Investigation of Mechanical Characteristics for Shape Memory Alloy Embedded Composites by Box-Behnken Design-Response Surface Methodology

This study investigates the effects of process parameters on the mechanical and dynamic properties of shape memory alloy (SMA)-reinforced composites. The parameters considered include nanoclay loading (0, 3, and 6 wt.%), SMA wire reinforcement (one, two, and three wires), and SMA pre-strain percentage (1, 3, and 5%). A systematic experimental approach, guided by the response surface methodology (RSM), was adopted, employing the Box-Behnken design (BBD) for 15 experimental trials to evaluate tensile and flexural strengths. A polynomial regression model was developed, and analysis of variance (ANOVA) was conducted to identify the most significant process parameters by validating the regression coefficients. Dynamic mechanical analysis revealed a 55% increase in storage modulus for Sample 9 compared to Sample 2, indicating improved stiffness, elastic behavior, energy storage capacity, and vibration response. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) demonstrated the effective dispersion of montmorillonite (MMT) nanoclay in the epoxy resin. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) provided insights into damage mechanisms, including delamination and adhesion under tensile loading. The findings underscore the critical influence of process parameters on the mechanical and dynamic behavior of SMA-reinforced composites, paving the way for optimizing composite design for advanced engineering applications.