Enhancement of vibration characteristics in filament wound FRP composite shafts using nitinol wires

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the use of embedded Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) nitinol wire for the enhancement of vibration and damping characteristics of filament-wound fiber-reinforced plastic composite hollow shafts. Design/methodology/approach The plain Glass Fiber-Reinforced Plastic (GFRP) and plain Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Plastic (CFRP) hollow shafts were manufactured by filament winding technique. Experimental modal analysis was conducted for plain hollow shafts of C1045 steel, GFRP and CFRP by subjecting them to flexural vibrations as per ASTM standard C747, with both ends clamped (C-C) end condition to investigate their vibration and damping behavior in terms of first natural frequency, damping time and damping ratio. Nitinol wires pre-stressed at various pre-strains (2, 4 and 6 per cent) were embedded with CFRP hollow shafts following same manufacturing technique, and similar experimental modal analysis was carried out by activating nitinol wires. The first natural frequencies of all the shaft materials were also predicted theoretically and compared with experimental measurements. Findings Among the three materials C1045 steel, plain GFRP and plain CFRP, the vibration and damping behavior were found to be the best for plain CFRP. Hence, CFRP shafts were considered for further improvement by embedding nitinol wires at pre-stressed condition. For CFRP shafts embedded with nitinol wires, the damping time decreased; and damping ratio and first natural frequency increased with increase in percentage of pre-strain. In comparison with plain CFRP, 7 per cent increase in first natural frequency and 100 per cent increase in damping ratio were observed for nitinol embedded CFRP shafts with 6 per cent pre-strain. Theoretical predictions of the first natural frequencies agree well with the experimental results for all the shaft materials. Originality/value The effect of nitinol on vibration and damping characteristics of filament wound hollow CFRP composite shafts with different pre-strains has not been studied extensively by the previous researchers. This paper addresses the effect of embedded nitinol wires pre-stressed at three varied pre-strains, that is, 2, 4 and 6 per cent on the vibration and damping characteristics of composite hollow CFRP shafts manufactured by filament winding technique.