Stiffness Analysis of Structures Using Shape Memory Polymer Composites

Shape Memory Polymer Composites (SMPC) is a compound of resin matrix and fiber reinforced material. It has advantages of lager restoring force, lower density, higher stiffness and strength. The stiffness of laminate and thin walled tube using SMPC materials was discussed in this paper. Experiment was made to verify the different structures influences on deployment at the same temperature. The initial stiffness of laminate decrease at 40°C to 50°C, but that’s for tube was about 70°C to 80°C. It illustrated that the structural influence should also be concerned except the Tg. At the last of the paper, stiffness of laminate, tube and semicircular were calculated respectively to see the influence of structure at normal temperature.