Paper number 468
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LIFE ENHANCEMENT AND REPAIR OF STRUCTURES USING SHAPE MEMORY ALLOY COMPOSITE PATCHES |
Kelly A. Tsoi1, Xiaoming Wang1, Yiu-Wing Mai1, and Stephen C. Galea2
1Centre for Advanced Materials Technology and Centre of Expertise in Damage Mechanics
Department of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering, The University of Sydney
Sydney, New South Wales, 2006, Australia
2Aeronautical and Maritime Research Laboratory
506 Lorimer Street, Fishermens Bend, Victoria, 3207, Australia
| Summary | This paper focuses on the force produced by a shape memory alloy (SMA) fibre/epoxy matrix patch when the SMA fibres are activated. Experimental and finite element results of the resultant forces are compared. It is found that heated SMA wires are able to generate a significant contracting force within the SMA composite patch. When the patch is used to repair cracked metallic structures then the force produced by activating the SMA wire can provide significant crack closure forces across the crack. Therefore, these types of repairs offer a potential alternative repair technique for cracked metallic structures. |
Keywords | shape memory alloys, bonded composite patches, fatigue life enhancement, life extension. |