Characterization of CuZnAl SMA/ glass fiber composite material for vibration suppression

In this work the functional characterization of an innovative composite material, suitable for passive suppression of flexural vibration of beams and shells, is presented and studied. Two patterned thin sheets of Cu66Zn24Al10 (at.%) Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) are embedded into a layered beam, made of glass fiber. The proposed composite combines the density and stiffness of the glass fiber with the high damping properties of SMA, in the martensitic state. A patterning of the SMA sheets, designed and optimized in order to improve the adhesion between SMA and glass fiber, is performed by means of laser technology, using a nanosecond fiber laser. The effect of the laser microcutting process on transformation temperatures and internal friction properties of the SMA elements are analyzed, respectively using DSC and DMA. Moreover, measurements of the structural damping of the layered glass fiber/SMA composite are reported and the capability of the produced composite material to suppress the flexural vibrations is shown. The main conclusion of this work is the improvement of the structural damping properties of the discussed composite material, thanks to the high internal friction of SMA sheets in the martensitic state.