Simulation Bending Behaviour of Shape Memory Alloy Graphene Nanotubes-Reinforced Polymers by Multiscale Finite Element Method

Abstract

Shape memory alloys (SMAs) have been researched and used in numerous applications. This article discusses a general methodology for the bending behavior of SMA, and the validation of this bending behavior was achieved by reinforcing polyurethane and epoxy polymers with graphene nanotubes using a finite element model. Polyurethane and an epoxy were impregnated with different amounts of graphene volume percent (25, 40, 50, 60, and 75). Some of the mechanical properties that were being studied included tensile strength, strain response, and modulus of elasticity. The results show that with the rise of graphene concentration, reductions in deformation and material are enhanced by stiffness as it changes its ductility and flexibility. An examination of the bending moment of 177 N.mm to determine the variation in the composite stiffness was also done. The results showed that the deformation always decreased with the increase in the quantity of graphene, thus proving the strengthening effect of real bending forces.