Different Materials

“…Bird-strike impacts are the major cause of blade damage for aircraft engines [1]. Therefore, the bird-induced failure of both fan blades [2][3][4][5] and leading edges [6][7][8][9][10][11] have caused much research interest. The latest bird-strike example was an Airbus A321 of Russian Ural Airlines on 15 August 2019, which was struck by birds during take-off, and subsequently its dual engines failed.…”

“…Kaboglu et al [18] studied the high-velocity impact properties of various types (different stacking configurations and thicknesses) of fiber metal laminates, showing perforation resistance was significantly improved with increasing the number of alternating layers. Guida et al [6] hybridized carbon fiber reinforced plastic laminates with shape memory alloy materials and showed better impact properties of the laminates containing the hybrid layers. Di Caprio et al [7] considered the bird-strike crashworthiness of different material systems (different stacking sequences and total thicknesses), without changing the overall geometrical shape.…”

Impact responses of slender composite plates for bird-strike testing of fan blades

“…For example, Guida et al (M. Guida, Marulo, Meo, & Russo, 2012) adopted an insightful research route "specimen testing -panel experiment/simulation -wing leading edge experiment/simulation". Guida et al (M. Guida, Sellitto, Marulo, & Riccio, 2019) presented an experimental-numerical investigation on the impact damage behaviour of simplified square composite plates with embedded shape memory alloys for aeronautical structural component. Mohagheghian et al (Mohagheghian et al, 2017) performed the laboratory-scale impact experiments using a gas gun apparatus for betterquantified understanding of soft impact damage on laminated glass windows and more effective design of aircraft windshields.…”

SPH-FEM Design of Laminated Plies under Bird-Strike Impact

“…Di Caprio et al [34] considered the unidirectional fiber-reinforced composite material systems of wing leading edges, for the outer and inner faces of the skins under a bird impact event, with various skin thicknesses considered. According to the airworthiness requirements, Guida et al [35] adapted an innovative layup on an aeronautical structure, which was subjected to the bird strike phenomenon at 180 m/s and with an impacting mass of 1.8 kg. The authors [36] have recently studied the bird strike damage modes in rotational composite laminates, with the ply angles fixed.…”