An Experimental investigation on nitinol shape memory alloy reinforced GLAREs against Charpy low velocity impact

This research is on the energy absorption level in a metal-fiber laminate reinforced with a ‎shape-memory-alloy under low velocity impact. The parameters of the study are fiber angle, level of pre-strain and ‎position of memory wires in a GLARE reinforced with two memory-wires. In addition, a 200-J Charpy-Impact device was used to exert the impact‏. Taguchi method was used in designing of the experiments for this research and the investigated specimens were constructed based on L16 ‎orthogonal array. During the usage of array, parameters of "fiber angel" and the "pre-strain level of shape-memory wires" were ‎tested in four levels as well as the parameter related to the location of shape-memory-wires, tested in two levels. The scrutinized ‎GLAREs were constructed of 16layers containing 3layers of aluminum.‎ The analysis of variance was performed on extracted data to investigate the effect of changes in parameters on the energy absorption level ‎of laminate. It was found that the changes in following parameters of pre-strain of shape-memory wires, fiber's angel and ‎the location of these wires in laminate, have the influence of 39.12%, 32.13%, 4.56% , respectively, on the energy absorption level of ‎laminate. The variance analysis also proved that changes in energy absorption have confidence level of 92.1%, 90.6% and 71% ‎respectively with the changes in aforementioned parameters.