On behaviors of the shape memory composite containing shape memory polymer matrix and shape memory alloy fibers under uniaxial loading with different temperature conditions

Abstract The shape memory polymers (SMPs) and shape memory alloys (SMAs), as typical smart materials, have got enormous attention in the fields of aerospace, microsystems, and biomedicine due to their superior shape memory properties. Combining the high strength of SMAs and the large deformation of SMPs, the shape memory polymer composites with the shape memory alloys fibers (SMPC‐SMAs) formed by SMP matrix and SMA fibers have the dual advantages of SMAs and SMPs. For the different loading conditions, the mechanical behaviors of the SMPC‐SMAs are investigated in this work, by combining with the mechanics of composite materials and the constitutive models of SMPs and SMAs. Compared with the mechanical behavior of pure uniaxial loading, the influence of temperature changes on the phase transition of the material is considered under different constraints. Compared with mechanical behaviors of pure SMAs and pure SMPs, the thermomechanical behaviors of the SMPC‐SMAs are discussed and simulated considering the coupling of the phase transition of SMPs and SMAs. And the effects of different fiber content and different pre‐strain on the behaviors of such SMPC‐SMAs are finally discussed, respectively. The results showed that different mechanical properties for SMPC‐SMAs are displayed; such materials not only can maintain the normal shape memory effect but also have the greater strength, which will be a better engineering application prospect.