Bistable composite laminates have received a considerable attention due to their fabulous behavior and potential for morphing and energy harvesting. A bistable or multistable laminate is a type of composite structure that exhibits multiple stable static configurations. The characterization of unsymmetric fiber-reinforced laminated composite plates as a bistable structure is well established and quantitatively determined after about 30 years of research. As predicting cured shapes of unsymmetric composite laminates became well identified, attention was directed to the design of these structures for morphing applications. Bistable composite laminates have attracted researchers as a morphing structure because a bistable structure settles at one of its equilibrium positions without demanding continuous power to remain there. If the structure is triggered to leave an equilibrium position, it will snap or jump to the other equilibrium position. The snapthrough response is highly geometrically nonlinear. With the increased demand for broadband vibration energy harvesters, bistable composite laminates, which are able to gain large-amplitude vibrations in snapthrough motion, have recently attracted attention. This paper aims to summarize, review, and assess references and findings concerned with the response of bistable composite laminates for morphing and energy harvesting to date. It also highlights the remaining challenges and possible future research work as research in bistable composites transitions from phenomena to application.
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November 2015
Review Articles
A Review on Bistable Composite Laminates for Morphing and Energy Harvesting
Samir A. Emam,
Samir A. Emam
Mem. ASME
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
United Arab Emirates University,
P. O. Box 15551,
Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
e-mail: semam@uaeu.ac.ae
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
United Arab Emirates University,
P. O. Box 15551,
Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
e-mail: semam@uaeu.ac.ae
Search for other works by this author on:
Daniel J. Inman
Daniel J. Inman
Department of Aerospace Engineering,
University of Michigan,
Ann Arbor, 48109 MI
e-mail: daninman@umich.edu
University of Michigan,
Ann Arbor, 48109 MI
e-mail: daninman@umich.edu
Search for other works by this author on:
Samir A. Emam
Mem. ASME
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
United Arab Emirates University,
P. O. Box 15551,
Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
e-mail: semam@uaeu.ac.ae
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
United Arab Emirates University,
P. O. Box 15551,
Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
e-mail: semam@uaeu.ac.ae
Daniel J. Inman
Department of Aerospace Engineering,
University of Michigan,
Ann Arbor, 48109 MI
e-mail: daninman@umich.edu
University of Michigan,
Ann Arbor, 48109 MI
e-mail: daninman@umich.edu
1Corresponding author.
2On leave from Department of Mechanical Design and Production, Faculty of Engineering, Zagazig University, Zagazig 44519, Egypt.
Manuscript received February 27, 2015; final manuscript received November 10, 2015; published online December 11, 2015. Assoc. Editor: Rui Huang.
Appl. Mech. Rev. Nov 2015, 67(6): 060803 (15 pages)
Published Online: December 11, 2015
Article history
Received:
February 27, 2015
Revised:
November 10, 2015
Citation
Emam, S. A., and Inman, D. J. (December 11, 2015). "A Review on Bistable Composite Laminates for Morphing and Energy Harvesting." ASME. Appl. Mech. Rev. November 2015; 67(6): 060803. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4032037
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