Tailorable activation of thermoresponsive composite structures incorporating wavy heaters via hybrid manufacturing

Zhang, Yuan-Fang1; Li, Honggeng2; Long, Chengyun1; Xiong, Yi3; Ge, Qi2

2023-02-01

10.1016/j.coco.2023.101523

COMPOSITES COMMUNICATIONS   Impact Factor & Quartile

2452-2139

The activation method of thermoresponsive materials greatly affects the practical use of smart structures composed thereof. Despite extensive research that relies on methods using high ambient temperatures or planar heaters, the efficient and tailorable activation of relatively thick thermoresponsive composite structures remains challenging. Herein, we present a concept of embedding a wavy heater into a thermoresponsive material matrix to form a composite structure with parametrically designed thermal activation behavior, through a facile manufacturing approach combining 3D-printing and laser-cutting. We develop a numerical model to predict the transient heat transfer for varying wavy shapes of heater, and experimentally validate the numerical results. The exploration of the design space using the numerical model shows a reduction of up to 82% in heating time using the wavy design compared with the flat design. Finally, we demonstrate experimentally the stiffness tuning in thermoresponsive composite structures. This work paves the way for large-scale thermoresponsive composite structures with applications in aerospace and architecture.

Joule-heating Shape-memory polymers Thermoresponsive composite structures Tailorable activation of smart materials

SCI

English

Corresponding

Materials Science

Materials Science, Composites

WOS:000933057700001

ELSEVIER SCI LTD

MATERIALS SCIENCE

Web of Science

1.South China Univ Technol, Shien Ming Wu Sch Intelligent Engn, Guangzhou 511442, Peoples R China
2.Southern Univ Sci & Technol, Dept Mech & Energy Engn, 1088 Xueyuan Ave, Shenzhen 518055, Peoples R China
3.Southern Univ Sci & Teclutol, Sch Syst Design & Intelligent Mfg, 1088 Xueyuan Ave, Shenzhen 518055, Peoples R China

Zhang, Yuan-Fang,Li, Honggeng,Long, Chengyun,et al. Tailorable activation of thermoresponsive composite structures incorporating wavy heaters via hybrid manufacturing[J]. COMPOSITES COMMUNICATIONS,2023,38.

Zhang, Yuan-Fang,Li, Honggeng,Long, Chengyun,Xiong, Yi,&Ge, Qi.(2023).Tailorable activation of thermoresponsive composite structures incorporating wavy heaters via hybrid manufacturing.COMPOSITES COMMUNICATIONS,38.

Zhang, Yuan-Fang,et al."Tailorable activation of thermoresponsive composite structures incorporating wavy heaters via hybrid manufacturing".COMPOSITES COMMUNICATIONS 38(2023).