Interfacial strength and dynamic behaviour modelling of a SMA based laminated hybrid composite

Hybrid composites with Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) inserts in laminated Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer have been proved to improve the passive damping when used in the lateral horns of the train pantograph collectors. This hybrid composite presents the possibility of delamination problem under load. This study numerically evaluates the interfacial strength between SMA and GFRP in laminated hybrid composite with uniform SMA sheet insert, as well as, with SMA sheet having elliptical holes pattern. The different interfacial parameters are determined and the results are analyzed to study the delamination for both SMA sheet geometries. The natural frequency and non-dimensional damping of hybrid composites, having different SMA materials and different SMA sheet geometries, are evaluated experimentally. Then, these properties are evaluated for the hybrid composite with CuZnAl SMA inserts by numerical simulation, with derived interfacial parameters and then compared with the experimental results.