Vibration of laminated composite plates embedded with shape memory alloy at elevated temperatures

A finite element formulation and solution procedure for the free vibration behavior of composite plates with embedded shape memory alloy (SMA) at elevated temperatures is presented. The temperature-dependent material properties of SMA and composite matrix, and the geometrical nonlinearity due to large thermal deflection are considered in the formulation. The solution procedure consists of two steps: large thermal deflection is determined first, then followed by the free vibration analysis about the thermally buckled equilibrium position. Examples of hybrid composite plates are given to show the variation of lowest few frequencies versus temperature and the influence of SMA on the natural frequencies at elevated temperatures. Potential applications to frequency turning and sonic fatigue using SMA are discussed.