Experimental results of the dynamics of a cantilever beam constrained by shape memory wires are presented. It is observed that the damping increases significantly when the shape memory wires are pre-stressed such that they lie within the pseudoelastic hysteresis loop. Theoretical models of the inner hysteresis loop are considered, and modal analysis is used to obtain the dynamic response of the system. Simulations of the system using these models give theoretical values of damping which agree well with those observed experimentally. The proposed models of the pseudoelastic hysteresis loop are sufficient to obtain an estimate of the initial increase of damping due to the use of pre-stressed shape memory wires in structures. These results demonstrate that pseudoelasticity of shape memory wires can be used to significantly augment passive damping in structural systems.

Date Published: 1 May 1994
PDF: 9 pages
Proc. SPIE 2193, Smart Structures and Materials 1994: Passive Damping, (1 May 1994); doi: 10.1117/12.174107

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 2193:
Smart Structures and Materials 1994: Passive Damping
Conor D. Johnson, Editor(s)