Creation of smart composites using an embroidery machine

Nobuhiro Torii; Kosuke Oka; Tadashige Ikeda

doi:10.1117/12.2219552

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18 April 2016 Creation of smart composites using an embroidery machine

Nobuhiro Torii, Kosuke Oka, Tadashige Ikeda

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Proceedings Volume 9800, Behavior and Mechanics of Multifunctional Materials and Composites 2016; 98001C (2016) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2219552
Event: SPIE Smart Structures and Materials + Nondestructive Evaluation and Health Monitoring, 2016, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States

Abstract

A smart composite with functional fibers and reinforcement fibers optimally placed with an embroidery machine was created. Fiber orientation affects mechanical properties of composite laminates significantly. Accordingly, if the fibers can be placed along a desired curved path, fiber reinforced plastic (FRP) structures can be designed more lightly and more sophisticatedly. To this end a tailored fiber placement method using the embroidery machine have been studied. To add functions to the FRP structures, shape memory alloy (SMA) wires were placed as functional fibers. First, for a certain purpose the paths of the reinforcement fibers and the SMA wires were simultaneously optimized in analysis. Next, the reinforcement fibers and tubes with the SMA wires were placed on fabrics by using the embroidery machine and this fabric was impregnated with resin by using the vacuum assisted resin transfer molding method. This smart composite was activated by applying voltage to the SMA wires. Fundamental properties of the smart composite were examined and the feasibility of the proposed creation method was shown.

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Nobuhiro Torii, Kosuke Oka, and Tadashige Ikeda "Creation of smart composites using an embroidery machine", Proc. SPIE 9800, Behavior and Mechanics of Multifunctional Materials and Composites 2016, 98001C (18 April 2016); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2219552

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