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US 2011/0300358 A1Published application
Shape memory alloy/fiber reinforced polymeric composite structures and method for forming
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsKAY Y. BLOHOWIAK, Tyler J. Zimmerman, James H. Mabe, Frederick T. Calkins, Matthew A. Dilligan
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Abstract
A carbon fiber composite structure including a first plurality of carbon fiber prepreg plies; and a second plurality of sheets of shape memory alloy interleaved with the first plurality of carbon fiber prepreg plies.
Claims21
A composite structure comprising:
- at least one fiber reinforced polymeric sheet;
- and
- at least one sheet of shape memory alloy intimately engaging said at least one fiber reinforced polymeric sheet.
A composite structure comprising:
- at least two sheets of shape memory alloy;
- and
- at least one fiber reinforced polymeric sheet in between said at least two sheets of shape memory alloy.
A carbon fiber composite structure comprising:
- a first plurality of carbon fiber prepreg plies;
- and
- a second plurality of sheets of shape memory alloy interleaved with said first plurality of carbon fiber prepreg plies.
A method for fabricating a shape memory alloy/fiber reinforced polymeric composite structure comprising the steps of:
- providing a first plurality of fiber reinforced polymeric plies;
- providing a second plurality of sheets of shape memory alloy;
- coating at least one of a top and a bottom surface of one of said second plurality of sheets of shape memory alloy with an adhesive primer layer;
- coating a layer of an adhesive on said adhesive primer coated sheets of shape memory alloy;
- interleaving said coated sheets of shape memory alloy with at least two of said first plurality of fiber reinforced polymeric plies forming a laminate;
- providing an interface having a gradient layer transitioning from each of said coated sheets of shape memory alloy to each of said at least two of said first plurality of fiber reinforced polymeric plies, said gradient layer substantially devoid of fibers;
- and
- curing said laminate and forming said shape memory alloy fiber reinforced polymeric composite structure.
5 more elements
A method for morphing a composite structure comprising the steps of:
- providing a first plurality of fiber reinforced polymeric prepreg plies;
- providing a second plurality of shape memory alloy sheets each coated with an adhesive on at least one of a top and bottom surfaces;
- interleaving said second plurality of shape memory alloy sheets with said first plurality of fiber reinforced polymeric plies forming said composite structure;
- providing an interface having a gradient layer transitioning from each of said second plurality of shape memory alloy sheets to each of said first plurality of fiber reinforced polymeric prepreg plies, said gradient layer substantially devoid of fibers;
- and
- morphing said composite structure by heating to a predetermined temperature at which said shape memory alloy transforms from a first crystalline state to a second crystalline state.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.