Thermal post-buckling and aeroelastic behaviour of shape memory alloy reinforced plates

A novel concept is proposed: the use of shape memory alloy (SMA) to reduce panel thermal deflection and flutter responses. SMA has a unique ability to recover large pre-strains completely when the alloy is heated above the austenite finish temperature A_f. The transformation austenite start temperature A_s for nitinol can be anywhere between -60 °F (-50 °C) and +340 °F (+170 °C) by varying the nickel content. During the recovery process, a large tensile recovery stress occurs if the SMA is restrained. The shape memory effect phenomenon is attributed to a change in crystal structure known as a reversible austenite to martensite phase transformation. This solid-solid phase transformation also gives a large increase in Young's modulus and yield stress.

In this paper, a panel subject to the combined aerodynamic and thermal loading is investigated. A nonlinear finite element model based on the von Karman strain-displacement relation is utilized to study the effectiveness of an SMA-embedded panel on the flutter boundary, critical buckling temperature, post-buckling deflection and free vibration. The study is performed on an isotropic panel with embedded SMA. The aerodynamic model is based on the first-order quasi-steady piston theory. The dynamic pressure effect on the buckling and post-buckling behaviour of the panel is investigated by introducing the aerodynamic stiffness term, which changes the critical buckling temperature. Panels with SMA embedded in either the longer or shorter direction and either fully or partially embedded are investigated for post-buckling behaviour. Similarly, the influence of temperature elevation on the flutter boundary and vibration frequencies is investigated.